1301. Maximum Earnings Creditable in any One Year

1301.1 What is the maximum amount of wages that can be credited to your record?

The following table lists the maximum amount of wages that can be credited to your Social Security record.

Maximum Earnings Creditable
Year	Maximum Earnings	Year	Maximum Earnings
2009	$106,800	1986	$42,000
2008	$102,000	1985	$39,600
2007	$97,500	1984	$37,800
2006	$94,200	1983	$35,700
2005	$90,000	1982	$32,400
2004	$87,900	1981	$29,700
2003	$87,000	1980	$25,900
2002	$84,900	1979	$22,900
2001	$80,400	1978	$17,700
2000	$76,200	1977	$16,500
1999	$72,600	1976	$15,300
1998	$68,400	1975	$14,100
1997	$65,400	1974	$13,200
1996	$62,700	1973	$10,800
1995	$61,200	1972	$9,000
1994	$60,600	1968-1971	$7,800/year
1993	$57,600	1967	$6,600
1992	$55,500	1966	$6,600
1991	$53,400	1959-1965	$4,800/year
1990	$51,300	1955-1958	$4,200/year
1989	$48,000	1951-1954	$3,600/year
1988	$45,000	1940-1950	$3,000/year
1987	$43,800	1937-1939	$3,000 per employer/year

1301.2 How is the maximum wage amount increased each year?

For the years after 1981, the maximum wage amount is usually increased by Congress. If Congress does not increase the maximum amount, it is automatically increased in multiples of $300 if there is a cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits. The increased amount is officially published in the Federal Register on or before November 1 of the year before it goes into effect.

Last Revised: Sep. 1, 2009

Skip to content Social Security Online	Social Security Handbook
www.socialsecurity.gov		Search


	Privacy Policy \| Website Policies & Other Important Information \| Site Map Last reviewed or modified Wednesday Sep 02, 2009	Need LargerText?