Comparing Earnings Estimates from the 2006 Earnings Public-Use File and the Annual Statistical Supplement

by
Research and Statistics Note No. 2012-01 (released January 2012)

Michael Compson is with the Division of Policy Evaluation, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration.

Acknowledgments: The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of many individuals in the process of creating the 2006 Earnings Public-Use File and this note: John Hennessey for graciously sharing his programming and methodological expertise; Russell Hudson for his programming expertise and sharing his vast knowledge of the earnings data; Scott Muller and Greg Diez for sharing programmatic and earnings knowledge; Sirisha Anne, Brenda South, Stu Friedrich, and Randall Miles for their assistance in providing the data extracts used in the process of creating EPUF; Susan Grad, Howard Iams, Hilary Waldron, and Anya Olsen, for their comments on previous drafts of the paper; and finally, Bill Davis and Justin Ronca for their statistical expertise.

The findings and conclusions presented in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Social Security Administration.

Introduction

Selected Abbreviations
CWHS Continuous Work History Sample
EPUF Earnings Public-Use File
ESF Earnings Suspense File
MEF Master Earnings File
OCACT Office of the Chief Actuary
ORES Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics
SSA Social Security Administration
SSN Social Security number

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently released the 2006 Earnings Public-Use File (EPUF).1 The EPUF contains earnings information for individuals drawn from a systematic random 1-percent sample of all Social Security numbers (SSNs) issued before January 2007. EPUF consists of two linkable subfiles. One contains selected demographic and aggregate earnings information for all 4,348,254 individuals in the file, and the second contains annual earnings records for the 3,131,424 individuals who had positive earnings in at least 1 year from 1951 through 2006.2

Evaluating the accuracy of the EPUF estimates was a critical step in developing the data file. Starting with 1939 data, SSA has published annual estimates of the number of workers and the value of the earnings covered under the programs it administers. The estimates first appeared in the Social Security Yearbook and, beginning with data for 1949, have been published in the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin (hereafter referred to simply as the Supplement). The Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics (ORES) produces these estimates using the Continuous Work History Sample (CWHS) sampling frame.3

Given that the CWHS and EPUF represent two distinct sampling frames, one expects differences in the earnings estimates derived from each. Besides the different sampling techniques, there are four reasons why the two sets of estimates will differ. First, the two estimates are based on different measures of earnings: The Supplement uses Social Security taxable earnings and EPUF uses capped Social Security taxable earnings. Second, the Supplement estimates are adjusted using factors developed by SSA's Office of the Chief Actuary (OCACT) to account for delinquent or fraudulent reporting of Form W-2 and Form 1040 Schedule SE information. Third, ORES and OCACT use different methodologies for updating historical estimates. Finally, EPUF removes some individuals and some earnings records (which are set equal to $0) from the underlying 1-percent sample to "clean" the data and to prevent disclosing personal information.

This note identifies and explains the differences between data in EPUF and estimates in the Supplement. It first highlights the factors that contribute to expected differences between the two estimates. It then compares EPUF and Supplement estimates, in turn focusing on earnings, number of workers with earnings, median earnings by sex and age group, and the percentage of workers with earnings below the taxable maximum by sex. After accounting for the expected differences, the note finds that remaining differences between EPUF and Supplement estimates are relatively small.

Expected Differences in the Estimates

This discussion distinguishes between the EPUF's underlying sample and the final EPUF data file. The underlying sample refers to a file containing earnings records for 4,413,024 individuals, before data cleaning and disclosure prevention procedures (discussed later) led to the removal of some earnings records. The final EPUF (or, simply, EPUF) contains the earnings records for 4,348,254 individuals. The underlying sample and the EPUF use different earnings measures, explained in the following section.

Different Measures of Earnings

All of the earnings data needed to administer the Social Security programs are contained in the Master Earnings File (MEF).4 The MEF consists of 20 segments, each containing specific data fields used for various administrative purposes. The Supplement earnings estimates analyzed here are taken from the MEF summary segment using the CWHS sampling frame.5 In general, the annual earnings data on the MEF summary segment are a running total of an individual's earnings up to the taxable maximum for each job in a given year, plus any taxable self-employment income. For the self-employed, "taxable earnings consists of net self-employment income which, when combined with any taxable wages for that individual, is at or below any applicable annual maximum taxable amount" (SSA 2011, G17).

MEF data reflect Social Security taxable earnings; that is, all earnings covered under the program subject to the payroll tax. Note that if an individual has more than one employer in a given year, the amount of earnings in this field may exceed the taxable maximum.6

The Supplement and the 1-percent MEF sample that underlies the EPUF use the same earnings measure, Social Security taxable earnings. However, in the final EPUF, earnings data for a given year are capped at the taxable maximum.7 Capped Social Security taxable earnings reflect a worker's covered earnings that are subject to the employee share of the payroll tax.

The following scenario illustrates the differences between the taxable earnings amount in the Supplement tables and the capped taxable earnings contained in EPUF. For a given year, assume the taxable maximum is $50,000 and an individual has covered earnings from two jobs. If the individual earns $60,000 in his first job and $15,000 in a second job, taxable earnings, as shown in the Supplement, would be $65,000 ($50,000 from the first job and $15,000 from the second job). However, the EPUF record would reflect only the capped taxable amount of covered earnings, or the individual's total covered earnings subject to the employee share of the payroll tax ($50,000). Given the difference between taxable earnings (Supplement) and capped taxable earnings (EPUF), one would expect the earnings amount in EPUF to be less than the Supplement earnings estimate. The difference between the two measures of earnings is the amount of covered earnings above the taxable maximum earned from multiple jobs, and it accounts for most of the differences between the Supplement and EPUF earnings estimates.

Adjustments to Taxable Earnings

In the Supplement, the estimates of annual taxable earnings and the number of workers with covered earnings reflect adjustments to the raw data pulled from the MEF summary segment. The adjustments attempt to account for two key issues: (1) earnings data for the most recent years are incomplete, and (2) some earnings data reported on W-2 and Schedule SE tax forms may be erroneous or fraudulent.

In general, by the time data are extracted to generate earnings estimates for the Supplement, approximately 98 percent of the current tax year's earnings data have been posted to the MEF.8 To account for the "missing" data, OCACT generates adjustment factors for the number of workers and the amount of taxable earnings in the extract. The adjustment factors are applied to the raw estimates to approximate the final earnings data expected to be posted to the MEF for the current tax year.9

In addition, employers may make errors when reporting employees' Social Security covered earnings, or individuals may use an SSN fraudulently. SSA has a number of procedures that attempt to identify and correct improperly reported earnings information. If these procedures cannot assign earnings information to an SSN, the record is placed in the Earnings Suspense File (ESF). Once the earnings are posted to the ESF, SSA takes additional steps to try to assign the earnings to the appropriate worker. The amount of taxable earnings data posted to the ESF has increased dramatically in recent years (Chart 1), causing a commensurate shortfall in earnings posted to the MEF. OCACT generates adjustment factors to approximate the number of workers and the amount of earnings currently in the ESF that are expected eventually to be posted to the MEF.

Chart 1.
Value of earnings in the ESF, 1937–2000 (in billions of dollars)
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 1. Value of earnings in the ESF, 1937–2000 (in billions of dollars)
Year Earnings
(billions of dollars)
1937 0.32
1938 0.15
1939 0.13
1940 0.10
1941 0.16
1942 0.24
1943 0.24
1944 0.18
1945 0.20
1946 0.22
1947 0.23
1948 0.24
1949 0.19
1950 0.21
1951 0.33
1952 0.31
1953 0.28
1954 0.26
1955 0.42
1956 0.44
1957 0.48
1958 0.43
1959 0.46
1960 0.43
1961 0.39
1962 0.42
1963 0.42
1964 0.48
1965 0.57
1966 0.77
1967 0.97
1968 1.10
1969 1.30
1970 1.36
1971 1.37
1972 1.77
1973 2.17
1974 2.20
1975 1.97
1976 2.26
1977 3.02
1978 3.60
1979 5.16
1980 6.22
1981 7.09
1982 6.84
1983 7.32
1984 8.49
1985 10.49
1986 11.79
1987 12.36
1988 10.10
1989 7.42
1990 9.29
1991 9.82
1992 11.43
1993 14.76
1994 16.26
1995 18.66
1996 22.30
1997 26.20
1998 31.20
1999 39.00
2000 49.40
 
SOURCE: SSA (2002).

These adjustment factors are used solely to generate earnings estimates in the Supplement, and are not included in the EPUF microdata. Instead, the earnings data underlying the EPUF estimates reflect only the earnings data actually posted on the MEF when the data were extracted.

The adjustment factors are relatively large for the most recent years' estimates and decrease for each earlier year until the adjustments are minimal. With each passing year, the number of additional earnings data items posted to the MEF for a given tax year decreases. With the growing size of the ESF, one would expect to see greater differences between the Supplement estimates and the EPUF estimates for the most recent years, because both the adjustment factors and the amount of earnings not yet reported on the MEF (thus missing from EPUF) are increasing.

Differences in Historical Estimates

Data published in the Supplement reflect OCACT estimates of worker counts and covered earnings amounts for all earnings years. When generating the current-year estimates of taxable earnings, ORES revises the latest 3 years of estimates and considers OCACT estimates for all prior years to be relatively unchanged. Thus, Supplement estimates for all but the last 3 years are frozen and do not reflect any W-2 and SE information that may have been posted to the MEF in the intervening years. The differences between the historical estimates in the Supplement and those in EPUF (which include updated earnings data) should be minor.

Data Cleaning and Disclosure Prevention Procedures

In creating EPUF, records for some individuals were removed from the underlying sample because of data "cleaning" or because they were included in an existing public-use data file called the New Beneficiary Data System.10 In addition, annual earnings for individuals with earnings at ages 14 or younger or 86 or older were "zeroed out" (set equal to $0) to minimize the risk of personal data disclosure.11

Comparing the Estimates

These comparisons account for two alternative measures of Social Security covered earnings: taxable earnings, as used in the Supplement and the underlying EPUF sample; and earnings capped at the taxable maximum in a given year, as contained in the final EPUF. Directly comparing final EPUF and Supplement earnings estimates would yield somewhat misleading results because (1) each source uses a distinct measure of earnings and (2) the earnings data in EPUF have been adjusted by data cleaning and disclosure prevention procedures.

In lieu of beginning with a direct comparison, we can compare the estimates for taxable Social Security earnings in the Supplement with those in the underlying EPUF sample. Because these two sources use the same earnings measure, we would expect their estimates to differ only because of (1) differing sampling techniques, (2) OCACT's adjustments to account for delinquent, fraudulent, or erroneous reporting of earnings, and (3) ORES' freezing of historical estimates. Because both sources were created using random sampling, one would expect minimal differences between them. If the OCACT adjustment factors are minimal for all but the most recent years, then one would expect the largest differences for those years. If this comparison reveals substantial differences between the estimates, something is clearly wrong.

After comparing Supplement and underlying EPUF sample estimates, the next step is to isolate the effects of the two key differences in the earnings data between the underlying EPUF sample and the final EPUF. First, EPUF records reflect earnings capped at the taxable maximum in a given year. Second, some earnings records were removed from the underlying sample because of data "cleaning," and some annual earnings records were zeroed out to protect against personal data disclosure. Therefore, EPUF's capped taxable earnings amounts will be lower than the taxable earnings estimates in the underlying EPUF sample, and will thus differ even further from the Supplement estimates.

Finally, having established the context of the differences incrementally, we can compare EPUF and Supplement earnings estimates directly. Those comparisons will examine the differences between taxable and capped taxable Social Security earnings and the effects of the data cleaning and disclosure prevention procedures.

Taxable Earnings in the Underlying EPUF Sample

Table 1 compares the taxable earnings in the underlying EPUF sample with the taxable earnings in Table 4.B1 in the 2008 Supplement.12 Alongside columns respectively presenting estimates from the Supplement and the underlying EPUF sample, a third column expresses the underlying EPUF sample estimate as a percentage of the Supplement estimate. For 1951–1979 and 1988–1999, the underlying EPUF sample estimates equal at least 99 percent of the Supplement estimates. For 4 years between 1980 and 1987, and in each year 2000 through 2004, the underlying EPUF sample estimate drops to between 98 percent and 99 percent of the Supplement estimate. As expected, the most recent years reflect the largest differences between the two.

