The rank of a 2020 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2020, 46.747% 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 2020. The green dashed line shows the base 2020 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 21,630,918 12.907% 15,712
1991 24,034,285 14.341% 16,276
1992 26,440,811 15.777% 16,832
1993 27,073,503 16.154% 16,933
1994 28,775,752 17.170% 17,404
1995 30,323,405 18.093% 17,968
1996 32,648,690 19.481% 18,854
1997 35,306,900 21.067% 19,951
1998 37,885,481 22.606% 20,788
1999 40,511,987 24.173% 21,712
2000 43,209,874 25.782% 22,611
2001 45,783,814 27.318% 23,532
2002 47,332,920 28.243% 24,014
2003 48,872,043 29.161% 24,550
2004 51,272,893 30.594% 25,410
2005 53,095,885 31.681% 26,012
2006 55,717,474 33.246% 26,971
2007 58,153,833 34.699% 27,900
2008 60,317,317 35.990% 28,791
2009 60,133,784 35.881% 28,556
2010 60,763,395 36.256% 28,722
2011 62,220,663 37.126% 29,416
2012 63,504,031 37.892% 30,057
2013 64,665,976 38.585% 30,553
2014 66,482,952 39.669% 31,366
2015 68,703,024 40.994% 32,460
2016 69,805,305 41.651% 33,062
2017 71,985,233 42.952% 34,196
2018 74,564,459 44.491% 35,556
2019 77,343,821 46.150% 36,970
2020 78,344,777 46.747% 37,500
2021 83,761,242 49.979% 40,571
2022 89,660,318 53.499% 43,938
2023 93,655,279 55.882% 46,440
  • 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 2020. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.