Estimating the First Instance of Substantive-Covered Earnings in the Labor Market

by Michael Compson
Research and Statistics Note No. 2008-04 (released September 2008)
Table equivalent for Chart 1. Nominal values of the proxy measures for substantive activity in the labor market, by year (nominal dollars)
Year Annual Wage Index Low-wage earner Very low-wage earner
1951 2,799.16 1,259.62 699.79
1952 2,973.32 1,337.99 743.33
1953 3,139.44 1,412.75 784.86
1954 3,155.64 1,420.04 788.91
1955 3,301.44 1,485.65 825.36
1956 3,532.36 1,589.56 883.09
1957 3,641.72 1,638.77 910.43
1958 3,673.80 1,653.21 918.45
1959 3,855.80 1,735.11 963.95
1960 4,007.12 1,803.20 1,001.78
1961 4,086.76 1,839.04 1,021.69
1962 4,291.40 1,931.13 1,072.85
1963 4,396.64 1,978.49 1,099.16
1964 4,576.32 2,059.34 1,144.08
1965 4,658.72 2,096.42 1,164.68
1966 4,938.36 2,222.26 1,234.59
1967 5,213.44 2,346.05 1,303.36
1968 5,571.76 2,507.29 1,392.94
1969 5,893.76 2,652.19 1,473.44
1970 6,186.24 2,783.81 1,546.56
1971 6,497.08 2,923.69 1,624.27
1972 7,133.80 3,210.21 1,783.45
1973 7,580.16 3,411.07 1,895.04
1974 8,030.76 3,613.84 2,007.69
1975 8,630.92 3,883.91 2,157.73
1976 9,226.48 4,151.92 2,306.62
1977 9,779.44 4,400.75 2,444.86
1978 10,556.03 4,750.21 2,639.01
1979 11,479.46 5,165.76 2,869.87
1980 12,513.46 5,631.06 3,128.37
1981 13,773.10 6,197.90 3,443.28
1982 14,531.34 6,539.10 3,632.84
1983 15,239.24 6,857.66 3,809.81
1984 16,135.07 7,260.78 4,033.77
1985 16,822.51 7,570.13 4,205.63
1986 17,321.82 7,794.82 4,330.46
1987 18,426.51 8,291.93 4,606.63
1988 19,334.04 8,700.32 4,833.51
1989 20,099.55 9,044.80 5,024.89
1990 21,027.98 9,462.59 5,257.00
1991 21,811.60 9,815.22 5,452.90
1992 22,935.42 10,320.94 5,733.86
1993 23,132.67 10,409.70 5,783.17
1994 23,753.53 10,689.09 5,938.38
1995 24,705.66 11,117.55 6,176.42
1996 25,913.90 11,661.26 6,478.48
1997 27,426.00 12,341.70 6,856.50
1998 28,861.44 12,987.65 7,215.36
1999 30,469.84 13,711.43 7,617.46
2000 32,154.82 14,469.67 8,038.71
2001 32,921.92 14,814.86 8,230.48
2002 33,252.09 14,963.44 8,313.02
2003 34,064.95 15,329.23 8,516.24
SOURCE: Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Available at http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/AWI.html#Series.
NOTE: Low-wage earner equals 45 percent of average wage index (AWI) and very low-wage earner equals 25 percent of AWI. Both earner types are assumed to be "steady" workers earning a constant percentage of AWI throughout their careers.

Narrative description for Chart 2.
Average age when first reporting covered earnings or first meeting the thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by year of birth

In Chart 2, there are four vertical lines indicating the average age at which individuals born in a specific birth year–given in the bottom horizontal axis, from 1946 through 1980–first report earnings that exceed the average wage index. The top horizontal axis shows that the maximum age a person born in 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980 can attain in the year 2003 (the final year of data) is 53, 43, 33, and 23, respectively. Vertical line #1 shows that in birth year 1950, the average age of persons first reporting covered earnings is 29 and highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1950 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 53 years old. Vertical line #2 shows that in birth year 1960, the average age of persons first reporting covered earnings is 28 and highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1960 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 43 years old. Vertical line #3 shows that in birth year 1970, the average age of persons first reporting covered earnings is 27 and highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1970 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 33 years old. Vertical line #4 shows that in birth year 1980, the average age of persons first reporting covered earnings is 22 and highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1980 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 23 years old.

