Wage Statistics for 2016

Social Security Online	Automatic Increases

Office of the Chief Actuary	Wage Statistics for 2016

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 2016.

Net compensation components for 2016
Compensation subject to Federal income taxes $7,349,027,898,884.95

Deferred compensation plan
Contributions^a
Distributions^b
+ 280,154,429,853.53
- 2,428,115,510.42

Net compensation 7,626,754,213,228.06

^aWages on which contributions were paid by 57,249,617 workers.
^bDistributions, to the extent included in reported wages (see text above), paid to 57,562 workers.

The "raw" average wage, computed as net compensation divided by the number of wage earners, is $7,626,754,213,228.06 divided by 163,520,606, or $46,640.94. Based on data in the table below, about 67.3 percent of wage earners had net compensation less than or equal to the $46,640.94 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 $30,533.31 for 2016.

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 21,816,123 21,816,123 13.34151 $45,481,358,190.49 $2,084.76

5,000.00 — 9,999.99 13,529,877 35,346,000 21.61562 100,220,796,177.90 7,407.37

10,000.00 — 14,999.99 12,102,010 47,448,010 29.01653 150,788,671,860.45 12,459.80

15,000.00 — 19,999.99 11,453,384 58,901,394 36.02078 200,106,115,434.33 17,471.35

20,000.00 — 24,999.99 11,173,818 70,075,212 42.85406 251,121,785,557.04 22,474.13

25,000.00 — 29,999.99 10,593,623 80,668,835 49.33252 290,964,829,758.98 27,466.04

30,000.00 — 34,999.99 9,935,533 90,604,368 55.40853 322,365,820,473.49 32,445.75

35,000.00 — 39,999.99 9,017,358 99,621,726 60.92304 337,665,185,251.81 37,446.13

40,000.00 — 44,999.99 7,988,411 107,610,137 65.80830 339,016,670,408.12 42,438.56

45,000.00 — 49,999.99 6,961,415 114,571,552 70.06551 330,211,399,466.71 47,434.52

50,000.00 — 54,999.99 6,103,432 120,674,984 73.79803 319,963,972,310.56 52,423.62

55,000.00 — 59,999.99 5,181,243 125,856,227 76.96659 297,584,499,078.91 57,434.96

60,000.00 — 64,999.99 4,518,874 130,375,101 79.73007 282,023,132,994.97 62,410.05

65,000.00 — 69,999.99 3,855,719 134,230,820 82.08802 259,977,875,839.08 67,426.56

70,000.00 — 74,999.99 3,335,214 137,566,034 84.12764 241,567,486,557.85 72,429.38

75,000.00 — 79,999.99 2,912,036 140,478,070 85.90848 225,483,285,712.46 77,431.49

80,000.00 — 84,999.99 2,508,032 142,986,102 87.44225 206,752,383,718.31 82,436.10

85,000.00 — 89,999.99 2,159,364 145,145,466 88.76280 188,810,796,757.26 87,438.15

90,000.00 — 94,999.99 1,890,469 147,035,935 89.91890 174,703,556,740.96 92,412.81

95,000.00 — 99,999.99 1,633,929 148,669,864 90.91812 159,217,250,515.09 97,444.41

100,000.00 — 104,999.99 1,440,916 150,110,780 91.79931 147,582,411,073.61 102,422.63

105,000.00 — 109,999.99 1,249,648 151,360,428 92.56352 134,259,369,198.88 107,437.75

110,000.00 — 114,999.99 1,090,545 152,450,973 93.23044 122,619,918,287.17 112,439.12

115,000.00 — 119,999.99 974,172 153,425,145 93.82618 114,421,988,327.43 117,455.63

120,000.00 — 124,999.99 876,563 154,301,708 94.36224 107,300,446,665.90 122,410.42

125,000.00 — 129,999.99 762,882 155,064,590 94.82878 97,220,047,318.09 127,437.86

130,000.00 — 134,999.99 685,213 155,749,803 95.24781 90,731,547,024.30 132,413.64

135,000.00 — 139,999.99 601,586 156,351,389 95.61571 82,684,022,915.34 137,443.40

140,000.00 — 144,999.99 540,008 156,891,397 95.94595 76,916,881,136.00 142,436.56

145,000.00 — 149,999.99 479,079 157,370,476 96.23893 70,645,139,721.10 147,460.31

150,000.00 — 154,999.99 442,139 157,812,615 96.50931 67,382,311,759.69 152,400.74

155,000.00 — 159,999.99 390,459 158,203,074 96.74810 61,471,501,037.17 157,433.95

160,000.00 — 164,999.99 342,165 158,545,239 96.95735 55,579,529,421.99 162,434.88

