Wage Statistics for 2009

Social Security Online	Automatic Increases

Office of the Chief Actuary	Wage Statistics for 2009

Automatic increases

Development of the AWI

The national average wage index (AWI) is based on compensation (wages, tips, and the like) subject to Federal income taxes, as reported by employers on Forms W-2. Beginning with the AWI for 1991, compensation includes contributions to deferred compensation plans, but excludes certain distributions from plans where the distributions are included in the reported compensation subject to income taxes. We call the result of including contributions, and excluding certain distributions, net compensation. The table below summarizes the components of net compensation for 2009.

Net compensation components for 2009
Compensation subject to Federal income taxes $5,686,344,461,605.08

Deferred compensation plan
Contributions^a
Distributions^b
+ 209,685,825,910.28
- 1,995,666,112.73

Net compensation 5,894,034,621,402.63

^aWages on which contributions were paid by 48,534,389 workers.
^bDistributions, to the extent included in reported wages (see text above), paid to 61,023 workers.

The "raw" average wage, computed as net compensation divided by the number of wage earners, is $5,894,034,621,402.63 divided by 150,917,733, or $39,054.62. Based on data in the table below, about 65.7 percent of wage earners had net compensation less than or equal to the $39,054.62 raw average wage. By definition, 50 percent of wage earners had net compensation less than or equal to the median wage, which is estimated to be $26,261.29 for 2009.

Distribution of wage earners by level of net compensation

Wage earners Net compensation

Net compensation interval Number Cumulative
number Percent
of total Aggregate amount Average amount

$0.01 — 4,999.99 24,315,992 24,315,992 16.11208 $49,028,574,504.54 $2,016.31

5,000.00 — 9,999.99 14,053,382 38,369,374 25.42403 103,868,343,297.43 7,390.99

10,000.00 — 14,999.99 12,180,076 50,549,450 33.49471 151,706,999,176.09 12,455.34

15,000.00 — 19,999.99 11,345,745 61,895,195 41.01254 198,265,509,739.58 17,474.88

20,000.00 — 24,999.99 10,931,009 72,826,204 48.25556 245,657,686,567.18 22,473.47

25,000.00 — 29,999.99 10,151,492 82,977,696 54.98207 278,734,377,401.77 27,457.48

30,000.00 — 34,999.99 9,359,654 92,337,350 61.18390 303,627,966,073.97 32,440.08

35,000.00 — 39,999.99 8,270,472 100,607,822 66.66402 309,648,803,745.54 37,440.28

40,000.00 — 44,999.99 7,153,936 107,761,758 71.40430 303,500,450,717.81 42,424.26

45,000.00 — 49,999.99 6,152,410 113,914,168 75.48097 291,824,690,257.70 47,432.58

50,000.00 — 54,999.99 5,301,609 119,215,777 78.99388 277,922,136,520.21 52,422.22

55,000.00 — 59,999.99 4,395,963 123,611,740 81.90670 252,428,789,840.32 57,422.86

60,000.00 — 64,999.99 3,729,822 127,341,562 84.37813 232,756,599,889.11 62,404.21

65,000.00 — 69,999.99 3,124,692 130,466,254 86.44859 210,672,359,836.68 67,421.80

70,000.00 — 74,999.99 2,663,699 133,129,953 88.21359 192,911,915,197.40 72,422.57

75,000.00 — 79,999.99 2,262,760 135,392,713 89.71293 175,190,329,565.09 77,423.29

80,000.00 — 84,999.99 1,903,250 137,295,963 90.97404 156,869,518,449.26 82,421.92

85,000.00 — 89,999.99 1,607,260 138,903,223 92.03903 140,521,817,492.12 87,429.42

90,000.00 — 94,999.99 1,381,000 140,284,223 92.95410 127,624,390,972.37 92,414.48

95,000.00 — 99,999.99 1,183,030 141,467,253 93.73799 115,258,230,231.65 97,426.30

100,000.00 — 104,999.99 1,025,302 142,492,555 94.41737 105,002,731,824.09 102,411.52

105,000.00 — 109,999.99 873,979 143,366,534 94.99648 93,894,659,638.59 107,433.54

110,000.00 — 114,999.99 753,066 144,119,600 95.49547 84,662,499,440.62 112,423.74

115,000.00 — 119,999.99 654,494 144,774,094 95.92915 76,861,689,397.18 117,436.81

120,000.00 — 124,999.99 577,780 145,351,874 96.31199 70,722,760,569.97 122,404.31

125,000.00 — 129,999.99 494,372 145,846,246 96.63957 62,997,406,373.02 127,429.16

130,000.00 — 134,999.99 437,216 146,283,462 96.92927 57,891,303,797.22 132,408.93

135,000.00 — 139,999.99 378,229 146,661,691 97.17989 51,982,549,943.15 137,436.71

140,000.00 — 144,999.99 337,397 146,999,088 97.40346 48,059,447,760.69 142,441.83