Table equivalent for Chart 2. Average age when first reporting covered earnings or first meeting the thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by year of birth
Year of birth Annual Wage Index Low-wage earners Very low-wage earners First covered
1946 29.02 24.34 22.85 19.96
1947 28.97 24.22 22.56 19.77
1948 29.02 24.23 22.57 19.73
1949 28.96 24.11 22.5 19.54
1950 28.91 24.1 22.48 19.42
1951 28.74 23.92 22.3 19.2
1952 28.61 23.95 22.36 19.2
1953 28.41 23.78 22.23 19.06
1954 28.27 23.68 22.18 19.04
1955 28.11 23.59 22.11 18.97
1956 28.01 23.58 22.03 18.82
1957 27.88 23.49 21.99 18.79
1958 27.82 23.48 21.95 18.74
1959 27.74 23.39 21.89 18.68
1960 27.7 23.49 21.89 18.66
1961 27.74 23.54 21.88 18.5
1962 27.73 23.66 22.02 18.53
1963 27.74 23.76 22.13 18.6
1964 27.61 23.69 22.1 18.58
1965 27.5 23.62 22.1 18.69
1966 27.32 23.56 22.05 18.65
1967 27.3 23.52 21.97 18.55
1968 27.19 23.52 21.91 18.41
1969 26.97 23.4 21.79 18.16
1970 26.8 23.39 21.74 17.95
1971 26.52 23.35 21.7 17.84
1972 26.21 23.29 21.74 17.76
1973 25.86 23.14 21.62 17.61
1974 25.42 22.94 21.48 17.52
1975 24.93 22.69 21.3 17.48
1976 24.48 22.43 21.08 17.4
1977 23.95 22.17 20.88 17.25
1978 23.42 21.87 20.68 17.12
1979 22.77 21.49 20.4 16.99
1980 22.03 21.04 20.1 16.88
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003.

Narrative description for Chart 3.
Percentage of individuals meeting the thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by year of birth

In Chart 3, there are four vertical lines indicating the average age at which individuals born in a specific birth year—given in the bottom horizontal axis, from 1946 through 1980—first report earnings that exceed the very low-wage earner, low-wage earner, and average wage index thresholds. The bottom horizontal axis also shows that the maximum age a person born in 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980 can attain in the year 2003 (the final year of data) is 53, 43, 33, and 23, respectively. Vertical line #1 shows that the percentage of individuals who were born in 1950 and reported some earnings and met the very low-wage earner, low-wage earner, and average wage index thresholds was 94 percent, 89 percent, and 63 percent, respectively. The line also highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1950 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 53 years old. Vertical line #2 shows the percentage of individuals who were born in 1960 and reported some earnings and met the very low-wage earner, low-wage earner, and average wage index thresholds was 94 percent, 88 percent, and 57 percent, respectively. The line also highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1950 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 43 years old. Vertical line #3 shows that the percentage of individuals who were born in 1970 and reported some earnings and met the very low-wage earner, low-wage earner, and average wage index thresholds was 92 percent, 83 percent, and 46 percent, respectively. The line also highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1950 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 33 years old. Vertical line #4 shows that the percentage of individuals who were born in 1980 and reported some earnings and met the very low-wage earner, low-wage earner, and average wage index thresholds was 73 percent, 48 percent, and 7 percent, respectively. The line also highlights the fact that the maximum age that someone born in 1950 can achieve in 2003 (the final year of data) is 23 years old.

Table equivalent for Chart 3. Percentage of individuals meeting the thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by year of birth
Year Average
wage
index		 Low-wage
earners		 Very
low-wage
earners
1946 64.91 89.30 94.38
1947 65.00 90.00 94.80
1948 64.15 89.47 94.51
1949 63.77 89.31 94.51
1950 62.72 88.98 94.39
1951 63.66 89.52 94.68
1952 62.75 89.36 94.51
1953 62.61 89.52 94.57
1954 62.03 89.23 94.56
1955 61.36 88.92 94.55
1956 61.39 89.24 94.64
1957 59.85 88.86 94.48
1958 59.51 88.58 94.45
1959 58.71 88.42 94.50
1960 57.33 87.79 94.21
1961 56.80 87.60 94.20
1962 55.72 86.97 93.98
1963 54.01 86.29 93.74
1964 53.71 86.27 93.72
1965 52.26 85.35 93.18
1966 51.59 85.29 93.39
1967 49.57 84.44 92.82
1968 48.37 84.03 92.56
1969 47.53 83.37 92.23
1970 45.87 82.76 91.96
1971 43.60 81.60 91.44
1972 40.54 80.00 90.62
1973 37.87 79.01 90.03
1974 35.54 77.25 89.08
1975 31.47 75.42 88.43
1976 27.54 72.66 86.99
1977 22.86 69.45 85.33
1978 17.09 64.53 82.77
1979 12.07 57.39 78.89
1980 6.75 47.80 72.74
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003.