Table 1. Comparing Supplement and underlying EPUF sample estimates: Taxable earnings, 1951–2006
Year Supplement
(millions of dollars)
Underlying EPUF sample a
(millions of dollars)
Underlying EPUF sample estimate as a percentage of the Supplement estimate
1951 120,770 120,685 99.93
1952 128,640 128,780 100.11
1953 135,870 135,793 99.94
1954 133,520 133,418 99.92
1955 157,540 157,049 99.69
1956 170,720 170,557 99.90
1957 181,380 181,804 100.23
1958 180,720 180,134 99.68
1959 202,310 201,490 99.59
1960 207,000 206,733 99.87
1961 209,640 209,146 99.76
1962 219,050 218,722 99.85
1963 225,550 225,218 99.85
1964 236,390 235,980 99.83
1965 250,730 249,802 99.63
1966 312,540 311,661 99.72
1967 329,960 327,447 99.24
1968 375,840 374,553 99.66
1969 402,550 401,416 99.72
1970 415,600 414,246 99.67
1971 426,960 425,568 99.67
1972 484,110 482,467 99.66
1973 561,850 559,107 99.51
1974 636,760 634,040 99.57
1975 664,660 663,172 99.78
1976 737,700 735,122 99.65
1977 816,550 812,115 99.46
1978 915,600 912,637 99.68
1979 1,067,000 1,066,210 99.93
1980 1,180,700 1,168,010 98.93
1981 1,294,100 1,289,800 99.67
1982 1,365,300 1,353,330 99.12
1983 1,454,100 1,440,070 99.04
1984 1,608,800 1,582,920 98.39
1985 1,722,600 1,705,990 99.04
1986 1,844,400 1,818,070 98.57
1987 1,960,000 1,939,170 98.94
1988 2,088,400 2,082,980 99.74
1989 2,239,500 2,224,970 99.35
1990 2,358,000 2,345,130 99.45
1991 2,422,500 2,407,820 99.39
1992 2,532,900 2,518,450 99.43
1993 2,636,100 2,617,920 99.31
1994 2,785,200 2,770,150 99.46
1995 2,919,100 2,902,080 99.42
1996 3,073,500 3,056,440 99.44
1997 3,285,000 3,265,320 99.40
1998 3,524,900 3,499,190 99.27
1999 3,749,600 3,715,600 99.09
2000 4,008,500 3,965,170 98.92
2001 4,167,900 4,116,730 98.77
2002 4,250,100 4,191,910 98.63
2003 4,355,000 4,292,200 98.56
2004 4,553,400 b 4,477,300 98.33
2005 4,765,900 b 4,653,930 97.65
2006 5,047,755 b 4,884,310 96.76
SOURCES: SSA (2009, table 4.B1) and author's calculations using underlying EPUF sample.
a. Weighted estimates.
b. 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Chart 2, which graphs the difference between the estimates expressed as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, shows relatively small differences between the estimates for most years. Except for 1967 and 1977, the estimates for 1951–1979 differ by less than one-half of one percentage point. For 1980–1988, the differences between the estimates are much more volatile and depart from the 1951–1979 trend line. This observation might be due to the transition from quarterly to annual wage reporting for tax year 1978, or to the substantial growth in earnings records assigned to the ESF during that period (Chart 1). It is possible that fewer earnings from the ESF were posted to the MEF during these years than had been expected.13 Although the variance in annual estimates from 1980 to 1988 is two to three times that seen in the other years between 1951 and 1997, the differences are still relatively small, only once exceeding 1.5 percentage points.

Chart 2.
Percentage point difference between Supplement and underlying EPUF sample estimates of taxable earnings, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 2. Percentage point difference between Supplement and underlying EPUF sample estimates of taxable earnings, 1951–2006
Year Percentage point difference
1951 0.07
1952 -0.11
1953 0.06
1954 0.08
1955 0.31
1956 0.10
1957 -0.23
1958 0.32
1959 0.41
1960 0.13
1961 0.24
1962 0.15
1963 0.15
1964 0.17
1965 0.37
1966 0.28
1967 0.76
1968 0.34
1969 0.28
1970 0.33
1971 0.33
1972 0.34
1973 0.49
1974 0.43
1975 0.22
1976 0.35
1977 0.54
1978 0.32
1979 0.07
1980 1.07
1981 0.33
1982 0.88
1983 0.96
1984 1.61
1985 0.96
1986 1.43
1987 1.06
1988 0.26
1989 0.65
1990 0.55
1991 0.61
1992 0.57
1993 0.69
1994 0.54
1995 0.58
1996 0.56
1997 0.60
1998 0.73
1999 0.91
2000 1.08
2001 1.23
2002 1.37
2003 1.44
2004 1.67
2005 2.35
2006 3.24
 
SOURCES: SSA (2009, Table 4.B1) and author's calculations using underlying EPUF sample.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

From 1989 through 1997, the difference in estimates is nearly stationary at one-half of one percentage point. However, from 1998 to 2004, there is a steady increase in the gap between the taxable earnings estimates in the underlying EPUF sample and the Supplement. One possible explanation for the growing gap is the increase in earnings assigned to the ESF that are not recorded in the MEF but are reflected in the Supplement estimates. Also, the difference between the estimates for the two most recent years (2005 and 2006) is much larger because the data in the MEF for those years are incomplete. These findings support the initial expectations about differences between the estimates.

Capped Taxable Earnings in EPUF

Chart 3 presents the percentage of earnings removed from the underlying EPUF sample due to capping earnings at the annual taxable maximum, removing records from the file for data cleaning, and zeroing out some annual earnings values because of data disclosure concerns.14 The bottom line in Chart 3 reveals that most of the earnings removed from the underlying EPUF sample are the result of capping earnings at the taxable maximum, as opposed to the data cleaning and disclosure prevention procedures (the distance between the lines).

Chart 3.
Percentage of taxable earnings removed from the underlying EPUF sample, by reason, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 3. Percentage of taxable earnings removed from the underlying EPUF sample, by reason, 1951–2006
Year Capping taxable earnings Capping taxable earnings, data cleaning, and disclosure prevention
1951 2.06 2.54
1952 2.43 2.90
1953 2.67 3.13
1954 2.45 2.90
1955 1.92 2.37
1956 2.25 2.70
1957 2.37 2.79
1958 2.25 2.67
1959 2.04 2.46
1960 2.13 2.53
1961 2.17 2.56
1962 2.44 2.83
1963 2.55 2.93
1964 2.84 3.22
1965 3.17 3.55
1966 2.04 2.41
1967 2.24 2.60
1968 1.83 2.18
1969 2.22 2.57
1970 2.30 2.64
1971 2.38 2.72
1972 2.06 2.39
1973 1.63 1.95
1974 1.17 1.49
1975 1.07 1.38
1976 1.07 1.37
1977 1.07 1.36
1978 1.34 1.61
1979 0.88 1.14
1980 0.79 1.03
1981 0.70 0.92
1982 0.63 0.84
1983 0.56 0.76
1984 0.61 0.79
1985 0.62 0.80
1986 0.60 0.76
1987 0.59 0.75
1988 0.63 0.77
1989 0.61 0.75
1990 0.56 0.69
1991 0.54 0.67
1992 0.58 0.70
1993 0.61 0.73
1994 0.66 0.77
1995 0.70 0.81
1996 0.78 0.89
1997 0.83 0.94
1998 0.87 0.98
1999 0.86 0.96
2000 1.00 1.11
2001 0.84 0.94
2002 0.68 0.77
2003 0.64 0.74
2004 0.71 0.81
2005 0.77 0.86
2006 0.84 0.93
 
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the underlying EPUF sample.

The amount of earnings removed from the underlying EPUF sample expressed as a percentage of total earnings in that sample (top line in Chart 3) starts at 2.5 percent for 1951 and peaks at just over 3.5 percent for 1965. Beginning with 1966, there is a clear downward trend in the percentage of earnings removed from the underlying sample until 1983 (0.8 percent). From 1984 through 2006, the percentage of earnings removed is less than 1 percent, with the single exception of 2000.

Comparing EPUF Capped Taxable Earnings and Supplement Taxable Earnings Estimates

Table 2 shows taxable earnings estimates from Supplement Table 4.B1, weighted capped taxable earnings from the final EPUF, and the latter expressed as a percentage of the former. For years with complete data available, the percentages range from a low of 96.08 percent in 1965 to a high of 98.94 percent in 1988. As expected, the percentages are lower in years with incomplete data, especially 2006. The EPUF estimates are less than 97 percent of the Supplement estimates in only 6 years, with 1971 being the most recent before 2005.

Table 2. Comparing Supplement taxable earnings estimates with EPUF capped taxable earnings estimates for 1951–2006
Year Supplement taxable earnings
(millions of dollars)
EPUF capped taxable earnings a
(millions of dollars)
EPUF estimate as a percentage of the Supplement estimate
1951 120,770 117,612 97.39
1952 128,640 125,022 97.19
1953 135,870 131,531 96.81
1954 133,520 129,544 97.02
1955 157,540 153,306 97.31
1956 170,720 165,936 97.20
1957 181,380 176,699 97.42
1958 180,720 175,292 97.00
1959 202,310 196,513 97.13
1960 207,000 201,464 97.33
1961 209,640 203,746 97.19
1962 219,050 212,491 97.01
1963 225,550 218,571 96.91
1964 236,390 228,341 96.60
1965 250,730 240,891 96.08
1966 312,540 304,076 97.29
1967 329,960 318,841 96.63
1968 375,840 366,269 97.45
1969 402,550 390,979 97.13
1970 415,600 403,196 97.02
1971 426,960 413,893 96.94
1972 484,110 470,758 97.24
1973 561,850 547,967 97.53
1974 636,760 624,356 98.05
1975 664,660 653,777 98.36
1976 737,700 724,777 98.25
1977 816,550 800,761 98.07
1978 915,600 897,444 98.02
1979 1,067,000 1,053,555 98.74
1980 1,180,700 1,155,400 97.86
1981 1,294,100 1,277,422 98.71
1982 1,365,300 1,341,341 98.25
1983 1,454,100 1,428,558 98.24
1984 1,608,800 1,569,718 97.57
1985 1,722,600 1,691,658 98.20
1986 1,844,400 1,803,448 97.78
1987 1,960,000 1,923,928 98.16
1988 2,088,400 2,066,191 98.94
1989 2,239,500 2,207,592 98.58
1990 2,358,000 2,328,233 98.74
1991 2,422,500 2,391,171 98.71
1992 2,532,900 2,500,096 98.70
1993 2,636,100 2,598,236 98.56
1994 2,785,200 2,748,015 98.66
1995 2,919,100 2,877,705 98.58
1996 3,073,500 3,028,315 98.53
1997 3,285,000 3,233,638 98.44
1998 3,524,900 3,463,966 98.27
1999 3,749,600 3,678,614 98.11
2000 4,008,500 3,920,050 97.79
2001 4,167,900 4,076,775 97.81
2002 4,250,100 4,158,184 97.84
2003 4,355,000 4,259,092 97.80
2004 4,553,400 b 4,439,555 97.50
2005 4,765,900 b 4,612,334 96.78
2006 5,047,755 b 4,837,317 95.83
SOURCES: SSA (2009, table 4.B1) and author's calculations using EPUF.
a. Weighted estimates.
b. 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Chart 4 illustrates the effect of changing the measurement from the taxable earnings used in the underlying EPUF sample to the capped taxable earnings used in the final EPUF. Chart 4's top line shows the percentage point difference between EPUF and Supplement earnings estimates and its bottom line shows the percentage point difference between underlying EPUF sample and Supplement earnings estimates (from Chart 2). Chart 4 provides several points of interest. First, the lines differ widely from 1951 to 1980. Second, the volatility in the differences between the two estimates during 1980–1987 occurs for both earnings measurements, as the two lines move in roughly parallel patterns. Third, beginning in 1981, the gap between the two lines narrows and remains consistent thereafter.