165,000.00 — 169,999.99 306,113 158,851,352 97.14455 51,257,588,435.15 167,446.62

170,000.00 — 174,999.99 277,338 159,128,690 97.31415 47,827,691,449.64 172,452.72

175,000.00 — 179,999.99 252,438 159,381,128 97.46853 44,791,806,938.97 177,436.86

180,000.00 — 184,999.99 235,058 159,616,186 97.61228 42,877,300,084.71 182,411.58

185,000.00 — 189,999.99 209,200 159,825,386 97.74021 39,215,427,526.69 187,454.24

190,000.00 — 194,999.99 191,999 160,017,385 97.85763 36,950,535,400.36 192,451.71

195,000.00 — 199,999.99 180,861 160,198,246 97.96823 35,716,244,001.08 197,478.97

200,000.00 — 249,999.99 1,208,143 161,406,389 98.70706 268,213,484,815.94 222,004.75

250,000.00 — 299,999.99 657,072 162,063,461 99.10889 179,113,971,385.40 272,594.13

300,000.00 — 349,999.99 390,443 162,453,904 99.34767 126,068,222,812.74 322,885.09

350,000.00 — 399,999.99 255,442 162,709,346 99.50388 95,382,900,856.18 373,403.36

400,000.00 — 449,999.99 175,104 162,884,450 99.61096 74,117,759,174.81 423,278.50

450,000.00 — 499,999.99 122,958 163,007,408 99.68616 58,244,737,340.76 473,696.20

500,000.00 — 999,999.99 380,061 163,387,469 99.91858 252,216,376,233.30 663,620.78

1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99 68,085 163,455,554 99.96022 81,636,551,874.73 1,199,038.73

1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99 24,394 163,479,948 99.97514 41,896,993,402.03 1,717,512.23

2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99 12,235 163,492,183 99.98262 27,222,415,420.62 2,224,962.44

2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99 7,204 163,499,387 99.98702 19,647,408,544.24 2,727,291.58

3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99 4,758 163,504,145 99.98993 15,369,967,052.02 3,230,341.96

3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99 3,055 163,507,200 99.99180 11,408,889,511.85 3,734,497.39

4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99 2,307 163,509,507 99.99321 9,765,277,165.20 4,232,889.97

4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99 1,721 163,511,228 99.99426 8,164,097,338.24 4,743,810.19

5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99 6,406 163,517,634 99.99818 43,245,892,878.19 6,750,841.85

10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99 2,122 163,519,756 99.99948 28,813,967,776.22 13,578,684.15

20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99 707 163,520,463 99.99991 20,341,784,475.85 28,771,972.38

50,000,000.00 and over 143 163,520,606 100.00000 14,404,934,641.70 100,733,808.68

