Wage Statistics for 2021

Social Security Online	Automatic Increases

Office of the Chief Actuary	Wage Statistics for 2021

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 2021.

Net compensation components for 2021
Compensation subject to Federal income taxes $9,392,552,188,113.47

Deferred compensation plan
Contributions^a
Distributions^b
+ 384,969,575,833.54
- 3,941,883,671.35

Net compensation 9,773,579,880,275.66

^aWages on which contributions were paid by 67,526,105 workers.
^bDistributions, to the extent included in reported wages (see text above), paid to 61,911 workers.

The "raw" average wage, computed as net compensation divided by the number of wage earners, is $9,773,579,880,275.66 divided by 168,133,174, or $58,129.99. Based on data in the table below, about 68.6 percent of wage earners had net compensation less than or equal to the $58,129.99 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 $37,586.03 for 2021.

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 19,168,857 19,168,857 11.40100 $40,478,537,948.12 $2,111.68

5,000.00 — 9,999.99 12,010,018 31,178,875 18.54415 88,679,411,643.95 7,383.79

10,000.00 — 14,999.99 10,182,049 41,360,924 24.60010 126,699,324,993.07 12,443.40

15,000.00 — 19,999.99 9,396,646 50,757,570 30.18891 164,109,902,022.02 17,464.73

20,000.00 — 24,999.99 9,184,613 59,942,183 35.65161 206,725,492,846.24 22,507.81

25,000.00 — 29,999.99 9,490,839 69,433,022 41.29644 261,007,206,832.30 27,500.96

30,000.00 — 34,999.99 9,738,812 79,171,834 47.08876 316,218,576,095.81 32,469.93

35,000.00 — 39,999.99 9,295,211 88,467,045 52.61725 348,184,635,378.82 37,458.50

40,000.00 — 44,999.99 8,463,145 96,930,190 57.65084 359,201,873,265.69 42,443.07

45,000.00 — 49,999.99 7,643,924 104,574,114 62.19719 362,734,004,750.06 47,453.90

50,000.00 — 54,999.99 6,921,288 111,495,402 66.31374 362,890,111,061.22 52,431.01

55,000.00 — 59,999.99 6,070,929 117,566,331 69.92453 348,778,622,813.00 57,450.62

60,000.00 — 64,999.99 5,446,374 123,012,705 73.16385 339,925,077,851.64 62,413.10

65,000.00 — 69,999.99 4,721,911 127,734,616 75.97229 318,415,498,571.12 67,433.61

70,000.00 — 74,999.99 4,163,774 131,898,390 78.44876 301,595,536,492.56 72,433.21

75,000.00 — 79,999.99 3,670,936 135,569,326 80.63211 284,268,696,807.49 77,437.66

80,000.00 — 84,999.99 3,206,359 138,775,685 82.53915 264,332,065,632.21 82,439.95

85,000.00 — 89,999.99 2,794,898 141,570,583 84.20146 244,380,051,209.72 87,437.91

90,000.00 — 94,999.99 2,475,521 144,046,104 85.67381 228,809,739,491.67 92,428.92

95,000.00 — 99,999.99 2,187,592 146,233,696 86.97492 213,190,561,787.57 97,454.44

100,000.00 — 104,999.99 1,955,672 148,189,368 88.13809 200,305,498,556.58 102,422.85

105,000.00 — 109,999.99 1,681,967 149,871,335 89.13847 180,720,177,236.96 107,445.73

110,000.00 — 114,999.99 1,496,365 151,367,700 90.02846 168,259,502,781.90 112,445.49

115,000.00 — 119,999.99 1,343,450 152,711,150 90.82749 157,792,907,140.41 117,453.50

120,000.00 — 124,999.99 1,226,965 153,938,115 91.55725 150,200,010,046.61 122,415.89

125,000.00 — 129,999.99 1,083,816 155,021,931 92.20187 138,124,334,670.74 127,442.61

130,000.00 — 134,999.99 982,336 156,004,267 92.78613 130,085,959,691.66 132,425.12

135,000.00 — 139,999.99 875,601 156,879,868 93.30691 120,347,343,947.18 137,445.42

140,000.00 — 144,999.99 797,919 157,677,787 93.78148 113,664,059,686.14 142,450.62

145,000.00 — 149,999.99 717,007 158,394,794 94.20794 105,735,772,264.79 147,468.26

150,000.00 — 154,999.99 660,125 159,054,919 94.60056 100,607,420,524.72 152,406.62

155,000.00 — 159,999.99 586,873 159,641,792 94.94961 92,398,809,855.50 157,442.60

160,000.00 — 164,999.99 531,788 160,173,580 95.26590 86,387,419,995.03 162,447.10