Chart 4.
Comparing earnings estimates: Percentage point differences between underlying EPUF sample and Supplement estimates and between final EPUF and Supplement estimates: 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 4. Comparing earnings estimates: Percentage point differences between underlying EPUF sample and Supplement estimates and between final EPUF and Supplement estimates: 1951–2006
Year Underlying EPUF sample Final EPUF
1951 0.07 2.61
1952 -0.11 2.81
1953 0.06 3.19
1954 0.08 2.98
1955 0.31 2.69
1956 0.10 2.80
1957 -0.23 2.58
1958 0.32 3.00
1959 0.41 2.87
1960 0.13 2.67
1961 0.24 2.81
1962 0.15 2.99
1963 0.15 3.09
1964 0.17 3.40
1965 0.37 3.92
1966 0.28 2.71
1967 0.76 3.37
1968 0.34 2.55
1969 0.28 2.87
1970 0.33 2.98
1971 0.33 3.06
1972 0.34 2.76
1973 0.49 2.47
1974 0.43 1.95
1975 0.22 1.64
1976 0.35 1.75
1977 0.54 1.93
1978 0.32 1.98
1979 0.07 1.26
1980 1.07 2.14
1981 0.33 1.29
1982 0.88 1.75
1983 0.96 1.76
1984 1.61 2.43
1985 0.96 1.80
1986 1.43 2.22
1987 1.06 1.84
1988 0.26 1.06
1989 0.65 1.42
1990 0.55 1.26
1991 0.61 1.29
1992 0.57 1.30
1993 0.69 1.44
1994 0.54 1.34
1995 0.58 1.42
1996 0.56 1.47
1997 0.60 1.56
1998 0.73 1.73
1999 0.91 1.89
2000 1.08 2.21
2001 1.23 2.19
2002 1.37 2.16
2003 1.44 2.20
2004 1.67 2.50
2005 2.35 3.22
2006 3.24 4.17
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF underlying sample and final EPUF.
NOTES: Supplement and underlying EPUF sample use taxable earnings; final EPUF uses capped taxable earnings.
Charted values are the percentage point differences between the indicated estimates and the Supplement estimate.
2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

In Chart 5, the black line tracks the spread between the lines shown in Chart 4; that is, it shows the percentage-point difference between EPUF's capped taxable earnings and the Supplement's estimate minus the percentage-point difference between the underlying EPUF sample's taxable earnings and the Supplement estimate. The differences are relatively small and have narrowed considerably over time. Specifically, the gap peaks at 3.6 percentage points in 1965 and drops to just over 1 percentage point in 1980. From 1981 through 2006, the gap remains steady between 0.7 and 1.1 percentage points.

Chart 5.
Comparing the percentage point spread between the differences in estimates in Chart 4 with the proportion of workers whose earnings exceed the taxable maximum, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 5. Comparing the percentage point spread between the differences in estimates in Chart 4 with the proportion of workers whose earnings exceed the taxable maximum, 1951–2006
Year Percentage point spread between lines in Chart 4 Percentage of workers with earnings exceeding the taxable maximum
1951 2.54 24.50
1952 2.92 27.90
1953 3.13 31.20
1954 2.90 31.60
1955 2.38 25.60
1956 2.70 28.40
1957 2.81 29.90
1958 2.68 30.60
1959 2.46 26.70
1960 2.54 28.00
1961 2.57 29.20
1962 2.84 31.20
1963 2.94 32.50
1964 3.23 34.50
1965 3.55 36.10
1966 2.43 24.20
1967 2.61 26.40
1968 2.21 21.40
1969 2.59 24.50
1970 2.65 26.00
1971 2.73 28.30
1972 2.42 25.00
1973 1.98 20.30
1974 1.52 15.10
1975 1.42 15.10
1976 1.40 14.90
1977 1.39 14.80
1978 1.66 15.40
1979 1.19 10.00
1980 1.07 8.80
1981 0.96 7.60
1982 0.87 7.10
1983 0.80 6.30
1984 0.82 6.40
1985 0.84 6.50
1986 0.79 6.20
1987 0.78 6.10
1988 0.80 6.50
1989 0.77 6.20
1990 0.71 5.70
1991 0.68 5.60
1992 0.73 5.70
1993 0.75 5.60
1994 0.80 5.40
1995 0.84 5.80
1996 0.91 6.10
1997 0.96 6.20
1998 1.00 6.30
1999 0.98 6.10
2000 1.13 6.20
2001 0.96 5.90
2002 0.79 5.40
2003 0.76 5.50
2004 0.83 5.90
2005 0.87 6.10
2006 0.93 6.00
 
SOURCES: SSA (2009, Table 4.B4) and author's calculations using EPUF and the underlying EPUF sample.
NOTES: "Percentage point spread" equals the percentage-point difference between the final EPUF earnings estimate and the Supplement earnings estimate minus the percentage-point difference between the underlying EPUF sample earnings estimate and the Supplement estimate.
2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 are based on preliminary data.

One possible explanation for the relatively large gap between estimates for 1951–1976 is the much higher percentage of individuals who had earnings above the taxable maximum during those years. As previously noted, the major difference between the taxable earnings in the underlying EPUF sample and the capped earnings in EPUF is that only the latter excludes earnings for workers who have more than one employer and combined earnings above the taxable maximum. As a result, one would expect to see some correlation between the difference in the estimates and the percentage of workers with earnings above the taxable maximum in a given year. The red line in Chart 5 shows the percentage of workers with earnings above the taxable maximum using the scale to the right of the graph. As expected, changes in the percentage of individuals with earnings above the taxable maximum mirror the changes in the differences between taxable earnings and EPUF earnings estimates. The volatility in the percentage of individuals with earnings above the taxable maximum from 1951 to 1970 reflects Congress' ad hoc adjustments of the taxable maximum during these years. Legislation enacted in 1972 instituted automatic annual increases that took effect with the taxable maximum for 1975.15

Chart 6 presents the number of workers whose combined taxable earnings from multiple employers exceed the taxable maximum in a given year. The pattern mirrors those of both lines in Chart 5. These findings support initial expectations about capped taxable earnings in EPUF relative to Supplement estimates.

Chart 6.
Number of workers in the underlying EPUF sample with multiple employers and earnings exceeding the taxable maximum, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 6. Number of workers in the underlying EPUF sample with multiple employers and earnings exceeding the taxable maximum, 1951–2006
Year Number of workers
1951 33,355
1952 40,350
1953 45,188
1954 39,582
1955 34,601
1956 41,842
1957 46,422
1958 43,792
1959 40,621
1960 42,240
1961 42,634
1962 48,174
1963 51,602
1964 57,770
1965 65,870
1966 46,683
1967 51,712
1968 45,030
1969 55,196
1970 56,187
1971 57,329
1972 50,485
1973 42,432
1974 30,207
1975 26,629
1976 26,557
1977 27,506
1978 30,445
1979 18,870
1980 16,227
1981 13,761
1982 12,063
1983 10,538
1984 11,687
1985 12,386
1986 11,835
1987 12,016
1988 13,462
1989 13,169
1990 12,051
1991 11,599
1992 11,851
1993 12,061
1994 12,633
1995 14,190
1996 15,467
1997 16,650
1998 17,807
1999 17,445
2000 19,858
2001 17,209
2002 14,078
2003 13,785
2004 15,473
2005 16,298
2006 16,772
 
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the underlying EPUF sample.

Comparing the aggregate earnings estimates derived from the underlying EPUF sample, the final EPUF file, and the Supplement leads to two conclusions: (1) taxable earnings estimates in the underlying EPUF sample and the Supplement do not differ widely; and (2) most of the differences between the final EPUF and Supplement earnings estimates stem from the use of two different measures (taxable and capped taxable earnings) and from OCACT adjustments incorporated in the Supplement estimates to account for delinquent posting of earnings data and potentially fraudulent use of SSNs.

The next sections compare Supplement and final EPUF estimates of the number of workers by sex and age, the median value of taxable earnings by sex and age, and the percentage of workers with earnings below the taxable maximum by sex.

Number of Workers

Supplement Table 4.B3 contains estimates of the number of workers with covered earnings in a given year, by sex. Table 3 compares Supplement and underlying EPUF sample estimates of the number of workers for 1951–2006.16 Alongside columns presenting the estimates themselves, a third column shows the underlying EPUF sample estimate expressed as a percentage of the Supplement estimate. The estimates differ very little: With one exception (1978), the underlying EPUF sample estimate is within 1 percentage point of the Supplement estimate from 1951 through 1999. As expected, the biggest differences between the estimates occur for the most recent years, when the data are incomplete and OCACT's adjustment factors play a more prominent role in the Supplement estimates. From 2000 through 2004, the percentages drop below 99 percent; for 2005 and 2006, they drop further, to less than 98 percent.

The next column shows the number of annual earnings records in the underlying EPUF sample removed because of data cleaning or zeroed out to meet data disclosure requirements. The final column reveals that the percentage of underlying EPUF sample records removed or zeroed out is very small, less than 1 percent each year.

Table 3. Comparing Supplement and underlying EPUF sample estimates: Number of workers with any earnings during the year, 1951–2006
Year Supplement (thousands) Underlying EPUF sample (thousands) Underlying EPUF sample estimate as a percentage of the Supplement estimate Earnings records removed or zeroed out from underlying EPUF sample (thousands) Underlying EPUF sample earnings records removed or zeroed out (%)
1951 58,120 57,907 99.63 441 0.76
1952 59,580 59,501 99.87 462 0.78
1953 60,840 60,589 99.59 458 0.76
1954 59,610 59,447 99.73 393 0.66
1955 65,200 65,039 99.75 452 0.69
1956 67,610 67,596 99.98 473 0.70
1957 70,590 70,627 100.05 467 0.66
1958 69,770 69,901 100.19 418 0.60
1959 71,700 71,477 99.69 422 0.59
1960 72,530 72,428 99.86 427 0.59
1961 72,820 72,702 99.84 420 0.58
1962 74,280 74,220 99.92 413 0.56
1963 75,540 75,458 99.89 427 0.57
1964 77,430 77,360 99.91 431 0.56
1965 80,680 80,447 99.71 463 0.58
1966 84,600 84,520 99.91 521 0.62
1967 87,040 86,465 99.34 535 0.62
1968 89,380 89,169 99.76 574 0.64
1969 92,060 92,080 100.02 619 0.67
1970 93,090 92,659 99.54 607 0.65
1971 93,340 92,893 99.52 602 0.65
1972 96,240 95,793 99.54 653 0.68
1973 99,830 99,501 99.67 732 0.74
1974 101,330 101,068 99.74 744 0.74
1975 100,200 100,067 99.87 678 0.68
1976 102,600 102,524 99.93 684 0.67
1977 105,800 105,753 99.96 728 0.69
1978 110,600 109,178 98.71 782 0.72
1979 112,700 111,792 99.19 757 0.68
1980 113,000 112,364 99.44 690 0.61
1981 113,000 112,447 99.51 645 0.57
1982 111,800 110,998 99.28 590 0.53
1983 112,100 112,093 99.99 572 0.51
1984 116,300 116,425 100.11 632 0.54
1985 119,800 119,949 100.12 672 0.56
1986 122,900 122,294 99.51 640 0.52
1987 125,600 125,350 99.80 664 0.53
1988 129,600 129,312 99.78 714 0.55
1989 131,700 131,774 100.06 738 0.56
1990 133,600 132,705 99.33 667 0.50
1991 133,000 132,114 99.33 598 0.45
1992 134,000 132,967 99.23 598 0.45
1993 136,100 135,061 99.24 626 0.46
1994 138,200 137,921 99.80 673 0.49
1995 141,000 140,160 99.40 661 0.47
1996 143,400 142,468 99.35 674 0.47
1997 146,145 145,132 99.31 685 0.47
1998 148,786 147,955 99.44 707 0.48
1999 151,333 150,355 99.35 697 0.46
2000 154,732 152,906 98.82 712 0.47
2001 155,416 153,131 98.53 666 0.43
2002 154,893 152,564 98.50 608 0.40
2003 154,576 152,634 98.74 570 0.37
2004 156,250 a 154,106 98.63 556 0.36
2005 158,913 a 155,594 97.91 534 0.34
2006 161,205 a 156,814 97.28 534 0.34
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B3, various editions; and author's calculations using underlying EPUF sample.
a. 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Table 4 compares the Supplement and final EPUF estimates of the number of covered workers, with detail by sex. From 1951 through 2004, the final EPUF estimates represent at least 98 percent of the Supplement estimates. As expected, the percentages drop for 2005 and 2006 because of incomplete data and OCACT adjustments.