Table equivalent for Chart 4. Cumulative percentage of individuals meeting the very low-wage earner thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by age category and year of birth
Year of birth Under 18 Under 20 Under 22 Under 24 Under 26 Under 28
1946 4.62 33.64 22.82 11.59 4.43 2.80
1947 4.92 36.98 20.70 11.38 4.39 2.97
1948 5.23 36.51 20.92 10.66 4.69 2.72
1949 6.84 35.47 19.76 10.89 5.12 2.54
1950 7.48 35.63 17.54 12.20 4.83 2.91
1951 8.11 34.68 18.34 12.59 4.77 3.23
1952 9.10 31.20 20.94 11.53 5.25 3.37
1953 8.92 33.01 20.30 10.89 5.65 3.14
1954 7.87 36.69 16.94 11.73 5.65 2.99
1955 7.77 37.68 15.79 12.26 5.50 2.70
1956 9.63 33.05 18.80 12.72 4.85 2.52
1957 10.30 32.44 19.87 11.54 4.44 2.88
1958 8.44 34.84 19.86 10.66 4.40 2.98
1959 8.81 36.60 17.59 9.86 4.98 3.25
1960 9.28 36.75 15.52 9.69 6.07 3.46
1961 10.59 32.82 15.47 11.75 6.69 4.29
1962 11.06 29.21 15.62 13.73 7.08 4.87
1963 9.66 25.75 19.15 14.47 7.73 4.54
1964 8.16 24.48 22.25 14.56 8.46 4.00
1965 6.05 26.31 21.83 15.04 8.32 3.72
1966 4.43 28.12 21.56 16.38 7.15 3.87
1967 4.52 27.08 22.95 15.72 6.90 4.33
1968 4.58 26.38 23.65 14.61 7.71 4.81
1969 4.74 27.37 22.40 14.28 8.62 5.06
1970 4.55 27.68 20.41 15.64 9.49 5.17
1971 4.79 26.41 19.73 17.04 9.62 5.78
1972 4.66 22.75 21.66 17.96 10.48 6.14
1973 4.14 21.68 23.74 18.25 11.09 5.85
1974 3.25 22.24 24.71 18.49 11.07 5.93
1975 2.67 23.97 24.22 19.32 10.97 5.44
1976 2.81 24.73 24.64 19.33 10.42 5.06
1977 3.10 24.69 25.56 19.47 9.75 2.75
1978 3.24 25.00 25.89 18.96 9.68 . . .
1979 3.18 26.57 25.86 17.48 5.80 . . .
1980 3.17 27.12 24.81 17.64 . . . . . .
1981 3.78 26.88 23.70 9.11 . . . . . .
1982 3.47 25.49 23.69 . . . . . . . . .
1983 3.73 23.93 14.26 . . . . . . . . .
1984 3.23 23.37 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 2.93 7.69 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 3.02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
Table equivalent for Chart 5. Cumulative percentage of female and male workers first meeting the very low-wage earner thresholds among women reporting covered earnings, by age category and year of birth
Year of birth Under 18 Under 20 Under 22 Under 24 Under 26 Under 28
Female workers
1946 2.513262955 26.7295429 20.81882 13.514817 5.30518193 3.483200257
1947 2.572915175 29.94892358 19.97708721 13.46126307 4.959663946 3.76628956
1948 2.350012447 30.32113518 20.04480956 12.5317401 5.541448842 3.405526512
1949 3.021539689 29.89130435 19.54527323 12.6146789 6.212604707 3.206023135
1950 3.413333333 30.34666667 17.49818182 14.36121212 5.706666667 3.612121212
1951 4.038397881 29.73944295 17.99309595 15.03759398 5.896817515 3.986381047
1952 4.216260758 26.74418605 20.13367515 14.35176708 6.464017579 4.216260758
1953 4.535261544 27.54107364 20.53452931 13.58290238 7.024850121 3.917440849
1954 4.014261191 29.74602755 18.42510674 14.58250803 6.892909019 3.494872133
1955 3.993909071 31.40308897 17.13291277 14.74004786 6.756580379 3.088971068
1956 4.866096376 28.63775093 19.80827924 15.4537248 5.876284228 2.759747238
1957 5.738535597 28.47732455 20.55147369 14.13309687 5.22759902 3.24719196
1958 4.909320962 29.93673555 21.02066639 13.07043442 5.318431042 3.340362716
1959 5.529426719 31.75712894 18.80428795 11.89780094 5.809075887 3.665098936
1960 5.714167494 32.15408805 17.00182059 11.69314796 6.773419398 3.852201258
1961 7.239438985 29.88578147 15.91920719 13.44587218 7.432602671 4.224405812
1962 7.500630305 26.75855114 15.70720229 15.40885789 7.740146231 4.920581561
1963 6.866341548 23.27478313 18.6828363 16.16676017 7.932329205 4.570368133
1964 5.843498173 21.82834999 21.59936589 16.548505 8.498833062 4.060064292
1965 4.381181255 23.34319253 21.57777983 16.41556521 8.563638044 3.771143359
1966 3.456109822 24.67130704 21.20552978 17.50290023 7.356921887 4.011987626
1967 3.46369264 24.01984868 21.74511153 16.96963742 7.389210966 4.505256952