165,000.00 — 169,999.99 487,146 160,660,726 95.55564 81,575,047,864.20 167,455.03

170,000.00 — 174,999.99 437,543 161,098,269 95.81587 75,455,132,677.28 172,451.93

175,000.00 — 179,999.99 391,780 161,490,049 96.04889 69,515,535,251.65 177,435.13

180,000.00 — 184,999.99 360,149 161,850,198 96.26310 65,694,898,402.57 182,410.33

185,000.00 — 189,999.99 323,539 162,173,737 96.45553 60,649,114,133.55 187,455.34

190,000.00 — 194,999.99 298,743 162,472,480 96.63321 57,492,694,058.39 192,448.67

195,000.00 — 199,999.99 280,814 162,753,294 96.80023 55,456,761,728.56 197,485.74

200,000.00 — 249,999.99 1,900,142 164,653,436 97.93037 422,061,450,993.66 222,121.01

250,000.00 — 299,999.99 1,034,473 165,687,909 98.54564 282,266,829,042.55 272,860.51

300,000.00 — 349,999.99 636,321 166,324,230 98.92410 205,523,349,391.53 322,986.90

350,000.00 — 399,999.99 415,524 166,739,754 99.17124 155,134,388,856.49 373,346.40

400,000.00 — 449,999.99 289,656 167,029,410 99.34352 122,672,964,820.57 423,512.60

450,000.00 — 499,999.99 209,119 167,238,529 99.46790 99,075,665,012.95 473,776.49

500,000.00 — 999,999.99 657,314 167,895,843 99.85884 436,493,977,022.58 664,057.02

1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99 117,713 168,013,556 99.92886 141,375,860,330.68 1,201,021.64

1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99 43,906 168,057,462 99.95497 75,453,026,446.52 1,718,512.88

2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99 21,729 168,079,191 99.96789 48,275,764,321.84 2,221,720.48

2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99 13,027 168,092,218 99.97564 35,540,828,392.14 2,728,243.52

3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99 8,468 168,100,686 99.98068 27,351,087,069.48 3,229,934.70

3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99 5,749 168,106,435 99.98410 21,473,914,896.09 3,735,243.50

4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99 4,229 168,110,664 99.98661 17,905,788,751.14 4,234,047.94

4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99 3,218 168,113,882 99.98853 15,239,203,075.39 4,735,613.14

5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99 12,381 168,126,263 99.99589 84,371,473,922.58 6,814,592.84

10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99 4,515 168,130,778 99.99857 61,230,893,866.00 13,561,659.77

20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99 1,890 168,132,668 99.99970 54,637,858,661.85 28,908,919.93

50,000,000.00 and over 506 168,133,174 100.00000 76,402,227,392.92 150,992,544.25