145,000.00 — 149,999.99 300,891 147,299,979 97.60283 44,368,779,815.80 147,457.98

150,000.00 — 154,999.99 271,864 147,571,843 97.78297 41,425,224,164.13 152,374.81

155,000.00 — 159,999.99 238,184 147,810,027 97.94079 37,496,905,469.44 157,428.31

160,000.00 — 164,999.99 208,258 148,018,285 98.07879 33,824,594,145.14 162,416.78

165,000.00 — 169,999.99 187,126 148,205,411 98.20278 31,333,698,142.29 167,447.06

170,000.00 — 174,999.99 166,369 148,371,780 98.31302 28,690,328,285.63 172,449.97

175,000.00 — 179,999.99 150,896 148,522,676 98.41300 26,773,108,571.89 177,427.56

180,000.00 — 184,999.99 140,044 148,662,720 98.50580 25,542,408,851.66 182,388.46

185,000.00 — 189,999.99 123,822 148,786,542 98.58785 23,209,738,825.30 187,444.39

190,000.00 — 194,999.99 112,945 148,899,487 98.66268 21,735,439,129.11 192,442.69

195,000.00 — 199,999.99 108,372 149,007,859 98.73449 21,397,480,463.31 197,444.73

200,000.00 — 249,999.99 711,569 149,719,428 99.20599 158,051,757,378.61 222,117.26

250,000.00 — 299,999.99 368,345 150,087,773 99.45006 100,303,661,461.52 272,309.01

300,000.00 — 349,999.99 217,974 150,305,747 99.59449 70,355,983,023.10 322,772.36

350,000.00 — 399,999.99 142,454 150,448,201 99.68888 53,161,558,551.31 373,184.04

400,000.00 — 449,999.99 99,121 150,547,322 99.75456 41,955,976,290.52 423,280.40

450,000.00 — 499,999.99 71,229 150,618,551 99.80176 33,743,916,530.20 473,738.46

500,000.00 — 999,999.99 221,035 150,839,586 99.94822 146,696,951,893.49 663,682.00

1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99 39,938 150,879,524 99.97468 47,922,426,818.64 1,199,920.55

1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99 14,569 150,894,093 99.98434 24,999,543,139.95 1,715,940.91

2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99 7,152 150,901,245 99.98907 15,929,313,996.06 2,227,253.08

2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99 4,166 150,905,411 99.99184 11,369,006,070.86 2,728,998.10

3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99 2,730 150,908,141 99.99364 8,823,715,904.14 3,232,130.37

3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99 1,841 150,909,982 99.99486 6,870,693,430.16 3,732,044.23

4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99 1,415 150,911,397 99.99580 5,996,927,394.95 4,238,111.23

4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99 1,029 150,912,426 99.99648 4,864,010,072.56 4,726,929.13

5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99 3,689 150,916,115 99.99893 24,962,145,644.16 6,766,642.90

10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99 1,193 150,917,308 99.99972 15,942,214,986.70 13,363,130.75

20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99 353 150,917,661 99.99995 10,135,019,059.06 28,711,102.15

