The rank of a 2018 salary of $37,500 over time

static/temp/rank_37500_2018.svg

In 2018, 44.491% 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 2018. The green dashed line shows the base 2018 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 21,640,644 12.907% 16,574
1991 24,045,092 14.341% 17,231
1992 26,452,699 15.777% 17,878
1993 27,085,676 16.154% 18,005
1994 28,788,691 17.170% 18,555
1995 30,337,039 18.093% 19,182
1996 32,663,370 19.481% 20,143
1997 35,322,775 21.067% 21,021
1998 37,902,515 22.606% 21,949
1999 40,530,203 24.173% 22,990
2000 43,229,302 25.782% 24,012
2001 45,804,400 27.318% 25,054
2002 47,354,202 28.243% 25,486
2003 48,894,017 29.161% 25,960
2004 51,295,947 30.594% 26,819
2005 53,119,759 31.681% 27,505
2006 55,742,526 33.246% 28,597
2007 58,179,981 34.699% 29,671
2008 60,344,437 35.990% 30,552
2009 60,160,822 35.881% 30,369
2010 60,790,716 36.256% 30,546
2011 62,248,639 37.126% 31,173
2012 63,532,584 37.892% 31,763
2013 64,695,051 38.585% 32,320
2014 66,512,845 39.669% 33,233
2015 68,733,915 40.994% 34,450
2016 69,836,691 41.651% 35,080
2017 72,017,600 42.952% 36,144
2018 74,597,985 44.491% 37,500
2019 77,378,597 46.150% 39,051
2020 78,380,003 46.747% 39,744
2021 83,798,904 49.979% 42,731
2022 89,700,632 53.499% 46,235
2023 93,697,389 55.882% 48,837
  • 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 2018. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.