The rank of a 2015 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2015, 40.994% 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 2015. The green dashed line shows the base 2015 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 20,753,354 12.907% 18,108
1991 23,059,217 14.341% 18,937
1992 25,368,109 15.777% 19,754
1993 25,975,133 16.154% 19,931
1994 27,608,323 17.170% 20,444
1995 29,093,187 18.093% 20,971
1996 31,324,136 19.481% 21,839
1997 33,874,502 21.067% 22,893
1998 36,348,470 22.606% 24,015
1999 38,868,420 24.173% 25,207
2000 41,456,853 25.782% 26,150
2001 43,926,369 27.318% 27,124
2002 45,412,628 28.243% 27,675
2003 46,889,309 29.161% 28,268
2004 49,192,757 30.594% 29,326
2005 50,941,790 31.681% 30,133
2006 53,457,021 33.246% 31,194
2007 55,794,537 34.699% 32,240
2008 57,870,249 35.990% 33,234
2009 57,694,162 35.881% 33,069
2010 58,298,230 36.256% 33,325
2011 59,696,376 37.126% 34,088
2012 60,927,678 37.892% 34,801
2013 62,042,483 38.585% 35,395
2014 63,785,745 39.669% 36,312
2015 65,915,749 40.994% 37,500
2016 66,973,310 41.651% 38,109
2017 69,064,799 42.952% 39,376
2018 71,539,385 44.491% 40,835
2019 74,205,990 46.150% 42,401
2020 75,166,337 46.747% 43,239
2021 80,363,056 49.979% 46,379
2022 86,022,807 53.499% 50,065
2023 89,855,693 55.882% 52,711
  • 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 2015. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.