50,000,000.00 and over 72 150,917,733 100.00000 6,057,555,672.59 84,132,717.67

**Distribution of wage earners by level of net compensation**
	Wage earners	Net compensation
$0.01 — 4,999.99	24,315,992	24,315,992	16.11208	$49,028,574,504.54	$2,016.31
5,000.00 — 9,999.99	14,053,382	38,369,374	25.42403	103,868,343,297.43	7,390.99
10,000.00 — 14,999.99	12,180,076	50,549,450	33.49471	151,706,999,176.09	12,455.34
15,000.00 — 19,999.99	11,345,745	61,895,195	41.01254	198,265,509,739.58	17,474.88
20,000.00 — 24,999.99	10,931,009	72,826,204	48.25556	245,657,686,567.18	22,473.47
25,000.00 — 29,999.99	10,151,492	82,977,696	54.98207	278,734,377,401.77	27,457.48
30,000.00 — 34,999.99	9,359,654	92,337,350	61.18390	303,627,966,073.97	32,440.08
35,000.00 — 39,999.99	8,270,472	100,607,822	66.66402	309,648,803,745.54	37,440.28
40,000.00 — 44,999.99	7,153,936	107,761,758	71.40430	303,500,450,717.81	42,424.26
45,000.00 — 49,999.99	6,152,410	113,914,168	75.48097	291,824,690,257.70	47,432.58
50,000.00 — 54,999.99	5,301,609	119,215,777	78.99388	277,922,136,520.21	52,422.22
55,000.00 — 59,999.99	4,395,963	123,611,740	81.90670	252,428,789,840.32	57,422.86
60,000.00 — 64,999.99	3,729,822	127,341,562	84.37813	232,756,599,889.11	62,404.21
65,000.00 — 69,999.99	3,124,692	130,466,254	86.44859	210,672,359,836.68	67,421.80
70,000.00 — 74,999.99	2,663,699	133,129,953	88.21359	192,911,915,197.40	72,422.57
75,000.00 — 79,999.99	2,262,760	135,392,713	89.71293	175,190,329,565.09	77,423.29
80,000.00 — 84,999.99	1,903,250	137,295,963	90.97404	156,869,518,449.26	82,421.92
85,000.00 — 89,999.99	1,607,260	138,903,223	92.03903	140,521,817,492.12	87,429.42
90,000.00 — 94,999.99	1,381,000	140,284,223	92.95410	127,624,390,972.37	92,414.48
95,000.00 — 99,999.99	1,183,030	141,467,253	93.73799	115,258,230,231.65	97,426.30
100,000.00 — 104,999.99	1,025,302	142,492,555	94.41737	105,002,731,824.09	102,411.52
105,000.00 — 109,999.99	873,979	143,366,534	94.99648	93,894,659,638.59	107,433.54
110,000.00 — 114,999.99	753,066	144,119,600	95.49547	84,662,499,440.62	112,423.74
115,000.00 — 119,999.99	654,494	144,774,094	95.92915	76,861,689,397.18	117,436.81
120,000.00 — 124,999.99	577,780	145,351,874	96.31199	70,722,760,569.97	122,404.31
125,000.00 — 129,999.99	494,372	145,846,246	96.63957	62,997,406,373.02	127,429.16
130,000.00 — 134,999.99	437,216	146,283,462	96.92927	57,891,303,797.22	132,408.93
135,000.00 — 139,999.99	378,229	146,661,691	97.17989	51,982,549,943.15	137,436.71
140,000.00 — 144,999.99	337,397	146,999,088	97.40346	48,059,447,760.69	142,441.83
145,000.00 — 149,999.99	300,891	147,299,979	97.60283	44,368,779,815.80	147,457.98
150,000.00 — 154,999.99	271,864	147,571,843	97.78297	41,425,224,164.13	152,374.81
155,000.00 — 159,999.99	238,184	147,810,027	97.94079	37,496,905,469.44	157,428.31
160,000.00 — 164,999.99	208,258	148,018,285	98.07879	33,824,594,145.14	162,416.78
165,000.00 — 169,999.99	187,126	148,205,411	98.20278	31,333,698,142.29	167,447.06
170,000.00 — 174,999.99	166,369	148,371,780	98.31302	28,690,328,285.63	172,449.97
175,000.00 — 179,999.99	150,896	148,522,676	98.41300	26,773,108,571.89	177,427.56
180,000.00 — 184,999.99	140,044	148,662,720	98.50580	25,542,408,851.66	182,388.46
185,000.00 — 189,999.99	123,822	148,786,542	98.58785	23,209,738,825.30	187,444.39
190,000.00 — 194,999.99	112,945	148,899,487	98.66268	21,735,439,129.11	192,442.69
195,000.00 — 199,999.99	108,372	149,007,859	98.73449	21,397,480,463.31	197,444.73
200,000.00 — 249,999.99	711,569	149,719,428	99.20599	158,051,757,378.61	222,117.26
250,000.00 — 299,999.99	368,345	150,087,773	99.45006	100,303,661,461.52	272,309.01
300,000.00 — 349,999.99	217,974	150,305,747	99.59449	70,355,983,023.10	322,772.36
350,000.00 — 399,999.99	142,454	150,448,201	99.68888	53,161,558,551.31	373,184.04
400,000.00 — 449,999.99	99,121	150,547,322	99.75456	41,955,976,290.52	423,280.40
450,000.00 — 499,999.99	71,229	150,618,551	99.80176	33,743,916,530.20	473,738.46
500,000.00 — 999,999.99	221,035	150,839,586	99.94822	146,696,951,893.49	663,682.00
1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99	39,938	150,879,524	99.97468	47,922,426,818.64	1,199,920.55
1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99	14,569	150,894,093	99.98434	24,999,543,139.95	1,715,940.91
2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99	7,152	150,901,245	99.98907	15,929,313,996.06	2,227,253.08
2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99	4,166	150,905,411	99.99184	11,369,006,070.86	2,728,998.10
3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99	2,730	150,908,141	99.99364	8,823,715,904.14	3,232,130.37
3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99	1,841	150,909,982	99.99486	6,870,693,430.16	3,732,044.23
4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99	1,415	150,911,397	99.99580	5,996,927,394.95	4,238,111.23
4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99	1,029	150,912,426	99.99648	4,864,010,072.56	4,726,929.13
5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99	3,689	150,916,115	99.99893	24,962,145,644.16	6,766,642.90
10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99	1,193	150,917,308	99.99972	15,942,214,986.70	13,363,130.75
20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99	353	150,917,661	99.99995	10,135,019,059.06	28,711,102.15
50,000,000.00 and over	72	150,917,733	100.00000	6,057,555,672.59	84,132,717.67


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