The rank of a 2013 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2013, 38.585% of wage-earners were paid $37,500 or more. The left plot shows how the salary rank has varied over time. The graph increases, reflecting the impact of inflation.

The right plot shows the constant rank salary having the same rank in each year as $37,500 had in 2013. The green dashed line shows the base 2013 salary adjusted for cost of living changes using the consumer price index. When the salary line is steeper than the cost of living line the constant rank salary out-paces consumer price inflation, indicating a real improvement.

The table below the graphs gives exact values and the absolute position of each salary within all amounts reported by year.

Year Salary Rank Percent Exceeding Constant Rank Salary $
1990 20,105,131 12.907% 19,334
1991 22,338,971 14.341% 20,220
1992 24,575,747 15.777% 20,893
1993 25,163,811 16.154% 21,041
1994 26,745,988 17.170% 21,612
1995 28,184,473 18.093% 22,203
1996 30,345,739 19.481% 23,185
1997 32,816,446 21.067% 24,383
1998 35,213,141 22.606% 25,510
1999 37,654,380 24.173% 26,583
2000 40,161,965 25.782% 27,655
2001 42,554,347 27.318% 28,765
2002 43,994,182 28.243% 29,414
2003 45,424,740 29.161% 30,085
2004 47,656,241 30.594% 31,052
2005 49,350,644 31.681% 31,816
2006 51,787,312 33.246% 33,024
2007 54,051,817 34.699% 34,224
2008 56,062,695 35.990% 35,310
2009 55,892,108 35.881% 35,184
2010 56,477,308 36.256% 35,458
2011 57,831,784 37.126% 36,192
2012 59,024,626 37.892% 36,868
2013 60,104,611 38.585% 37,500
2014 61,793,423 39.669% 38,532
2015 63,856,897 40.994% 39,852
2016 64,881,425 41.651% 40,450
2017 66,907,588 42.952% 41,704
2018 69,304,881 44.491% 43,237
2019 71,888,195 46.150% 44,963
2020 72,818,546 46.747% 45,874
2021 77,852,948 49.979% 49,059
2022 83,335,919 53.499% 52,751
2023 87,049,086 55.882% 55,610
  • Position shows the position of a nominal salary of $37,500 each year, amongst all US wage earners. The highest paid individual has position 1. The 1 millionth highest paid individual has a position of 1,000,000, etc. Position is not plotted. The total number of individuals reporting varies by year.
  • Salary Rank shows proportion of salaries exceeding a nominal salary of $37,500 in each year. A value of 10% means that 10% of salaries are greater and 90% are smaller, a value of 0.1% means 0.1% (one in one thousand) of salaries are greater, etc. Lower positions and lower salary ranks correspond to higher salaries.
  • Constant Rank $ shows the nominal salary each year with the same salary rank as $37,500 in 2013. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.