The rank of a 2022 salary of $37,500 over time

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In 2022, 53.499% 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 2022. The green dashed line shows the base 2022 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 22,203,585 12.907% 12,758
1991 24,670,580 14.341% 13,316
1992 27,140,817 15.777% 13,874
1993 27,790,260 16.154% 13,942
1994 29,537,575 17.170% 14,400
1995 31,126,201 18.093% 15,034
1996 33,513,047 19.481% 15,616
1997 36,241,631 21.067% 16,334
1998 38,888,479 22.606% 17,102
1999 41,584,521 24.173% 17,999
2000 44,353,832 25.782% 18,855
2001 46,995,916 27.318% 19,711
2002 48,586,034 28.243% 20,080
2003 50,165,904 29.161% 20,402
2004 52,630,316 30.594% 21,041
2005 54,501,571 31.681% 21,563
2006 57,192,564 33.246% 22,390
2007 59,693,425 34.699% 23,170
2008 61,914,185 35.990% 23,924
2009 61,725,794 35.881% 23,620
2010 62,372,073 36.256% 23,678
2011 63,867,922 37.126% 24,293
2012 65,185,266 37.892% 24,873
2013 66,377,973 38.585% 25,326
2014 68,243,053 39.669% 26,036
2015 70,521,900 40.994% 27,023
2016 71,653,363 41.651% 27,628
2017 73,891,004 42.952% 28,638
2018 76,538,513 44.491% 29,997
2019 79,391,458 46.150% 31,271
2020 80,418,913 46.747% 31,397
2021 85,978,776 49.979% 34,431
2022 92,034,027 53.499% 37,500
2023 96,134,752 55.882% 39,846
  • 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 2022. It is the salary needed to retain relative position over time. The Constant Rank salary is plotted on the right.