**Distribution of wage earners by level of net compensation**
	Wage earners	Net compensation
$0.01 — 4,999.99	21,816,123	21,816,123	13.34151	$45,481,358,190.49	$2,084.76
5,000.00 — 9,999.99	13,529,877	35,346,000	21.61562	100,220,796,177.90	7,407.37
10,000.00 — 14,999.99	12,102,010	47,448,010	29.01653	150,788,671,860.45	12,459.80
15,000.00 — 19,999.99	11,453,384	58,901,394	36.02078	200,106,115,434.33	17,471.35
20,000.00 — 24,999.99	11,173,818	70,075,212	42.85406	251,121,785,557.04	22,474.13
25,000.00 — 29,999.99	10,593,623	80,668,835	49.33252	290,964,829,758.98	27,466.04
30,000.00 — 34,999.99	9,935,533	90,604,368	55.40853	322,365,820,473.49	32,445.75
35,000.00 — 39,999.99	9,017,358	99,621,726	60.92304	337,665,185,251.81	37,446.13
40,000.00 — 44,999.99	7,988,411	107,610,137	65.80830	339,016,670,408.12	42,438.56
45,000.00 — 49,999.99	6,961,415	114,571,552	70.06551	330,211,399,466.71	47,434.52
50,000.00 — 54,999.99	6,103,432	120,674,984	73.79803	319,963,972,310.56	52,423.62
55,000.00 — 59,999.99	5,181,243	125,856,227	76.96659	297,584,499,078.91	57,434.96
60,000.00 — 64,999.99	4,518,874	130,375,101	79.73007	282,023,132,994.97	62,410.05
65,000.00 — 69,999.99	3,855,719	134,230,820	82.08802	259,977,875,839.08	67,426.56
70,000.00 — 74,999.99	3,335,214	137,566,034	84.12764	241,567,486,557.85	72,429.38
75,000.00 — 79,999.99	2,912,036	140,478,070	85.90848	225,483,285,712.46	77,431.49
80,000.00 — 84,999.99	2,508,032	142,986,102	87.44225	206,752,383,718.31	82,436.10
85,000.00 — 89,999.99	2,159,364	145,145,466	88.76280	188,810,796,757.26	87,438.15
90,000.00 — 94,999.99	1,890,469	147,035,935	89.91890	174,703,556,740.96	92,412.81
95,000.00 — 99,999.99	1,633,929	148,669,864	90.91812	159,217,250,515.09	97,444.41
100,000.00 — 104,999.99	1,440,916	150,110,780	91.79931	147,582,411,073.61	102,422.63
105,000.00 — 109,999.99	1,249,648	151,360,428	92.56352	134,259,369,198.88	107,437.75
110,000.00 — 114,999.99	1,090,545	152,450,973	93.23044	122,619,918,287.17	112,439.12
115,000.00 — 119,999.99	974,172	153,425,145	93.82618	114,421,988,327.43	117,455.63
120,000.00 — 124,999.99	876,563	154,301,708	94.36224	107,300,446,665.90	122,410.42
125,000.00 — 129,999.99	762,882	155,064,590	94.82878	97,220,047,318.09	127,437.86
130,000.00 — 134,999.99	685,213	155,749,803	95.24781	90,731,547,024.30	132,413.64
135,000.00 — 139,999.99	601,586	156,351,389	95.61571	82,684,022,915.34	137,443.40
140,000.00 — 144,999.99	540,008	156,891,397	95.94595	76,916,881,136.00	142,436.56
145,000.00 — 149,999.99	479,079	157,370,476	96.23893	70,645,139,721.10	147,460.31
150,000.00 — 154,999.99	442,139	157,812,615	96.50931	67,382,311,759.69	152,400.74
155,000.00 — 159,999.99	390,459	158,203,074	96.74810	61,471,501,037.17	157,433.95
160,000.00 — 164,999.99	342,165	158,545,239	96.95735	55,579,529,421.99	162,434.88
165,000.00 — 169,999.99	306,113	158,851,352	97.14455	51,257,588,435.15	167,446.62
170,000.00 — 174,999.99	277,338	159,128,690	97.31415	47,827,691,449.64	172,452.72
175,000.00 — 179,999.99	252,438	159,381,128	97.46853	44,791,806,938.97	177,436.86
180,000.00 — 184,999.99	235,058	159,616,186	97.61228	42,877,300,084.71	182,411.58
185,000.00 — 189,999.99	209,200	159,825,386	97.74021	39,215,427,526.69	187,454.24
190,000.00 — 194,999.99	191,999	160,017,385	97.85763	36,950,535,400.36	192,451.71
195,000.00 — 199,999.99	180,861	160,198,246	97.96823	35,716,244,001.08	197,478.97
200,000.00 — 249,999.99	1,208,143	161,406,389	98.70706	268,213,484,815.94	222,004.75
250,000.00 — 299,999.99	657,072	162,063,461	99.10889	179,113,971,385.40	272,594.13
300,000.00 — 349,999.99	390,443	162,453,904	99.34767	126,068,222,812.74	322,885.09
350,000.00 — 399,999.99	255,442	162,709,346	99.50388	95,382,900,856.18	373,403.36
400,000.00 — 449,999.99	175,104	162,884,450	99.61096	74,117,759,174.81	423,278.50
450,000.00 — 499,999.99	122,958	163,007,408	99.68616	58,244,737,340.76	473,696.20
500,000.00 — 999,999.99	380,061	163,387,469	99.91858	252,216,376,233.30	663,620.78
1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99	68,085	163,455,554	99.96022	81,636,551,874.73	1,199,038.73
1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99	24,394	163,479,948	99.97514	41,896,993,402.03	1,717,512.23
2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99	12,235	163,492,183	99.98262	27,222,415,420.62	2,224,962.44
2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99	7,204	163,499,387	99.98702	19,647,408,544.24	2,727,291.58
3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99	4,758	163,504,145	99.98993	15,369,967,052.02	3,230,341.96
3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99	3,055	163,507,200	99.99180	11,408,889,511.85	3,734,497.39
4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99	2,307	163,509,507	99.99321	9,765,277,165.20	4,232,889.97
4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99	1,721	163,511,228	99.99426	8,164,097,338.24	4,743,810.19
5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99	6,406	163,517,634	99.99818	43,245,892,878.19	6,750,841.85
10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99	2,122	163,519,756	99.99948	28,813,967,776.22	13,578,684.15
20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99	707	163,520,463	99.99991	20,341,784,475.85	28,771,972.38
50,000,000.00 and over	143	163,520,606	100.00000	14,404,934,641.70	100,733,808.68


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