The rank of a 2017 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2017, 42.952% 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 2017. The green dashed line shows the base 2017 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 21,352,683 12.907% 17,217
1991 23,725,137 14.341% 17,945
1992 26,100,707 15.777% 18,662
1993 26,725,261 16.154% 18,809
1994 28,405,615 17.170% 19,420
1995 29,933,360 18.093% 20,068
1996 32,228,736 19.481% 20,855
1997 34,852,753 21.067% 21,806
1998 37,398,167 22.606% 22,815
1999 39,990,889 24.173% 23,945
2000 42,654,073 25.782% 25,046
2001 45,194,905 27.318% 25,924
2002 46,724,085 28.243% 26,405
2003 48,243,410 29.161% 26,929
2004 50,613,379 30.594% 27,870
2005 52,412,922 31.681% 28,619
2006 55,000,790 33.246% 29,815
2007 57,405,811 34.699% 30,789
2008 59,541,466 35.990% 31,678
2009 59,360,294 35.881% 31,502
2010 59,981,806 36.256% 31,712
2011 61,420,329 37.126% 32,394
2012 62,687,189 37.892% 33,035
2013 63,834,189 38.585% 33,639
2014 65,627,793 39.669% 34,630
2015 67,819,309 40.994% 35,783
2016 68,907,411 41.651% 36,351
2017 71,059,300 42.952% 37,500
2018 73,605,349 44.491% 38,948
2019 76,348,961 46.150% 40,527
2020 77,337,042 46.747% 41,231
2021 82,683,836 49.979% 44,338
2022 88,507,033 53.499% 47,848
2023 92,450,607 55.882% 50,546
  • 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 2017. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.