1968 3.473583673 23.46051375 21.81169256 16.57869602 8.153621877 5.107324184
1969 3.828535609 24.30203964 21.00390568 15.92169343 9.200057862 5.304016587
1970 3.546667924 24.218271 19.57270198 17.64372966 9.833514125 5.532236004
1971 3.768355538 23.3929787 18.7493922 18.48196052 10.39579889 6.413498006
1972 3.575640613 20.01179372 20.31735821 19.61509596 11.27908223 6.625924735
1973 3.345012592 19.05179021 22.1559181 20.31096025 11.92379284 6.268476952
1974 2.628979144 19.13282108 23.03512623 20.64763996 12.12403952 6.130625686
1975 2.187708751 20.85838343 23.08505901 21.49855266 11.86818081 5.555555556
1976 2.147222066 21.62359141 23.76520715 21.62359141 10.97157594 5.264338173
1977 2.513134377 21.49163191 24.77387207 21.94117966 10.31251693 . . .
1978 2.644348727 22.21252931 25.62019519 21.08391036 10.25571125 . . .
1979 2.578083642 23.84330334 25.43144521 19.78824775 . . . . . .
1980 2.497927032 24.00497512 24.46621061 19.97823383 . . . . . .
1981 3.103502599 24.2346269 23.48894607 . . . . . . . . .
1982 2.834413361 23.0388283 23.2179548 . . . . . . . . .
1983 3.036746265 21.85694036 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1984 2.784048157 20.69224981 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 2.415702063 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 2.471695104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Male workers
1946 6.587006728 40.11948991 24.68621348 9.790139572 3.604779596 2.153830706
1947 7.087623172 43.48018205 21.37775618 9.46047457 3.857540542 2.227033715
1948 7.89994933 42.23133263 21.73752821 8.927173062 3.897001244 2.082085771
1949 10.39847669 40.66505666 19.9516998 9.283856586 4.105517369 1.913431172
1950 11.32680157 40.60983426 17.57165095 10.1639044 3.996886732 2.252540976
1951 11.96711056 39.35561712 18.67459112 10.27795156 3.713468585 2.524801144
1952 13.64739958 35.34949099 21.69357243 8.906589428 4.127443881 2.585509222
1953 13.00413981 38.11190303 20.07169988 8.377790107 4.36601084 2.415603261
1954 11.48114606 43.19117405 15.55244525 9.060596081 4.495307097 2.51111477
1955 11.2837783 43.53647651 14.5419135 9.940761178 4.329302929 2.341150694
1956 14.03914378 37.134771 17.86184079 10.17658548 3.90241958 2.299996014
1957 14.56352807 36.14058617 19.23001065 9.108121968 3.696106662 2.544278332
1958 11.80054513 39.50617284 18.7630271 8.361391695 3.523328523 2.637485971
1959 11.87769813 41.11846014 16.45609727 7.95279021 4.206107173 2.855558636
1960 12.57818196 41.01531023 14.14373969 7.831625801 5.421894785 3.100418249
1961 13.71841155 35.55956679 15.04865798 10.16323968 5.991994977 4.359598179
1962 14.39143442 31.51472209 15.53298693 12.15556605 6.455676271 4.82994804
1963 12.25555154 28.05284504 19.58398587 12.88198209 7.54929125 4.517528009
1964 10.29555447 26.93779515 22.84644195 12.7218694 8.426966292 3.952939261
1965 7.593911227 29.04532469 22.06967126 13.77648915 8.101309001 3.675435978
1966 5.329937899 31.30947594 21.89608185 15.33306527 6.956172095 3.739445115
1967 5.492251595 29.92251595 24.06107566 14.56700091 6.45396536 4.161349134
1968 5.591348366 29.05660377 25.32443626 12.81638288 7.307869305 4.53290382
1969 5.599745466 30.2713513 23.72164902 12.73578474 8.067815099 4.831598564
1970 5.475478995 30.91052909 21.19001582 13.77658639 9.175602039 4.825101072
1971 5.756457565 29.2804428 20.66881919 15.67804428 8.883763838 5.179889299
1972 5.649494701 25.26004437 22.88883411 16.44071974 9.736258319 5.688932709
1973 4.893428527 24.18573141 25.23841784 16.28016051 10.292355 5.456250977
1974 3.847561294 25.19734435 26.30038162 16.42532281 10.07371007 5.729520623
1975 3.140469474 26.95480918 25.304732 17.24596796 10.1186991 5.333475275
1976 3.430877901 27.6807053 25.47134739 17.15438951 9.889001009 4.870147113
1977 3.67234573 27.74776647 26.31934344 17.09952213 9.219821317 . . .