Table 4. Comparing Supplement and EPUF estimates: Number of all, male, and female workers with any earnings during the year, 1951–2006
Year Supplement
(thousands)
EPUF a
(thousands)
EPUF estimate as a percentage of Supplement estimate
All b Men Women All b Men Women All Men Women
1951 58,120 38,520 19,600 57,467 38,067 19,366 98.88 98.82 98.80
1952 59,580 39,190 20,390 59,038 38,718 20,284 99.09 98.79 99.48
1953 60,840 39,800 21,040 60,131 39,271 20,825 98.83 98.67 98.98
1954 59,610 39,090 20,520 59,054 38,690 20,332 99.07 98.98 99.08
1955 65,200 43,140 22,060 64,587 42,686 21,862 99.06 98.95 99.10
1956 67,610 44,620 22,990 67,123 44,187 22,893 99.28 99.03 99.58
1957 70,590 47,190 23,400 70,161 46,833 23,286 99.39 99.24 99.51
1958 69,770 46,690 23,080 69,483 46,418 23,029 99.59 99.42 99.78
1959 71,700 47,630 24,070 71,055 47,117 23,904 99.10 98.92 99.31
1960 72,530 47,900 24,630 72,000 47,460 24,509 99.27 99.08 99.51
1961 72,820 47,990 24,830 72,282 47,551 24,701 99.26 99.09 99.48
1962 74,280 48,650 25,360 73,807 48,259 25,519 99.36 99.20 100.63
1963 75,540 49,280 26,260 75,031 48,895 26,108 99.33 99.22 99.42
1964 77,430 50,260 27,170 76,929 49,917 26,983 99.35 99.32 99.31
1965 80,680 51,990 28,690 79,984 51,437 28,518 99.14 98.94 99.40
1966 84,600 53,570 30,870 83,999 53,197 30,774 99.29 99.30 99.69
1967 87,040 54,820 32,220 85,930 54,000 31,901 98.72 98.50 99.01
1968 89,380 55,870 33,510 88,595 55,192 33,373 99.12 98.79 99.59
1969 92,060 56,980 35,080 91,462 56,423 35,007 99.35 99.02 99.79
1970 93,090 57,330 35,760 92,053 56,545 35,475 98.89 98.63 99.20
1971 93,340 57,320 36,020 92,291 56,568 35,691 98.88 98.69 99.09
1972 96,240 58,610 37,630 95,141 57,824 37,284 98.86 98.66 99.08
1973 99,830 60,220 39,610 98,769 59,349 39,384 98.94 98.55 99.43
1974 101,330 60,520 40,810 100,324 59,752 40,538 99.01 98.73 99.33
1975 100,200 59,520 40,680 99,389 58,914 40,440 99.19 98.98 99.41
1976 102,600 60,340 42,260 101,839 59,817 41,989 99.26 99.13 99.36
1977 105,800 61,620 44,180 105,025 61,129 43,862 99.27 99.20 99.28
1978 110,600 63,960 46,640 108,397 62,538 45,825 98.01 97.78 98.25
1979 112,700 64,529 48,171 111,035 63,513 47,490 98.52 98.43 98.59
1980 113,000 64,288 48,712 111,674 63,431 48,210 98.83 98.67 98.97
1981 113,000 63,984 49,016 111,802 63,282 48,489 98.94 98.90 98.93
1982 111,800 63,089 48,711 110,408 62,280 48,097 98.75 98.72 98.74
1983 112,100 62,881 49,219 111,520 62,568 48,921 99.48 99.50 99.40
1984 116,300 64,700 51,600 115,793 64,463 51,298 99.56 99.63 99.41
1985 119,800 66,113 53,687 119,277 65,912 53,334 99.56 99.70 99.34
1986 122,900 67,412 55,488 121,654 66,831 54,793 98.99 99.14 98.75
1987 125,600 68,591 57,009 124,686 68,171 56,484 99.27 99.39 99.08
1988 129,600 70,596 59,004 128,598 70,096 58,471 99.23 99.29 99.10
1989 131,700 71,517 60,183 131,036 71,173 59,833 99.50 99.52 99.42
1990 133,600 72,291 61,309 132,038 71,467 60,542 98.83 98.86 98.75
1991 133,000 71,787 61,213 131,516 70,968 60,520 98.88 98.86 98.87
1992 134,000 72,016 61,984 132,369 71,162 61,180 98.78 98.81 98.70
1993 136,100 73,154 62,946 134,435 72,201 62,207 98.78 98.70 98.83
1994 138,200 73,989 64,211 137,247 73,432 63,788 99.31 99.25 99.34
1995 141,000 75,444 65,556 139,500 74,509 64,965 98.94 98.76 99.10
1996 143,400 76,241 67,158 141,794 75,513 66,256 98.88 99.05 98.66
1997 146,145 77,498 68,647 144,448 76,681 67,741 98.84 98.95 98.68
1998 148,786 78,671 70,115 147,247 77,959 69,264 98.97 99.09 98.79
1999 151,333 80,042 71,291 149,657 79,138 70,495 98.89 98.87 98.88
2000 154,732 81,654 73,078 152,194 80,278 71,892 98.36 98.31 98.38
2001 155,416 82,006 73,410 152,465 80,389 72,053 98.10 98.03 98.15
2002 154,893 81,568 73,325 151,956 79,953 71,980 98.10 98.02 98.17
2003 154,576 81,263 73,313 152,064 79,843 72,199 98.37 98.25 98.48
2004 156,250 c 82,008 c 74,242 c 153,551 80,526 73,001 98.27 98.19 98.33
2005 158,913 c 83,202 c 75,711 c 155,060 81,236 73,801 97.58 97.64 97.48
2006 161,205 c 84,181 c 77,024 c 156,280 81,576 74,681 96.94 96.91 96.96
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B3, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
a. Weighted estimates.
b. Includes a small number of workers whose sex was coded as "unknown."
c. 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Workers by Age

Supplement Table 4.B5 shows the estimated number of workers by age group. Unfortunately, some age categories are not defined consistently throughout the 1951–2006 period. Specifically, subcategories for those aged 60 or older from 1951 to 1959 differ from those used from 1960 through 2006. As a result, estimates for those aged 60 or older are shown only for 1960 and later.

Charts 7 and 8 compare EPUF and Supplement estimates of the number of workers with earnings by age group from 1951 to 2006. Both charts show EPUF estimates expressed as a percentage of the Supplement estimate.

Chart 7 looks at workers younger than age 60. In general, the differences between the estimates are very small, although estimates for individuals younger than age 20 clearly diverge starting in 1971. Data disclosure restrictions require EPUF to zero out earnings for those aged 14 or younger, accounting for much of this divergence. When the estimates for the number of workers in this age category are adjusted to include the earnings that were zeroed out, there is virtually no difference between the EPUF and Supplement estimates.

Chart 7.
EPUF estimates of the number of workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 7. EPUF estimates of the number of workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1951–2006
Year Age group
Under 20 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59
1951 98.78 100.02 98.28 97.73 97.11 98.68 98.27 99.18 104.65
1952 98.11 101.06 98.83 97.31 97.37 98.95 98.87 97.90 105.83
1953 98.50 100.41 99.03 97.76 96.02 98.43 98.15 98.46 103.07
1954 98.42 100.47 99.57 98.16 96.58 98.36 98.15 98.52 101.94
1955 98.14 100.31 99.33 98.13 97.32 98.18 97.90 99.33 99.89
1956 98.39 99.79 99.69 98.41 97.90 97.55 98.96 99.02 101.19
1957 98.19 99.92 100.12 98.74 97.72 97.68 99.23 98.77 100.81
1958 98.64 100.25 100.58 99.16 98.35 97.12 99.11 99.44 100.95
1959 98.47 99.64 100.21 99.08 97.94 96.69 98.25 98.21 100.86
1960 98.92 99.48 100.87 99.43 98.13 97.26 98.14 98.85 101.39
1961 98.89 99.64 100.36 99.63 97.97 97.57 97.79 99.65 100.22
1962 98.97 99.44 100.19 100.27 98.62 97.77 97.72 99.54 100.35
1963 98.38 99.72 100.14 100.56 99.02 98.07 97.09 99.35 100.30
1964 98.71 100.05 99.51 100.45 99.83 98.26 96.97 99.42 100.42
1965 98.26 99.93 99.44 100.47 99.61 98.02 97.41 98.73 100.13
1966 98.13 99.39 100.23 100.18 100.32 98.52 97.77 98.31 101.18
1967 97.44 99.19 98.65 99.60 100.16 98.57 97.22 97.92 100.50
1968 97.44 99.60 99.38 100.10 100.65 99.38 98.34 97.24 101.61
1969 96.84 99.89 99.81 99.94 100.87 99.77 98.86 97.51 101.21
1970 96.98 99.41 99.37 99.41 100.54 99.57 98.30 97.47 99.77
1971 96.50 99.35 99.12 100.27 99.94 99.97 98.56 97.50 99.06
1972 97.29 99.25 99.07 98.96 99.67 99.96 99.04 97.52 98.68
1973 96.78 99.70 99.29 99.32 99.83 100.16 99.26 98.24 97.51
1974 97.17 99.55 99.42 99.79 99.51 100.41 99.40 98.71 97.10
1975 97.34 99.62 99.77 100.26 99.71 100.42 99.51 98.62 97.62
1976 97.46 99.38 99.68 100.15 100.25 100.12 99.84 99.03 98.05
1977 97.09 99.98 99.63 99.98 99.65 100.13 100.23 99.50 97.68
1978 94.72 99.01 98.56 98.55 98.56 99.17 99.18 98.38 97.50
1979 95.73 99.66 98.84 98.85 99.35 99.12 99.78 99.03 98.11
1980 96.80 99.50 99.32 99.39 99.58 99.02 99.97 99.35 98.05
1981 96.19 100.25 99.06 99.44 99.45 99.65 99.67 99.67 98.32
1982 96.10 99.74 99.25 99.47 99.42 98.63 99.78 99.64 98.09
1983 96.60 100.51 100.12 100.08 99.97 99.50 100.21 100.07 99.32
1984 96.12 100.59 100.53 99.74 100.04 100.17 100.00 100.57 99.45
1985 96.27 100.89 100.25 99.86 100.22 100.16 99.49 100.35 99.09
1986 96.03 100.02 99.98 99.01 99.58 99.57 99.53 99.33 98.67
1987 96.91 100.40 100.45 99.97 98.95 99.51 99.19 100.10 99.26
1988 96.04 100.26 100.19 100.39 99.02 99.28 99.75 100.36 99.00
1989 95.77 100.59 100.66 100.72 99.37 99.40 100.27 100.08 99.61
1990 95.41 99.79 100.10 99.78 99.00 98.43 99.69 99.13 98.81
1991 95.59 99.77 100.03 100.01 98.81 98.57 99.44 99.54 98.43
1992 95.14 99.86 99.78 99.51 99.30 98.68 99.02 98.88 98.97
1993 95.20 99.39 99.79 99.60 99.49 98.86 98.73 98.99 99.27
1994 95.82 99.88 100.36 100.26 100.24 99.24 99.00 99.78 99.08
1995 95.84 98.92 99.85 99.95 99.67 99.32 98.84 99.66 98.54
1996 95.65 98.94 100.03 99.75 99.76 98.93 98.79 99.47 99.00
1997 95.86 98.75 99.87 99.91 99.42 99.39 98.75 99.38 98.68
1998 95.83 99.19 99.59 99.90 99.76 99.76 99.19 98.90 99.24
1999 95.35 99.19 98.93 99.67 99.68 99.64 98.97 99.49 99.20
2000 95.16 98.72 98.32 98.98 99.28 99.00 98.58 98.63 99.06
2001 95.55 98.19 98.16 98.66 98.87 98.81 98.03 98.41 98.64
2002 95.65 98.00 97.90 98.62 98.84 98.88 98.39 98.41 98.59
2003 96.26 98.34 98.40 98.60 98.75 98.93 98.85 98.97 98.61
2004 96.57 98.50 98.26 98.29 98.65 98.89 98.68 98.47 98.61
2005 95.35 97.92 97.54 97.33 98.02 98.37 97.75 97.92 98.20
2006 94.85 97.88 96.71 96.78 97.18 97.71 97.22 96.72 97.63
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Chart 8 focuses on workers aged 60 or older. Although EPUF and Supplement estimates differ somewhat more for the 60–71 age group than for their younger counterparts, they differ much more for individuals aged 72 or older. For that group, the EPUF estimates are lower than the Supplement estimates across all years, and there is a distinct gap between the estimates for 1985 through 1998. The gap begins to narrow in 1999, but it remains somewhat larger than that for workers aged 60–71. The finding raises two critical questions: Why does this large gap occur only for 1985–1998, and why only for workers aged 72 or older?

