The rank of a 2014 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2014, 39.669% 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 2014. The green dashed line shows the base 2014 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 20,416,757 12.907% 18,763
1991 22,685,221 14.341% 19,669
1992 24,956,667 15.777% 20,397
1993 25,553,845 16.154% 20,535
1994 27,160,546 17.170% 21,069
1995 28,621,328 18.093% 21,630
1996 30,816,093 19.481% 22,559
1997 33,325,095 21.067% 23,690
1998 35,758,938 22.606% 24,898
1999 38,238,017 24.173% 25,944
2000 40,784,469 25.782% 26,956
2001 43,213,932 27.318% 28,002
2002 44,676,085 28.243% 28,605
2003 46,128,816 29.161% 29,251
2004 48,394,904 30.594% 30,315
2005 50,115,571 31.681% 31,035
2006 52,590,007 33.246% 32,174
2007 54,889,611 34.699% 33,301
2008 56,931,657 35.990% 34,376
2009 56,758,426 35.881% 34,218
2010 57,352,696 36.256% 34,510
2011 58,728,167 37.126% 35,281
2012 59,939,498 37.892% 35,922
2013 61,036,222 38.585% 36,522
2014 62,751,210 39.669% 37,500
2015 64,846,668 40.994% 38,758
2016 65,887,077 41.651% 39,396
2017 67,944,644 42.952% 40,658
2018 70,379,095 44.491% 42,121
2019 73,002,450 46.150% 43,772
2020 73,947,221 46.747% 44,711
2021 79,059,656 49.979% 47,814
2022 84,627,612 53.499% 51,504
2023 88,398,332 55.882% 54,290
  • 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 2014. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.