1978 3.800623053 27.65835929 26.14745587 16.93146417 9.132917965 . . .
1979 3.754541784 29.17339524 26.26160678 15.27048849 . . . . . .
1980 3.810459121 30.07611097 25.1362632 15.41861036 . . . . . .
1981 4.426458833 29.40647482 23.89588329 . . . . . . . . .
1982 4.086987234 27.83692416 24.14854433 . . . . . . . . .
1983 4.403872461 25.93391561 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1984 3.651160233 25.92103816 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 3.434142706 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 3.584407004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
Table equivalent for Chart 6. Cumulative percentage of individuals meeting the low-wage earner thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by age category and year of birth
Year of birth Under 18 Under 20 Under 22 Under 24 Under 26 Under 28
1946 0.97 19.91 20.75 18.86 7.53 3.97
1947 1 20.86 20.85 18.67 7.36 4.31
1948 1.08 20.83 21.03 17.24 8.01 3.99
1949 1.52 20.4 21.4 16.64 8.21 3.89
1950 1.52 20.88 19.81 17.31 7.93 4.36
1951 1.67 20.76 21.55 16.71 7.61 4.91
1952 1.92 18.54 24.15 14.94 8.16 5.26
1953 1.73 20.92 23.27 14.12 8.87 4.9
1954 1.52 23.9 19.58 14.95 9.15 4.52
1955 1.46 24.83 18.16 16.2 8.54 4.08
1956 1.78 21.23 21.37 16.99 7.8 3.83
1957 1.97 21.08 22.61 15.64 7.31 4.3
1958 1.42 21.66 22.92 14.35 7.22 4.72
1959 1.43 23.72 20.77 13.18 8.07 5.1
1960 1.49 23.68 18.48 12.94 9.61 5.12
1961 1.76 20.67 17.91 14.99 10.27 5.94
1962 1.84 18 16.97 17.35 10.84 6.27
1963 1.43 14.45 18.86 18.4 11.18 6.4
1964 1.09 12.37 21.27 18.31 12.21 5.82
1965 0.79 12.7 20.96 18.34 11.8 5.53
1966 0.45 13.04 20.32 19.46 11.24 5.64
1967 0.41 12.04 20.83 19.09 10.64 6.79
1968 0.49 10.77 21.39 17.64 11.98 7.48
1969 0.48 10.91 20.73 16.72 13.57 7.89
1970 0.45 10.61 18.39 18.03 14.82 8.18
1971 0.51 9.31 17.25 19.83 14.97 8.89
1972 0.52 7.57 17.49 20.63 15.16 9.26
1973 0.36 6.22 19.27 20.34 16.44 9.06
1974 0.26 6.58 19.08 20.62 16.53 9.3
1975 0.19 7.12 19.09 21.66 16.36 8.28
1976 0.24 7.46 18.68 22.49 15.95 7.83
1977 0.21 7.26 19.91 22.63 15.19 4.26
1978 0.26 7.43 20.02 22.14 14.69 . . .
1979 0.24 7.97 20.19 20.43 8.56 . . .
1980 0.24 7.79 19.91 19.85 . . . . . .
1981 0.3 8.12 19.07 8.84 . . . . . .
1982 0.25 7.66 17.68 . . . . . . . . .
1983 0.31 6.82 8.71 . . . . . . . . .