**Distribution of wage earners by level of net compensation**
	Wage earners	Net compensation
$0.01 — 4,999.99	19,168,857	19,168,857	11.40100	$40,478,537,948.12	$2,111.68
5,000.00 — 9,999.99	12,010,018	31,178,875	18.54415	88,679,411,643.95	7,383.79
10,000.00 — 14,999.99	10,182,049	41,360,924	24.60010	126,699,324,993.07	12,443.40
15,000.00 — 19,999.99	9,396,646	50,757,570	30.18891	164,109,902,022.02	17,464.73
20,000.00 — 24,999.99	9,184,613	59,942,183	35.65161	206,725,492,846.24	22,507.81
25,000.00 — 29,999.99	9,490,839	69,433,022	41.29644	261,007,206,832.30	27,500.96
30,000.00 — 34,999.99	9,738,812	79,171,834	47.08876	316,218,576,095.81	32,469.93
35,000.00 — 39,999.99	9,295,211	88,467,045	52.61725	348,184,635,378.82	37,458.50
40,000.00 — 44,999.99	8,463,145	96,930,190	57.65084	359,201,873,265.69	42,443.07
45,000.00 — 49,999.99	7,643,924	104,574,114	62.19719	362,734,004,750.06	47,453.90
50,000.00 — 54,999.99	6,921,288	111,495,402	66.31374	362,890,111,061.22	52,431.01
55,000.00 — 59,999.99	6,070,929	117,566,331	69.92453	348,778,622,813.00	57,450.62
60,000.00 — 64,999.99	5,446,374	123,012,705	73.16385	339,925,077,851.64	62,413.10
65,000.00 — 69,999.99	4,721,911	127,734,616	75.97229	318,415,498,571.12	67,433.61
70,000.00 — 74,999.99	4,163,774	131,898,390	78.44876	301,595,536,492.56	72,433.21
75,000.00 — 79,999.99	3,670,936	135,569,326	80.63211	284,268,696,807.49	77,437.66
80,000.00 — 84,999.99	3,206,359	138,775,685	82.53915	264,332,065,632.21	82,439.95
85,000.00 — 89,999.99	2,794,898	141,570,583	84.20146	244,380,051,209.72	87,437.91
90,000.00 — 94,999.99	2,475,521	144,046,104	85.67381	228,809,739,491.67	92,428.92
95,000.00 — 99,999.99	2,187,592	146,233,696	86.97492	213,190,561,787.57	97,454.44
100,000.00 — 104,999.99	1,955,672	148,189,368	88.13809	200,305,498,556.58	102,422.85
105,000.00 — 109,999.99	1,681,967	149,871,335	89.13847	180,720,177,236.96	107,445.73
110,000.00 — 114,999.99	1,496,365	151,367,700	90.02846	168,259,502,781.90	112,445.49
115,000.00 — 119,999.99	1,343,450	152,711,150	90.82749	157,792,907,140.41	117,453.50
120,000.00 — 124,999.99	1,226,965	153,938,115	91.55725	150,200,010,046.61	122,415.89
125,000.00 — 129,999.99	1,083,816	155,021,931	92.20187	138,124,334,670.74	127,442.61
130,000.00 — 134,999.99	982,336	156,004,267	92.78613	130,085,959,691.66	132,425.12
135,000.00 — 139,999.99	875,601	156,879,868	93.30691	120,347,343,947.18	137,445.42
140,000.00 — 144,999.99	797,919	157,677,787	93.78148	113,664,059,686.14	142,450.62
145,000.00 — 149,999.99	717,007	158,394,794	94.20794	105,735,772,264.79	147,468.26
150,000.00 — 154,999.99	660,125	159,054,919	94.60056	100,607,420,524.72	152,406.62
155,000.00 — 159,999.99	586,873	159,641,792	94.94961	92,398,809,855.50	157,442.60
160,000.00 — 164,999.99	531,788	160,173,580	95.26590	86,387,419,995.03	162,447.10
165,000.00 — 169,999.99	487,146	160,660,726	95.55564	81,575,047,864.20	167,455.03
170,000.00 — 174,999.99	437,543	161,098,269	95.81587	75,455,132,677.28	172,451.93
175,000.00 — 179,999.99	391,780	161,490,049	96.04889	69,515,535,251.65	177,435.13
180,000.00 — 184,999.99	360,149	161,850,198	96.26310	65,694,898,402.57	182,410.33
185,000.00 — 189,999.99	323,539	162,173,737	96.45553	60,649,114,133.55	187,455.34
190,000.00 — 194,999.99	298,743	162,472,480	96.63321	57,492,694,058.39	192,448.67
195,000.00 — 199,999.99	280,814	162,753,294	96.80023	55,456,761,728.56	197,485.74
200,000.00 — 249,999.99	1,900,142	164,653,436	97.93037	422,061,450,993.66	222,121.01
250,000.00 — 299,999.99	1,034,473	165,687,909	98.54564	282,266,829,042.55	272,860.51
300,000.00 — 349,999.99	636,321	166,324,230	98.92410	205,523,349,391.53	322,986.90
350,000.00 — 399,999.99	415,524	166,739,754	99.17124	155,134,388,856.49	373,346.40
400,000.00 — 449,999.99	289,656	167,029,410	99.34352	122,672,964,820.57	423,512.60
450,000.00 — 499,999.99	209,119	167,238,529	99.46790	99,075,665,012.95	473,776.49
500,000.00 — 999,999.99	657,314	167,895,843	99.85884	436,493,977,022.58	664,057.02
1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99	117,713	168,013,556	99.92886	141,375,860,330.68	1,201,021.64
1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99	43,906	168,057,462	99.95497	75,453,026,446.52	1,718,512.88
2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99	21,729	168,079,191	99.96789	48,275,764,321.84	2,221,720.48
2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99	13,027	168,092,218	99.97564	35,540,828,392.14	2,728,243.52
3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99	8,468	168,100,686	99.98068	27,351,087,069.48	3,229,934.70
3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99	5,749	168,106,435	99.98410	21,473,914,896.09	3,735,243.50
4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99	4,229	168,110,664	99.98661	17,905,788,751.14	4,234,047.94
4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99	3,218	168,113,882	99.98853	15,239,203,075.39	4,735,613.14
5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99	12,381	168,126,263	99.99589	84,371,473,922.58	6,814,592.84
10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99	4,515	168,130,778	99.99857	61,230,893,866.00	13,561,659.77
20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99	1,890	168,132,668	99.99970	54,637,858,661.85	28,908,919.93
50,000,000.00 and over	506	168,133,174	100.00000	76,402,227,392.92	150,992,544.25


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