Chart 8.
EPUF estimates of the number of workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 8. EPUF estimates of the number of workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 101.65 102.18 101.18 102.98 96.89
1961 102.91 102.04 101.29 101.23 98.23
1962 101.74 102.65 101.43 101.04 97.32
1963 101.87 102.24 100.43 104.07 95.74
1964 101.12 101.43 99.29 100.63 96.02
1965 100.62 100.01 99.55 100.42 95.24
1966 99.52 100.30 100.71 98.72 95.04
1967 99.88 98.66 98.24 100.84 94.00
1968 100.62 98.43 97.49 98.42 92.88
1969 100.22 98.86 99.84 101.02 97.26
1970 99.80 98.67 96.74 101.37 95.43
1971 101.23 99.21 97.42 97.38 95.09
1972 102.05 98.62 98.98 98.55 95.34
1973 100.42 100.30 98.97 98.73 94.09
1974 98.83 99.69 99.51 99.27 93.36
1975 97.73 100.29 99.14 97.79 94.06
1976 98.35 98.72 100.17 100.66 93.37
1977 98.64 97.99 100.29 99.49 93.33
1978 96.06 96.66 97.66 98.29 93.10
1979 95.60 97.26 97.65 97.23 92.97
1980 98.43 95.63 96.58 96.70 93.50
1981 99.51 95.36 96.25 97.65 92.91
1982 97.18 95.58 95.55 98.34 92.34
1983 97.09 98.14 96.74 94.42 92.40
1984 97.66 98.30 95.83 95.77 92.49
1985 98.29 97.85 97.78 95.66 90.67
1986 98.25 96.87 96.84 95.18 89.50
1987 97.75 98.27 97.30 95.44 85.45
1988 98.20 98.59 97.07 93.61 86.43
1989 98.52 98.39 97.71 94.30 86.61
1990 97.59 97.59 97.90 94.40 86.23
1991 97.75 97.48 97.95 96.54 86.96
1992 98.07 97.68 98.03 95.93 87.19
1993 97.23 98.94 97.97 94.49 87.75
1994 99.57 99.30 98.69 97.06 87.82
1995 99.35 98.50 98.51 96.72 86.44
1996 97.43 99.54 98.26 99.89 86.86
1997 98.28 98.28 98.42 99.78 86.45
1998 98.49 98.88 97.28 99.18 87.58
1999 98.38 98.99 98.53 99.84 91.02
2000 98.13 97.87 97.99 97.13 90.45
2001 98.02 97.87 96.78 97.77 91.73
2002 97.32 97.53 97.45 98.49 91.83
2003 97.95 97.78 97.94 97.58 92.65
2004 99.08 96.98 97.08 97.15 93.27
2005 98.61 97.49 95.98 96.98 92.05
2006 97.78 97.24 95.92 94.83 91.53
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

The first attempt to answer these questions involves evaluating how the EPUF data cleaning and disclosure prevention requirements affect the estimated number of workers aged 72 or older. Chart 9 presents three measures of workers aged 72 or older as percentages of the Supplement estimate. The top line shows the full underlying EPUF sample estimate. The middle line represents the underlying sample after removing records because of data cleaning (for example, records with dubious age-at-earnings values) and for disclosure prevention (individuals that overlapped with the New Beneficiary Data System). The bottom line, showing the final EPUF after zeroing out earnings for workers aged 86 or older, replicates Chart 8's line for workers aged 72 or older. The short distance between the bottom line and the middle line shows the minimal effect of zeroing out the earnings of individuals aged 86 or older. The distance between the middle line and the top line shows that the effect of removing individuals for data cleaning and disclosure prevention is also generally small, although it is somewhat larger than the effect of zeroing out earnings for individuals aged 86 or older.17

Chart 9.
Effects of EPUF data cleaning and disclosure prevention measures: Estimated number of workers aged 72 or older as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 9. Effects of EPUF data cleaning and disclosure prevention measures: Estimated number of workers aged 72 or older as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, 1960–2006
Year Underlying EPUF sample After removing records showing dubious age at earnings Final EPUF (after zeroing out earnings for ages 86 or older)
1960 102.42 98.51 96.89
1961 104.00 100.11 98.23
1962 102.99 99.20 97.32
1963 101.47 97.74 95.74
1964 101.67 98.00 96.02
1965 101.00 97.24 95.24
1966 100.93 97.19 95.04
1967 99.52 95.94 94.00
1968 98.60 94.94 92.88
1969 103.20 99.41 97.26
1970 101.42 97.68 95.43
1971 100.87 97.18 95.09
1972 101.54 97.74 95.34
1973 100.36 96.58 94.09
1974 99.98 96.02 93.36
1975 100.35 96.66 94.06
1976 99.88 96.18 93.37
1977 99.94 96.19 93.33
1978 99.48 96.08 93.10
1979 99.11 95.88 92.97
1980 99.38 96.33 93.50
1981 98.60 95.58 92.91
1982 98.47 95.42 92.34
1983 98.90 95.69 92.40
1984 98.99 95.55 92.49
1985 97.17 93.80 90.67
1986 96.10 92.66 89.50
1987 91.59 88.28 85.45
1988 92.62 89.01 86.43
1989 92.84 89.36 86.61
1990 92.41 88.71 86.23
1991 93.29 89.53 86.96
1992 93.55 89.77 87.19
1993 95.27 90.77 87.75
1994 95.79 91.00 87.82
1995 94.87 89.65 86.44
1996 95.36 89.98 86.86
1997 95.17 89.74 86.45
1998 96.37 90.88 87.58
1999 99.69 94.48 91.02
2000 98.80 94.06 90.45
2001 99.84 95.36 91.73
2002 99.21 95.24 91.83
2003 99.96 96.46 92.65
2004 100.58 97.37 93.27
2005 98.68 95.92 92.05
2006 97.98 95.61 91.53
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

More significantly, the EPUF estimates (bottom line) and those from the underlying EPUF sample (top line) differ very consistently across the years. Thus, the distinct gap between the EPUF and Supplement estimates from 1985 through 1998 clearly does not result from the data cleaning or the disclosure prevention procedures applied to the underlying EPUF sample. It seems very peculiar that the estimates from the underlying EPUF sample are extremely close to the Supplement estimates except for these particular years. What, then, explains this anomalous gap?

A second approach is to compare the number of workers aged 72 or older in the EPUF with the number of workers in the active file within the 2008 version of the CWHS. The active file contains individuals in the 1-percent CWHS who have had any covered earnings since the program's inception. One would expect these two distinct 1-percent samples to produce very similar estimates of the number of workers aged 72 or older. The top line in Chart 10 shows the number of workers in EPUF expressed as a percentage of the number of workers in the active CWHS file and confirms that the estimates are indeed very similar. The bottom line shows the number of workers in the active CWHS file aged 72 or older as a percentage of the Supplement estimates. The gap between these two ratios is nearly identical to the differences between the EPUF and Supplement estimates for this age group.

Chart 10.
Comparison of estimates of number of workers aged 72 or older: EPUF, CWHS, and Supplement, 1980–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 10. Comparison of estimates of number of workers aged 72 or older: EPUF, CWHS, and Supplement, 1980–2006
Year EPUF as a percentage of CWHS CWHS as a percentage of Supplement
1980 100.50 98.91
1981 100.60 98.04
1982 100.60 97.87
1983 101.10 97.79
1984 100.90 98.11
1985 99.30 97.90
1986 98.90 97.17
1987 98.20 93.24
1988 99.10 93.43
1989 98.90 93.86
1990 99.30 93.05
1991 99.80 93.51
1992 99.50 94.06
1993 100.30 95.01
1994 100.20 95.59
1995 99.80 95.04
1996 100.00 95.36
1997 99.50 95.62
1998 100.40 95.98
1999 100.30 99.42
2000 100.00 98.84
2001 101.30 98.58
2002 100.70 98.52
2003 101.10 98.86
2004 101.90 98.70
2005 100.30 98.44
2006 99.80 97.96
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, various editions; and author's calculations using 2008 CWHS active file and EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

The fact that the estimates from two distinct 1-percent samples are nearly the same indicates that there may be problems with the Supplement estimates for older workers during this period. One possible explanation is that a programming or coding error affected only those workers, and the error was corrected as part of the Y2K adjustments made to the MEF. Nonetheless, the Supplement estimates reflect the earnings data in the MEF at that time. Given the close relationship between EPUF's underlying 1-percent sample and the active CWHS file, the number of workers in EPUF aged 72 or older is presumably correct.

Charts 11–14 compare EPUF and Supplement estimates of the number of workers by age group and sex. For men younger than 60, Chart 11 reveals very little difference between the estimates. As expected, EPUF estimates as a percentage of Supplement estimates decline slightly for the most recent years. As was seen with all workers, estimates of the number of men aged 60 or older (Chart 12) differ more widely than estimates of the number of younger men. The distinct gap between EPUF and Supplement estimates of all workers aged 72 or older from 1985 through 1998 also occurs for men.