1984 0.28 6.22 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 0.25 0.97 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 0.29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
Table equivalent for Chart 7. Cumulative percentage of female and male workers first meeting the low-wage earner thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by age category and year of birth
Year of birth Under 18 Under 20 Under 22 Under 24 Under 26 Under 28
Female workers
1946 0.47 16.17 18.68 15.19 6.63 4.13
1947 0.44 17.81 19.49 14.77 6.32 4.33
1948 0.39 17.36 19.46 14.16 6.98 4.13
1949 0.46 16.87 19.43 13.72 7.90 4.43
1950 0.51 17.08 17.56 14.82 8.15 4.90
1951 0.61 16.98 17.06 16.61 8.15 5.37
1952 0.58 14.77 18.09 16.14 8.70 6.00
1953 0.56 14.13 20.01 15.37 9.84 5.70
1954 0.63 15.34 18.61 15.92 10.06 5.08
1955 0.45 16.81 16.87 17.24 9.59 4.50
1956 0.49 14.80 19.34 18.28 8.98 4.11
1957 0.71 14.58 20.51 17.20 8.15 4.65
1958 0.49 14.93 21.21 15.95 8.25 4.91
1959 0.60 16.78 19.82 14.55 8.68 5.31
1960 0.58 17.12 17.49 14.13 9.96 5.41
1961 0.75 15.73 16.60 15.73 10.48 5.84
1962 0.87 13.51 15.26 17.66 11.36 6.22
1963 0.67 10.83 16.18 19.03 11.17 6.15
1964 0.62 9.01 18.03 19.21 12.05 5.94
1965 0.34 9.26 18.68 18.87 11.59 5.64
1966 0.27 9.41 18.18 19.73 11.32 5.57
1967 0.25 9.23 17.74 19.40 10.98 6.48
1968 0.27 8.42 17.81 18.23 12.24 7.31
1969 0.31 8.44 17.55 17.28 13.54 7.73
1970 0.33 8.41 14.91 18.56 14.82 8.23
1971 0.29 7.46 13.96 19.61 15.13 8.96
1972 0.34 5.67 13.77 20.33 15.52 9.43
1973 0.22 4.58 15.17 20.47 16.85 9.45
1974 0.15 4.61 14.87 21.10 17.31 9.35
1975 0.11 4.70 15.30 22.62 16.77 8.64
1976 0.15 5.07 14.97 22.80 16.76 8.01
1977 0.12 5.04 16.46 23.25 16.04 . . .
1978 0.18 5.19 16.66 22.95 16.00 . . .
1979 0.16 5.80 16.72 21.40 . . . . . .
1980 0.18 5.65 16.70 20.80 . . . . . .
1981 0.18 6.09 16.07 . . . . . . . . .
1982 0.11 6.02 14.30 . . . . . . . . .
1983 0.21 5.07 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1984 0.17 4.49 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 0.20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 0.19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Male workers
1946 1.43 23.42 22.70 22.30 8.37 3.83
1947 1.51 23.68 22.11 22.27 8.32 4.28
1948 1.71 24.04 22.48 20.09 8.96 3.86
1949 2.51 23.69 23.24 19.37 8.50 3.38
1950 2.47 24.48 21.93 19.66 7.72 3.85
1951 2.66 24.33 25.80 16.80 7.11 4.47
1952 3.16 22.05 29.79 13.82 7.66 4.58
1953 2.81 27.25 26.31 12.95 7.96 4.16
1954 2.35 31.90 20.48 14.04 8.30 4.00
1955 2.39 32.31 19.35 15.23 7.55 3.70
1956 2.97 27.21 23.25 15.80 6.70 3.58
1957 3.16 27.15 24.56 14.18 6.52 3.97
1958 2.31 28.06 24.54 12.82 6.25 4.54
1959 2.20 30.20 21.66 11.90 7.51 4.91
1960 2.33 29.75 19.41 11.84 9.29 4.86
1961 2.70 25.28 19.13 14.30 10.07 6.04
1962 2.74 22.21 18.58 17.07 10.36 6.32
1963 2.13 17.82 21.35 17.82 11.20 6.62
1964 1.53 15.49 24.28 17.47 12.36 5.71
1965 1.21 15.87 23.07 17.86 12.00 5.42
1966 0.61 16.40 22.30 19.22 11.17 5.71
1967 0.56 14.65 23.70 18.81 10.32 7.08
1968 0.69 12.93 24.67 17.11 11.74 7.64
1969 0.65 13.23 23.74 16.19 13.59 8.03
1970 0.56 12.66 21.63 17.53 14.81 8.13
1971 0.72 11.06 20.38 20.04 14.81 8.83
1972 0.68 9.33 20.92 20.91 14.83 9.10
1973 0.49 7.79 23.17 20.23 16.05 8.69
1974 0.36 8.45 23.09 20.17 15.79 9.25
1975 0.27 9.44 22.72 20.73 15.97 7.94
1976 0.32 9.72 22.19 22.21 15.19 7.67
1977 0.30 9.39 23.22 22.03 14.37 . . .
