The rank of a 2016 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2016, 41.651% 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 2016. The green dashed line shows the base 2016 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 21,105,179 12.907% 17,799
1991 23,450,133 14.341% 18,593
1992 25,798,168 15.777% 19,375
1993 26,415,483 16.154% 19,541
1994 28,076,359 17.170% 20,148
1995 29,586,396 18.093% 20,659
1996 31,855,165 19.481% 21,499
1997 34,448,767 21.067% 22,516
1998 36,964,676 22.606% 23,599
1999 39,527,345 24.173% 24,812
2000 42,159,660 25.782% 25,768
2001 44,671,040 27.318% 26,709
2002 46,182,495 28.243% 27,235
2003 47,684,210 29.161% 27,804
2004 50,026,708 30.594% 28,821
2005 51,805,392 31.681% 29,630
2006 54,363,263 33.246% 30,730
2007 56,740,406 34.699% 31,738
2008 58,851,307 35.990% 32,695
2009 58,672,235 35.881% 32,526
2010 59,286,543 36.256% 32,766
2011 60,708,392 37.126% 33,501
2012 61,960,568 37.892% 34,189
2013 63,094,272 38.585% 34,835
2014 64,867,086 39.669% 35,750
2015 67,033,200 40.994% 36,905
2016 68,108,689 41.651% 37,500
2017 70,235,635 42.952% 38,726
2018 72,752,172 44.491% 40,227
2019 75,463,983 46.150% 41,753
2020 76,440,610 46.747% 42,544
2021 81,725,428 49.979% 45,699
2022 87,481,127 53.499% 49,303
2023 91,378,991 55.882% 51,962
  • 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 2016. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.