Chart 11.
EPUF estimates of the number of male workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers younger than 60 by age group, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 11. EPUF estimates of the number of male workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers younger than 60 by age group, 1951–2006
Year Age group
Under 20 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59
1951 97.71 100.23 99.01 98.47 96.73 99.29 98.77 98.50 103.17
1952 95.89 101.02 99.79 97.72 97.24 99.38 98.58 97.37 104.39
1953 95.81 100.52 99.87 98.43 96.52 98.78 98.07 98.79 101.21
1954 95.62 101.62 100.42 98.49 97.35 97.89 98.43 99.09 100.49
1955 96.05 100.57 100.09 98.56 98.03 97.44 98.41 99.37 99.00
1956 96.42 99.43 99.99 98.95 98.58 96.84 99.31 99.20 99.90
1957 97.04 99.54 100.57 99.34 98.03 97.62 99.80 98.17 99.93
1958 97.91 99.86 100.70 99.62 98.78 97.01 99.48 99.08 100.09
1959 98.05 99.04 100.23 99.39 98.01 97.30 97.96 98.05 99.99
1960 98.30 99.24 100.51 99.62 98.16 98.01 97.77 98.95 100.28
1961 98.03 99.53 100.15 99.47 98.17 98.44 97.49 100.05 99.21
1962 98.12 99.20 99.94 100.00 99.22 98.18 97.45 100.11 99.40
1963 97.66 99.56 99.67 100.44 99.44 98.66 97.01 99.79 99.58
1964 98.40 99.45 99.40 101.10 100.29 98.80 97.50 98.76 99.51
1965 97.61 99.16 99.17 100.32 99.96 98.61 98.00 97.98 99.38
1966 97.23 98.75 99.85 99.77 100.40 98.67 98.79 97.35 100.72
1967 96.42 98.80 98.60 99.31 100.52 98.71 97.89 97.15 100.07
1968 96.71 99.10 98.78 99.68 100.72 99.51 98.92 96.74 101.05
1969 95.82 99.44 99.27 98.91 101.13 100.44 99.02 98.01 99.70
1970 95.94 99.09 98.91 98.90 100.28 100.08 98.51 98.14 98.53
1971 95.13 99.06 99.00 99.96 99.75 100.14 98.69 98.68 97.90
1972 96.41 98.73 98.88 99.04 99.14 100.40 99.29 98.06 98.02
1973 95.96 99.02 98.83 99.13 99.08 100.35 99.20 98.74 96.61
1974 96.37 98.99 99.14 99.58 98.41 100.78 100.03 98.66 97.31
1975 96.65 99.29 99.58 99.98 99.33 100.33 100.12 98.73 97.76
1976 97.37 98.78 99.72 99.62 100.13 100.13 100.49 99.11 98.69
1977 97.06 99.86 99.46 99.54 99.56 99.41 101.20 99.87 98.33
1978 94.05 98.97 98.21 98.01 98.26 98.15 99.85 98.81 98.10
1979 95.20 99.75 98.61 98.82 98.91 98.24 100.48 99.56 98.40
1980 96.32 99.47 98.68 99.54 99.10 98.54 99.92 100.01 98.50
1981 95.51 100.67 98.77 99.49 98.93 99.71 99.39 100.39 98.95
1982 95.47 100.29 99.14 99.18 98.92 98.86 99.04 100.62 98.34
1983 96.81 100.41 100.40 99.89 99.62 99.34 99.68 101.17 99.51
1984 96.84 100.88 100.70 99.53 99.88 99.90 99.23 101.50 100.17
1985 96.99 101.40 100.66 99.46 100.14 99.91 99.20 100.58 99.84
1986 96.69 100.55 100.54 98.73 99.52 98.85 99.73 99.25 99.66
1987 96.62 101.09 100.90 99.81 99.21 98.96 99.52 99.53 100.84
1988 95.64 100.88 100.27 100.57 99.23 98.94 99.62 99.73 100.09
1989 95.04 101.23 101.00 100.89 99.47 99.33 99.62 99.25 100.42
1990 95.17 100.46 100.19 99.97 98.73 98.57 98.92 98.55 98.80
1991 95.22 100.45 99.85 100.35 98.30 98.79 98.58 99.26 97.99
1992 94.77 100.36 100.00 99.93 99.06 98.73 98.21 98.98 98.27
1993 94.21 99.70 100.16 99.56 99.64 98.63 98.19 98.65 98.49
1994 94.75 99.96 100.88 100.48 100.46 98.88 98.87 99.02 98.12
1995 94.61 98.85 100.26 100.01 99.99 98.57 98.74 98.92 97.97
1996 95.62 99.55 100.84 99.78 100.33 98.52 98.93 98.85 98.96
1997 95.25 99.19 100.63 99.95 100.19 99.04 98.79 98.82 98.72
1998 95.30 99.86 100.27 100.29 99.92 99.95 99.02 98.54 99.13
1999 94.74 99.44 99.26 99.49 99.71 99.93 98.85 99.35 98.91
2000 94.78 98.57 98.63 98.89 99.30 99.39 98.14 98.79 98.87
2001 95.20 98.24 98.14 98.69 98.82 99.08 97.43 98.55 98.36
2002 95.02 97.88 98.16 98.77 98.82 99.19 97.87 98.24 98.29
2003 95.17 98.23 98.55 98.79 98.39 99.03 99.14 98.64 98.33
2004 96.13 98.25 98.38 98.61 98.36 98.93 98.91 98.04 98.66
2005 95.29 98.04 97.48 97.71 97.96 98.63 98.15 97.36 98.38
2006 94.10 97.92 96.77 96.73 97.53 97.61 97.62 96.13 97.76
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.
Chart 12.
EPUF estimates of the number of male workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 12. EPUF estimates of the number of male workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 101.45 100.49 100.49 104.10 94.99
1961 100.96 101.26 100.35 100.98 96.33
1962 100.91 101.50 100.78 99.97 95.54
1963 100.80 101.39 100.24 102.43 94.88
1964 100.02 102.19 100.28 98.04 96.13
1965 98.73 100.13 99.93 101.50 94.44
1966 98.23 100.60 101.15 97.34 93.37
1967 98.34 97.50 99.90 100.17 92.75
1968 99.15 97.45 98.30 98.89 90.13
1969 100.14 97.50 100.18 104.95 95.00
1970 100.45 97.55 97.14 102.80 94.53
1971 101.26 98.57 97.63 98.75 95.88
1972 101.12 98.82 98.07 98.99 96.16
1973 99.57 100.13 98.26 99.08 94.29
1974 96.82 99.39 99.83 97.43 94.87
1975 95.87 99.54 98.75 98.25 95.12
1976 97.44 97.27 99.27 101.03 93.99
1977 98.26 96.48 99.51 99.01 94.88
1978 96.45 94.87 97.28 97.59 93.18
1979 96.60 96.52 97.28 95.78 93.47
1980 99.42 95.81 95.02 95.89 93.67
1981 99.80 96.33 94.21 98.79 92.61
1982 97.56 95.86 94.64 99.86 92.08
1983 97.20 98.20 96.64 95.47 92.98
1984 96.88 97.78 95.75 94.08 93.24
1985 97.30 98.14 97.43 94.98 92.14
1986 98.52 96.55 97.19 92.89 89.67
1987 97.69 97.36 96.48 94.98 86.50
1988 98.44 98.26 96.24 95.30 87.11
1989 99.53 98.05 96.92 92.89 87.78
1990 98.57 98.32 98.24 94.75 87.46
1991 99.51 97.62 98.45 97.98 87.78
1992 99.68 98.61 98.03 96.65 87.10
1993 97.90 100.18 98.04 95.29 87.83
1994 99.67 101.54 99.32 97.21 87.05
1995 98.49 99.01 99.80 97.95 86.11
1996 95.93 99.73 99.54 103.55 86.96
1997 97.39 97.40 99.96 101.32 86.88
1998 97.66 97.97 98.05 99.86 88.71
1999 97.55 97.08 100.01 101.61 91.83
2000 97.43 96.55 98.42 97.42 91.13
2001 98.22 96.33 96.54 99.58 92.99
2002 97.29 96.77 96.46 101.95 92.63
2003 97.47 97.85 96.51 97.12 94.00
2004 97.84 97.58 95.85 97.72 94.15
2005 98.33 97.72 95.32 97.10 92.89
2006 98.29 96.73 95.32 93.71 92.42
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

For female workers younger than age 60, Chart 13 reveals that EPUF and Supplement estimates differ slightly more than do those of their male counterparts. After 1980, the estimates differ only minimally. As was true for men, EPUF and Supplement estimates for female workers aged 60 or older (Chart 14) differ more than those for younger women. In general, the EPUF estimates of older female workers appear to slightly exceed Supplement estimates from 1960 through 1974 but are lower from 1975 onward.

Chart 13.
EPUF estimates of the number of female workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1951–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 13. EPUF estimates of the number of female workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1951–2006
Year Age group
Under 20 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59
1951 100.03 99.69 96.84 96.49 97.83 97.31 97.15 100.66 108.17
1952 100.86 101.03 96.95 96.33 97.57 97.97 99.40 98.99 109.11
1953 101.91 100.20 97.36 96.24 94.94 97.62 98.25 97.64 107.24
1954 101.84 99.05 97.84 97.34 94.90 99.19 97.55 97.23 105.14
1955 100.72 99.83 97.75 97.09 95.72 99.63 96.79 99.19 101.77
1956 100.84 100.14 98.96 97.15 96.39 98.87 98.18 98.59 104.02
1957 99.73 100.43 98.96 97.24 96.91 97.76 98.05 99.91 102.66
1958 99.58 100.80 100.15 97.97 97.31 97.27 98.34 100.03 102.76
1959 98.96 100.53 99.96 98.24 97.69 95.43 98.74 98.45 102.64
1960 99.70 99.79 101.45 98.88 97.94 95.75 98.73 98.61 103.55
1961 100.06 99.72 100.64 99.90 97.45 95.82 98.23 98.89 102.18
1962 100.17 99.71 100.61 100.74 97.30 96.91 98.14 98.48 102.11
1963 99.44 99.87 101.04 100.63 98.10 96.87 97.14 98.55 101.61
1964 99.13 100.93 100.42 98.78 98.81 97.18 95.95 100.50 102.03
1965 99.22 101.05 99.91 100.56 98.81 96.88 96.33 99.98 101.46
1966 99.47 100.26 100.89 100.86 100.05 98.17 95.98 99.85 101.96
1967 98.94 99.69 98.65 100.07 99.33 98.24 96.05 99.12 101.19
1968 98.43 100.24 100.38 100.82 100.37 99.10 97.31 97.96 102.53
1969 98.23 100.46 100.67 101.83 100.24 98.59 98.50 96.62 103.67
1970 98.35 99.80 100.08 100.31 100.84 98.65 97.86 96.34 101.72
1971 98.32 99.68 99.23 100.79 100.11 99.58 98.27 95.59 100.85
1972 98.41 99.87 99.32 98.72 100.45 99.14 98.55 96.58 99.65
1973 97.79 100.50 99.96 99.54 100.96 99.71 99.24 97.37 98.84
1974 98.15 100.17 99.78 100.06 101.22 99.68 98.38 98.68 96.65
1975 98.17 99.96 99.98 100.62 100.26 100.38 98.50 98.36 97.30
1976 97.54 100.06 99.56 100.90 100.37 99.95 98.79 98.82 96.97
1977 97.11 100.08 99.80 100.56 99.71 101.08 98.71 98.87 96.59
1978 95.51 99.02 98.95 99.28 98.91 100.53 98.10 97.67 96.51
1979 96.33 99.52 99.06 98.83 99.91 100.27 98.66 98.18 97.62
1980 97.33 99.52 100.07 99.12 100.15 99.60 99.90 98.32 97.32
1981 96.94 99.75 99.37 99.34 100.07 99.49 99.96 98.55 97.36
1982 96.78 99.06 99.32 99.78 100.01 98.26 100.64 98.21 97.66
1983 96.37 100.59 99.71 100.22 100.40 99.63 100.83 98.49 98.96
1984 95.29 100.23 100.29 99.92 100.17 100.45 100.92 99.22 98.37
1985 95.49 100.28 99.71 100.28 100.26 100.40 99.80 99.91 98.01
1986 95.30 99.40 99.28 99.30 99.57 100.38 99.25 99.30 97.29
1987 97.19 99.62 99.90 100.12 98.58 100.10 98.74 100.72 97.11
1988 96.48 99.56 100.07 100.11 98.68 99.64 99.85 101.06 97.50
1989 96.54 99.87 100.23 100.49 99.16 99.42 100.97 101.04 98.44
1990 95.66 99.03 99.96 99.52 99.25 98.22 100.53 99.80 98.70
1991 95.97 99.00 100.21 99.56 99.34 98.28 100.39 99.86 98.89
1992 95.54 99.29 99.51 98.98 99.54 98.56 99.88 98.74 99.76
1993 96.26 99.03 99.34 99.60 99.27 99.05 99.29 99.32 100.17
1994 96.97 99.77 99.75 99.95 99.95 99.58 99.09 100.60 100.20
1995 97.14 98.98 99.36 99.86 99.28 100.10 98.89 100.43 99.22
1996 95.70 98.26 99.13 99.68 99.07 99.32 98.55 100.12 99.06
1997 96.49 98.27 99.02 99.84 98.52 99.74 98.64 99.93 98.60
1998 96.34 98.48 98.83 99.43 99.55 99.52 99.30 99.26 99.30
1999 95.95 98.91 98.54 99.88 99.60 99.29 99.03 99.58 99.51
2000 95.56 98.86 97.96 99.06 99.24 98.53 98.99 98.40 99.22
2001 95.89 98.10 98.17 98.61 98.89 98.50 98.60 98.21 98.91
2002 96.27 98.12 97.60 98.42 98.85 98.49 98.91 98.51 98.88
2003 97.33 98.44 98.22 98.37 99.13 98.79 98.50 99.24 98.89
2004 96.96 98.74 98.14 97.90 98.99 98.80 98.42 98.87 98.50
2005 95.40 97.79 97.57 96.89 98.08 98.07 97.29 98.46 97.95
2006 95.58 97.82 96.61 96.81 96.77 97.78 96.76 97.30 97.43
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.
Chart 14.
EPUF estimates of the number of female workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 14. EPUF estimates of the number of female workers as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 102.08 106.05 102.26 99.68 101.16
1961 107.04 103.77 102.93 100.87 102.36
1962 103.43 105.22 102.49 102.66 100.76
1963 103.98 104.07 100.55 107.05 96.89
1964 103.16 99.86 97.16 105.60 94.77
1965 104.17 99.72 98.68 97.92 96.33
1966 101.88 99.68 99.80 101.12 98.48
1967 102.66 100.85 94.96 101.99 96.13
1968 103.22 100.22 95.88 97.50 98.52
1969 100.33 101.33 99.15 93.27 101.67
1970 98.71 100.62 95.99 98.38 96.93
1971 101.16 100.27 97.04 94.79 93.14
1972 103.55 98.22 100.58 97.70 93.38
1973 101.79 100.52 100.20 98.05 93.54
1974 102.07 100.13 98.90 102.77 90.16
1975 100.65 101.51 99.73 96.98 91.72
1976 99.64 101.05 101.64 100.00 91.97
1977 99.11 100.35 101.50 100.38 90.12
1978 95.36 99.45 98.24 99.56 92.87
1979 93.95 98.31 98.22 99.83 91.91
1980 96.82 95.26 98.99 98.08 93.07
1981 98.99 93.89 99.26 95.78 93.20
1982 96.54 95.07 96.79 95.90 92.80
1983 96.85 97.96 96.61 92.74 91.32
1984 98.68 98.94 95.82 98.21 91.17
1985 99.58 89.45 98.16 96.50 88.15
1986 97.75 97.31 96.11 98.53 89.14
1987 97.76 99.44 98.39 95.90 83.64
1988 97.79 98.85 98.09 90.71 85.02
1989 97.09 98.74 98.70 96.32 84.68
1990 96.27 96.54 97.31 93.72 84.13
1991 95.44 97.23 97.19 94.33 85.52
1992 95.94 96.47 97.93 94.77 87.26
1993 96.24 97.31 97.79 93.01 87.51
1994 99.32 96.33 97.80 97.17 88.85
1995 100.34 97.70 96.73 94.68 86.88
1996 99.30 99.17 96.46 94.81 86.77
1997 99.37 99.28 96.25 97.48 85.75
1998 99.40 99.92 96.08 98.47 85.77
1999 99.37 101.41 96.54 97.26 89.71
2000 98.98 99.41 97.24 96.66 89.35
2001 97.82 99.75 96.93 95.19 89.64
2002 97.31 98.43 98.70 94.07 90.58
2003 98.45 97.66 99.69 98.10 90.57
2004 100.47 96.21 98.72 95.93 91.89
2005 98.89 97.14 96.82 96.71 90.70
2006 97.22 97.78 96.66 96.41 89.96
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B5, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Median Earnings By Sex and Age

This section compares EPUF estimates of median earnings with those presented in Supplement Table 4.B6. In turns, the discussion examines median earnings for all workers, workers by sex, all workers by age, and then workers by sex and age.