1978 0.34 9.55 23.23 21.36 13.44 . . .
1979 0.32 10.03 23.50 19.51 . . . . . .
1980 0.29 9.82 22.96 18.95 . . . . . .
1981 0.42 10.05 21.92 . . . . . . . . .
1982 0.39 9.22 20.91 . . . . . . . . .
1983 0.42 8.51 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1984 0.38 7.87 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 0.30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 0.40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
Table equivalent for Chart 8. Cumulative percentage of individuals meeting the average wage index earner thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by age category and year of birth
Year of birth Under 18 Under 20 Under 22 Under 24 Under 26 Under 28
1946 0.02 2.03 5.30 12.61 11.03 6.64
1947 0.02 1.81 4.92 12.84 10.33 8.00
1948 0.02 2.04 5.57 10.59 10.57 7.64
1949 0.04 1.91 5.34 9.68 11.77 6.66
1950 0.03 2.09 5.24 10.09 10.26 7.29
1951 0.02 2.01 5.24 11.46 9.16 8.06
1952 0.04 1.75 6.06 9.74 10.03 8.27
1953 0.04 1.53 7.37 8.85 10.55 8.07
1954 0.02 2.15 6.21 9.49 10.89 7.20
1955 0.03 2.39 5.70 10.14 10.73 6.89
1956 0.04 1.65 6.36 10.86 9.72 6.75
1957 0.04 1.70 6.78 10.11 8.98 6.68
1958 0.05 1.94 6.97 9.00 8.68 7.68
1959 0.03 2.17 6.52 8.24 8.86 8.44
1960 0.03 2.32 5.27 7.40 10.11 8.33
1961 0.05 1.68 4.29 7.60 11.17 8.18
1962 0.06 1.34 3.33 8.29 10.81 8.69
1963 0.05 0.82 3.01 8.70 10.17 8.55
1964 0.05 0.48 3.18 8.27 11.28 7.60
1965 0.04 0.49 3.28 7.96 10.60 6.97
1966 0.02 0.52 3.09 8.11 9.83 7.55
1967 0.02 0.45 2.80 7.29 8.41 8.83
1968 0.03 0.35 2.66 6.23 8.97 9.01
1969 0.02 0.43 2.54 5.22 9.87 9.28
1970 0.03 0.43 1.78 5.24 10.06 9.30
1971 0.03 0.31 1.36 5.65 9.94 9.98
1972 0.02 0.20 1.31 5.43 9.77 10.04
1973 0.02 0.16 1.32 5.23 10.55 9.91
1974 0.01 0.14 1.44 5.54 10.72 10.43
1975 0.03 0.16 1.50 5.90 10.84 9.47
1976 0.02 0.22 1.51 5.94 10.97 8.89
1977 0.01 0.19 1.62 6.29 10.44 4.31
1978 0.01 0.15 1.47 6.46 9.00 . . .
1979 0.01 0.20 1.79 5.80 4.26 . . .
1980 0.02 0.22 1.67 4.84 . . . . . .
1981 0.01 0.17 1.49 1.39 . . . . . .
1982 0.01 0.19 1.18 . . . . . . . . .
1983 0.03 0.18 0.40 . . . . . . . . .