Table 5 compares the median earnings for all, male, and female workers for 1951–2006. The EPUF estimate for all workers is at least 98.44 percent of the Supplement estimate in all years, and in fact slightly exceeds the Supplement estimate for most years. The pattern for men is very similar. For women, the EPUF estimate is much lower than the Supplement estimate in many years; for nine in particular, the EPUF estimate represents less than 98 percent of the Supplement estimate.

Table 5. Comparing Supplement and EPUF estimates: Median earnings for all, male, and female workers, 1951–2006
Year Supplement (dollars) EPUF (dollars) EPUF estimate as a percentage of Supplement estimate
All Men Women All Men Women All Men Women
1951 2,097 2,838 1,192 2,100 2,900 1,200 100.14 102.18 100.67
1952 2,258 3,046 1,278 2,300 3,100 1,300 101.86 101.77 101.72
1953 2,400 3,275 1,357 2,400 3,300 1,300 100.00 100.76 95.80
1954 2,425 3,263 1,374 2,400 3,300 1,400 98.97 101.13 101.89
1955 2,438 3,315 1,351 2,400 3,300 1,300 98.44 99.55 96.23
1956 2,599 3,546 1,454 2,600 3,500 1,500 100.04 98.70 103.16
1957 2,651 3,538 1,544 2,700 3,600 1,500 101.85 101.75 97.15
1958 2,674 3,516 1,589 2,700 3,500 1,600 100.97 99.54 100.69
1959 2,837 3,783 1,634 2,800 3,800 1,600 98.70 100.45 97.92
1960 2,894 3,879 1,679 2,900 3,900 1,700 100.21 100.54 101.25
1961 2,938 3,936 1,742 2,900 3,900 1,700 98.71 99.09 97.59
1962 3,058 4,132 1,808 3,100 4,100 1,800 101.37 99.23 99.56
1963 3,149 4,266 1,856 3,100 4,300 1,800 98.44 100.80 96.98
1964 3,298 4,480 1,945 3,300 4,500 1,900 100.06 100.45 97.69
1965 3,414 4,685 1,984 3,400 4,754 2,000 99.59 101.47 100.81
1966 3,566 5,010 2,082 3,600 5,000 2,000 100.95 99.80 96.06
1967 3,716 5,208 2,259 3,700 5,200 2,200 99.57 99.85 97.39
1968 3,945 5,546 2,435 4,000 5,600 2,400 101.39 100.97 98.56
1969 4,173 5,933 2,585 4,200 6,000 2,600 100.65 101.13 100.58
1970 4,375 6,180 2,735 4,400 6,200 2,700 100.57 100.32 98.72
1971 4,605 6,475 2,882 4,600 6,500 2,900 99.89 100.39 100.62
1972 4,870 6,923 2,983 4,900 7,000 3,000 100.62 101.11 100.57
1973 5,184 7,473 3,148 5,200 7,500 3,100 100.31 100.36 98.48
1974 5,531 7,972 3,435 5,500 8,000 3,400 99.44 100.35 98.98
1975 5,803 8,250 3,730 5,800 8,300 3,700 99.95 100.61 99.20
1976 6,235 8,883 4,063 6,300 8,900 4,100 101.04 100.19 100.91
1977 6,630 9,489 4,358 6,700 9,600 4,300 101.06 101.17 98.67
1978 7,204 10,279 4,856 7,300 10,400 4,900 101.33 101.18 100.91
1979 7,930 11,258 5,433 7,900 11,300 5,400 99.62 100.37 99.39
1980 8,549 11,963 6,012 8,600 12,000 6,000 100.60 100.31 99.80
1981 9,361 12,941 6,690 9,400 13,000 6,700 100.42 100.46 100.15
1982 9,924 13,318 7,232 9,900 13,300 7,200 99.76 99.86 99.56
1983 10,322 13,687 7,618 10,300 13,700 7,600 99.79 100.09 99.76
1984 10,757 14,360 7,878 10,900 14,500 7,900 101.33 100.97 100.28
1985 11,265 14,959 8,293 11,400 15,100 8,300 101.20 100.94 100.08
1986 11,831 15,579 8,796 11,900 15,600 8,800 100.58 100.13 100.05
1987 12,327 16,073 9,261 12,300 16,100 9,300 99.78 100.17 100.42
1988 12,825 16,613 9,753 12,900 16,600 9,800 100.58 99.92 100.48
1989 13,314 17,014 10,265 13,400 17,200 10,300 100.65 101.09 100.34
1990 13,898 17,582 10,837 14,000 17,800 10,900 100.73 101.24 100.58
1991 14,278 17,765 11,369 14,400 17,900 11,400 100.85 100.76 100.27
1992 14,739 18,208 11,842 14,900 18,400 11,900 101.09 101.05 100.49
1993 15,000 18,430 12,093 15,100 18,700 12,100 100.67 101.47 100.06
1994 15,560 19,249 12,422 15,600 19,400 12,400 100.26 100.78 99.82
1995 16,108 19,907 12,897 16,200 20,000 12,900 100.57 100.47 100.02
1996 16,712 20,779 13,335 16,800 20,800 13,400 100.53 100.10 100.49
1997 17,562 21,814 14,043 17,600 21,900 14,100 100.22 100.39 100.41
1998 18,513 23,028 14,834 18,600 23,100 14,900 100.47 100.31 100.44
1999 19,265 23,927 15,465 19,400 24,100 15,600 100.70 100.72 100.87
2000 20,225 25,032 16,287 20,300 25,200 16,400 100.37 100.67 100.69
2001 20,905 25,643 17,037 21,000 25,700 17,100 100.45 100.22 100.37
2002 21,193 25,765 17,461 21,300 25,900 17,500 100.50 100.52 100.22
2003 21,610 26,173 17,845 21,700 26,300 18,000 100.42 100.49 100.87
2004 22,342 a 27,074 a 18,427 a 22,500 27,200 18,500 100.71 100.47 100.40
2005 22,983 a 27,895 a 18,892 a 23,100 28,000 19,000 100.51 100.38 100.57
2006 23,832 a 28,916 a 19,586 a 24,000 29,100 19,700 100.70 100.64 100.58
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
a. 2008 Supplement estimates were based on preliminary data.

Chart 15 reveals the minimal differences between the EPUF and Supplement estimates of median earnings for all workers younger than age 60. Chart 16 shows much more variation for workers aged 60 or older. The greatest variation is for individuals aged 72 or older and it occurs during the same years that showed the greatest differences in the estimated numbers of individuals with earnings (Chart 8).

Chart 15.
EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, all workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 15. EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, all workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
Under 20 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59
1960 100.68 100.24 99.65 100.81 100.24 100.23 98.35 99.66 99.69
1961 100.11 99.23 100.45 100.21 100.16 100.48 98.61 99.76 100.61
1962 100.80 100.10 100.80 100.66 100.22 99.92 99.00 99.59 100.00
1963 100.72 100.25 99.82 100.57 100.29 100.45 99.79 99.21 100.38
1964 99.45 100.42 99.88 101.03 100.47 100.55 100.61 99.07 98.82
1965 101.25 101.01 99.36 100.80 100.66 100.81 101.10 98.86 99.40
1966 96.05 100.42 99.98 100.42 99.67 100.45 101.12 99.13 98.92
1967 98.68 100.30 100.11 100.09 100.31 100.81 100.37 98.64 99.49
1968 100.13 100.66 100.36 99.99 100.28 100.78 100.55 99.83 99.07
1969 100.72 100.33 100.43 100.20 100.34 100.31 100.86 100.41 98.88
1970 100.22 100.13 100.54 100.03 100.46 100.76 100.32 100.67 98.89
1971 98.63 99.96 100.17 100.26 100.35 99.74 100.34 100.54 98.87
1972 99.18 100.25 100.21 100.14 100.48 100.30 100.47 100.27 98.90
1973 99.71 100.32 99.78 99.76 100.45 100.19 99.90 100.26 99.22
1974 100.16 100.26 99.92 100.39 99.34 100.29 99.90 99.51 99.83
1975 99.67 100.58 99.79 100.25 99.71 100.19 100.32 99.39 99.05
1976 101.34 100.57 100.56 99.11 100.14 99.60 100.39 100.21 100.00
1977 98.69 100.11 100.47 99.91 100.16 100.25 100.29 100.52 100.02
1978 100.84 100.41 100.29 100.34 99.93 99.49 100.57 100.10 100.31
1979 100.79 100.21 99.61 100.15 98.83 99.20 100.68 99.91 100.41
1980 100.51 100.39 99.75 100.45 99.77 99.65 99.81 99.85 99.83
1981 100.35 100.45 99.72 100.48 99.38 99.92 99.64 99.85 99.56
1982 99.35 100.19 99.59 99.39 99.57 100.04 99.91 100.00 100.66
1983 99.50 99.77 99.50 100.11 99.87 99.45 99.62 100.91 99.54
1984 99.65 100.40 100.19 100.36 100.55 100.18 100.29 101.12 100.50
1985 99.50 100.29 99.77 100.09 100.57 100.47 99.89 100.88 100.79
1986 99.51 99.74 99.96 99.18 100.21 99.18 99.70 99.47 99.33
1987 99.67 100.23 99.55 99.62 100.37 99.90 99.54 99.51 99.62
1988 99.38 99.79 99.85 99.90 100.02 99.94 99.37 99.44 99.55
1989 100.52 99.59 100.20 100.28 101.00 100.65 100.22 100.38 100.48
1990 100.05 99.26 99.90 100.21 100.80 101.05 100.40 100.30 100.40
1991 99.22 99.53 99.80 100.11 100.49 101.01 100.16 100.20 99.86
1992 100.05 99.87 100.42 100.36 100.61 100.99 100.62 100.38 99.35
1993 99.65 100.62 100.22 100.31 100.94 101.08 100.52 100.58 99.73
1994 99.55 101.17 100.01 100.13 100.08 100.30 99.78 99.28 99.60
1995 100.29 100.55 100.40 99.97 100.29 99.04 99.50 99.47 100.15
1996 99.51 100.89 100.28 100.06 100.41 99.31 100.47 99.26 100.15
1997 99.54 100.43 100.25 100.31 100.18 99.64 99.94 99.35 100.01
1998 98.87 99.74 100.47 100.16 100.09 100.15 99.77 99.83 99.95
1999 99.93 99.88 100.33 100.32 100.64 100.24 99.60 99.88 99.92
2000 100.05 99.89 99.89 99.82 100.89 100.54 99.28 100.37 99.34
2001 99.63 99.44 100.18 99.76 100.33 100.57 99.12 100.10 99.98
2002 99.74 100.19 100.14 100.05 100.21 100.34 99.98 99.50 99.84
2003 100.96 100.76 100.00 99.93 100.26 100.18 100.18 99.62 99.92
2004 100.70 99.68 100.00 99.75 100.17 100.64 100.38 99.41 100.07
2005 99.56 99.57 99.90 100.12 99.64 100.58 100.82 99.19 99.96
2006 99.26 99.51 100.46 100.45 99.97 99.85 100.68 99.50 100.23
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.
Chart 16.
EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, all workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 16. EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, all workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 101.82 99.73 103.77 102.74 95.85
1961 102.01 98.35 103.15 102.49 96.85
1962 100.89 100.24 101.38 103.68 94.86
1963 98.90 100.97 98.03 101.22 95.49
1964 99.30 100.36 96.23 101.40 95.54
1965 100.47 99.04 103.01 102.13 97.11
1966 99.45 99.84 102.34 100.00 97.93
1967 98.56 99.90 102.07 100.11 102.78
1968 99.26 99.72 100.17 99.77 99.23
1969 98.93 99.15 96.66 100.64 100.11
1970 99.97 99.11 99.09 101.46 98.51
1971 101.49 97.24 98.77 102.61 97.45
1972 98.80 97.76 99.81 99.33 98.32
1973 99.59 98.39 97.99 100.67 96.92
1974 98.45 98.83 99.42 103.05 98.13
1975 98.32 99.38 99.44 99.76 100.90
1976 99.85 96.93 100.09 103.66 99.53
1977 100.91 97.34 100.41 102.86 100.31
1978 100.04 98.17 99.74 99.54 96.42
1979 99.35 99.50 98.56 98.69 99.64
1980 99.84 100.01 99.50 100.35 99.20
1981 99.57 100.20 97.90 99.44 97.66
1982 98.39 102.22 98.27 99.97 96.60
1983 98.37 99.92 97.12 97.68 99.26
1984 100.51 99.09 98.82 97.16 97.76
1985 100.48 97.42 99.51 97.78 97.55
1986 99.37 99.50 99.22 94.45 95.41
1987 98.86 99.14 99.18 97.91 93.10
1988 98.41 98.99 99.58 100.25 90.95
1989 99.85 99.35 98.13 104.94 93.72
1990 99.62 95.90 97.61 102.03 92.87
1991 99.66 98.84 97.74 99.65 96.33
1992 101.62 97.54 97.04 97.07 97.08
1993 100.73 99.10 96.23 98.68 93.69
1994 98.93 97.22 99.47 100.15 89.90
1995 97.43 98.74 98.66 100.53 93.74
1996 98.83 97.93 98.56 96.51 93.15
1997 99.04 99.59 99.18 96.86 92.85
1998 100.25 98.38 100.71 98.67 96.28
1999 100.82 98.44 99.21 102.17 97.42
2000 99.69 99.48 100.03 98.41 99.70
2001 100.37 98.93 98.95 96.68 100.51
2002 100.82 99.71 99.83 99.06 101.51
2003 100.06 100.85 97.95 96.42 101.84
2004 99.09 101.87 99.46 98.77 99.12
2005 98.15 101.22 99.20 100.13 99.51
2006 99.65 100.10 98.95 102.12 97.09
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