1984 0.01 0.16 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 0.02 0.02 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 0.01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
Table equivalent for Chart 9. Cumulative percentage of female and male workers first meeting the average wage index earner thresholds among those reporting covered earnings, by age category and year of birth
Year at birth Under 18 Under 20 Under 22 Under 24 Under 26 Under 28
Female workers
1946 0.01 0.36 2.06 7.32 5.72 2.98
1947 0.01 0.32 2.27 7.73 5.12 4.09
1948 0.00 0.35 2.42 7.14 4.81 4.45
1949 . 0.29 2.38 5.89 5.87 4.53
1950 0.01 0.33 2.33 5.20 6.57 5.09
1951 0.01 0.40 1.74 6.09 6.12 5.49
1952 0.01 0.30 1.54 5.76 6.52 5.62
1953 0.00 0.17 1.80 5.66 6.67 5.94
1954 0.00 0.26 2.01 5.73 7.10 5.66
1955 0.00 0.35 1.90 5.90 7.50 5.88
1956 0.02 0.19 2.09 6.02 7.47 6.08
1957 0.01 0.25 1.98 6.20 7.25 5.59
1958 0.02 0.36 2.27 6.00 7.52 6.28
1959 0.02 0.36 2.39 6.12 7.14 7.19
1960 0.01 0.45 1.91 5.72 7.78 6.85
1961 0.03 0.36 1.91 5.71 8.97 6.40
1962 0.02 0.24 1.49 6.08 8.70 6.67
1963 0.02 0.18 1.24 6.41 8.08 6.61
1964 0.03 0.09 1.49 6.20 9.04 6.27
1965 0.01 0.10 1.59 6.54 8.62 5.65
1966 0.01 0.11 1.60 6.22 8.60 6.34
1967 0.01 0.14 1.36 5.75 7.18 7.10
1968 0.02 0.09 1.44 4.93 7.66 7.15
1969 0.01 0.19 1.32 4.51 8.13 7.27
1970 0.03 0.15 0.83 4.16 8.24 7.08
1971 0.01 0.11 0.62 4.42 7.74 8.00
1972 0.02 0.07 0.65 3.78 7.46 8.05
1973 0.01 0.07 0.62 3.76 8.28 7.86
1974 0.01 0.06 0.59 3.94 8.38 8.61
1975 0.02 0.07 0.55 4.22 8.73 8.27
1976 0.01 0.06 0.45 4.15 8.90 7.83
1977 0.01 0.05 0.63 4.60 9.43 . . .
1978 0.01 0.07 0.57 4.78 7.98 . . .
1979 0.01 0.04 0.63 4.32 . . . . . .
1980 0.02 0.05 0.61 3.93 . . . . . .
1981 0.01 0.05 0.63 . . . . . . . . .
1982 0.01 0.04 0.55 . . . . . . . . .
1983 0.02 0.07 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1984 0.01 0.06 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 0.01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Male workers
1946 0.04 3.60 8.34 17.57 16.01 10.07
1947 0.04 3.20 7.36 17.56 15.15 11.62
1948 0.03 3.60 8.48 13.79 15.90 10.60
1949 0.08 3.42 8.09 13.21 17.26 8.64
1950 0.05 3.75 7.99 14.70 13.74 9.37
1951 0.04 3.53 8.55 16.53 12.03 10.49
1952 0.08 3.09 10.27 13.45 13.29 10.74
1953 0.08 2.80 12.57 11.82 14.17 10.06
1954 0.04 3.91 10.15 13.00 14.43 8.65
1955 0.05 4.30 9.24 14.09 13.74 7.82
1956 0.05 3.00 10.32 15.35 11.81 7.37
1957 0.06 3.06 11.27 13.77 10.60 7.70
1958 0.08 3.43 11.43 11.84 9.78 9.00
1959 0.04 3.86 10.38 10.21 10.47 9.62
1960 0.04 4.06 8.39 8.96 12.27 9.69
1961 0.08 2.92 6.51 9.36 13.23 9.85
1962 0.09 2.37 5.04 10.35 12.79 10.58
1963 0.07 1.41 4.65 10.82 12.10 10.35
1964 0.07 0.84 4.73 10.18 13.35 8.83
1965 0.06 0.85 4.84 9.27 12.43 8.20
1966 0.03 0.89 4.47 9.86 10.97 8.67
1967 0.02 0.74 4.13 8.72 9.55 10.44
1968 0.04 0.59 3.77 7.42 10.18 10.71
1969 0.02 0.66 3.69 5.89 11.51 11.18
1970 0.03 0.69 2.66 6.25 11.76 11.37
1971 0.05 0.51 2.07 6.81 12.02 11.86
1972 0.02 0.33 1.92 6.95 11.90 11.87
1973 0.02 0.24 1.98 6.62 12.72 11.86
1974 0.02 0.21 2.24 7.06 12.94 12.17
1975 0.04 0.24 2.42 7.51 12.85 10.62
1976 0.03 0.37 2.51 7.63 12.93 9.88
1977 0.02 0.33 2.57 7.91 11.41 . . .
1978 0.01 0.23 2.34 8.06 9.97 . . .
1979 0.01 0.36 2.89 7.22 . . . . . .
1980 0.01 0.38 2.68 5.71 . . . . . .
1981 0.01 0.28 2.31 . . . . . . . . .
1982 0.02 0.32 1.78 . . . . . . . . .
1983 0.04 0.28 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1984 0.02 0.26 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1985 0.02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1986 0.02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the Continuous Work History Sample active file for tax year 2003
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.