For men younger than age 60, EPUF median earnings estimates differ substantially from Supplement estimates for 1960–1973 (Chart 17). The greatest difference appears for 1965, when the EPUF estimate is approximately 74 percent of the Supplement estimate for those aged 35–49. How and why do such large differences occur, and why only from 1960 through 1973?18

Chart 17.
EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, male workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 17. EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, male workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
Under 20 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59
1960 100.57 100.76 100.28 99.36 92.75 92.90 96.89 100.49 99.45
1961 99.54 100.56 100.68 97.50 90.57 90.24 92.79 99.11 99.95
1962 99.77 101.23 101.05 93.13 86.02 84.70 88.15 94.04 99.23
1963 100.05 100.24 100.83 89.49 83.04 81.67 84.79 90.28 95.66
1964 98.66 100.42 100.59 84.99 79.33 77.76 79.09 85.24 90.34
1965 98.75 100.98 96.83 79.27 74.06 73.63 75.37 81.07 86.01
1966 96.68 100.74 100.51 100.80 95.64 93.96 95.64 100.23 100.18
1967 99.75 100.77 100.54 98.00 92.27 90.80 91.64 97.14 100.32
1968 100.62 100.67 100.48 100.30 100.58 98.67 99.67 99.81 99.67
1969 100.96 100.44 100.56 99.92 94.69 92.50 93.17 98.09 99.47
1970 99.11 100.59 101.10 95.93 91.46 89.80 89.11 93.19 99.14
1971 98.26 100.70 100.15 92.17 88.85 84.50 85.31 88.66 95.51
1972 99.19 100.51 100.54 97.19 91.56 89.82 90.36 93.07 99.00
1973 99.90 100.42 100.40 100.25 100.65 97.91 98.09 99.65 99.30
1974 100.41 100.16 100.02 100.36 100.57 100.46 100.62 99.56 99.63
1975 100.86 100.11 100.17 100.40 100.27 100.19 100.18 99.72 99.01
1976 101.45 100.66 100.94 100.08 100.78 100.23 100.33 100.03 99.55
1977 99.75 100.29 100.59 100.41 100.82 100.30 100.74 99.46 98.87
1978 100.29 100.62 100.61 100.57 100.20 100.56 100.40 100.08 99.02
1979 101.10 99.95 99.86 100.25 100.34 100.51 100.16 100.62 99.41
1980 100.76 100.12 100.24 100.31 100.84 100.59 99.89 100.79 98.91
1981 100.29 100.54 99.82 100.51 99.99 100.09 99.98 100.01 99.96
1982 99.20 100.62 99.95 99.61 100.45 100.77 100.52 100.15 99.58
1983 97.95 99.87 99.68 99.33 100.25 100.21 100.65 100.32 99.86
1984 98.56 100.51 99.88 100.25 101.15 101.45 101.66 101.96 100.65
1985 100.02 100.84 99.96 100.03 101.32 101.68 101.51 100.73 101.51
1986 100.46 100.20 99.83 99.30 100.45 100.09 100.30 100.14 99.50
1987 99.76 100.63 99.53 99.40 100.27 100.42 99.71 100.45 98.95
1988 99.81 100.13 99.58 100.15 100.08 100.60 99.92 100.57 98.72
1989 100.17 100.11 100.32 100.67 100.97 101.24 101.76 101.63 100.30
1990 98.60 99.88 100.38 100.46 101.31 101.29 102.05 101.57 100.22
1991 98.51 100.81 100.71 99.87 100.49 101.53 101.51 101.26 101.12
1992 99.20 99.79 100.63 100.32 100.63 101.24 102.08 100.98 100.85
1993 99.07 100.38 101.21 100.29 100.92 101.76 101.79 101.28 101.88
1994 100.56 101.79 100.29 100.09 99.54 100.50 100.11 100.63 100.50
1995 99.48 100.60 100.78 100.22 100.00 99.92 100.05 100.49 100.89
1996 99.64 100.21 100.33 100.62 99.91 99.20 101.02 99.90 101.03
1997 101.01 100.84 99.69 100.83 99.91 99.51 100.17 100.97 100.43
1998 98.82 99.85 100.31 100.59 99.83 99.75 100.22 101.18 100.34
1999 99.12 99.90 99.98 100.69 100.41 99.69 99.89 100.69 100.14
2000 100.19 99.66 99.68 100.12 101.52 99.86 99.56 100.34 99.13
2001 99.62 99.07 100.27 99.83 101.04 100.07 99.53 100.23 100.08
2002 99.86 99.70 100.37 99.47 100.63 100.43 99.50 99.89 99.77
2003 100.99 100.60 100.00 99.80 100.51 100.16 99.84 99.87 99.72
2004 100.38 99.89 100.18 99.52 100.24 100.39 99.86 99.43 100.09
2005 100.33 100.43 99.32 100.22 99.66 100.43 100.54 99.57 100.30
2006 99.81 100.07 100.48 100.43 99.88 100.40 100.33 99.85 100.90
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Supplement Table 4.B6 alerts readers that "the amount of median earnings includes estimates above the taxable maximum." For 1951–1977, those estimates are based on data from earnings reports filed quarterly by employers. SSA began collecting "detailed" earnings information annually from W-2 forms in 1978, but earnings above the taxable maximum were still open to some conjecture through 1993.19 Starting in 1994, all covered earnings were subject to the Medicare payroll tax; thus, records reflected actual earnings, and estimates of amounts above the taxable maximum were no longer necessary.

If adjustments for earnings above the taxable maximum were made for all years from 1951 through 2006, why do the relatively large differences occur only from 1960 through 1973? Adjustments would affect median earnings only if the preadjustment median value exceeds the taxable maximum. In other words, if the preadjustment median value is less than the taxable maximum, then the additional earnings would not affect the median.

The methodology SSA used through 1994 to estimate earnings above the taxable maximum is not readily available. However, we can determine whether EPUF estimates of median earnings appear reasonable for the years in which they are much lower than Supplement estimates. If EPUF's median earnings for men in certain age groups is greater than or equal to the taxable maximum in a given year, then we know that any earnings above the taxable maximum will affect the median. Table 6 presents EPUF estimates of median earnings for men as a percentage of the taxable maximum for 1960–1980.20 Shaded cells indicate the years in which one should expect the Supplement medians to be greater than the taxable maximum. Table 7 presents the median earnings values from Supplement Table 4.B6 expressed as a percentage of the taxable maximum; the same cells are shaded as those in Table 6, with one exception (1973, for individuals aged 35–39).

Tables 6 and 7 explain the findings in Chart 17. The EPUF estimates of median earnings for some age categories of male workers are much lower than the Supplement estimates because the EPUF estimates do not account for earnings above the taxable maximum, while the Supplement estimates do. The Supplement's adjustments for earnings above the taxable maximum increase the estimated median earnings for some age groups in years when the median value exceeds the taxable maximum. However, the median values fall below the taxable maximums for all age groups after 1973, and adjustments for earnings above the taxable maximum no longer affect median values. Thus, EPUF and Supplement median earnings estimates differ minimally from 1973 through 2006.

Table 6. EPUF estimates of median earnings for men as a percentage of the taxable maximum amount, by age group, 1960–1980
Year 19 or younger 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 12.89 44.42 82.35 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 98.44 91.50 83.75 79.85 48.44 24.96 28.44
1961 12.90 43.53 82.98 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 94.64 86.56 81.68 48.57 25.00 29.17
1962 13.43 44.73 88.10 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 92.19 85.53 49.23 25.00 29.86
1963 12.76 46.19 91.73 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 95.31 88.95 47.57 24.90 29.00
1964 13.26 50.04 97.70 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 94.11 49.84 25.00 29.38
1965 14.61 54.89 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 98.94 54.73 25.00 30.67
1966 12.03 40.86 83.00 98.10 100.00 100.00 100.00 98.25 91.12 83.17 76.10 36.83 22.25 22.92
1967 12.06 39.27 86.99 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 95.02 87.53 80.01 38.30 22.59 24.85
1968 10.94 35.98 79.27 93.79 99.95 100.00 100.00 94.55 86.13 80.19 72.24 32.19 20.55 21.74
1969 11.78 39.51 85.73 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 93.45 85.45 78.02 32.39 20.96 22.83
1970 11.82 42.31 88.49 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.55 91.07 81.52 36.14 21.31 23.53
1971 11.84 44.75 90.82 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.12 84.95 37.09 21.53 24.24
1972 11.37 45.91 82.72 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 98.81 90.00 78.99 32.14 18.55 22.20
1973 10.81 42.19 73.24 93.84 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.13 91.04 83.00 70.85 25.66 18.22 20.01
1974 9.70 36.94 62.86 81.75 87.96 90.55 90.83 87.32 80.61 73.20 62.89 20.45 16.65 17.56
1975 8.91 34.58 60.13 79.54 86.27 89.06 89.56 86.78 79.28 71.85 61.60 19.73 16.15 17.09
1976 9.02 34.22 59.48 78.65 87.14 89.26 90.57 87.71 81.08 72.67 60.93 18.61 16.34 16.47
1977 8.84 34.19 58.07 77.66 87.56 89.62 90.79 87.64 81.34 75.14 60.82 18.44 16.03 16.64
1978 9.30 35.17 58.91 77.69 89.00 91.47 92.57 89.86 83.72 76.80 63.09 21.92 16.95 16.77
1979 8.05 29.64 49.30 64.39 74.42 77.11 77.20 75.92 70.85 63.77 53.65 19.03 14.51 14.26
1980 7.22 27.09 45.98 59.99 69.66 72.70 72.88 71.57 67.16 60.41 51.21 18.77 14.09 13.43
SOURCE: Author's calculations using EPUF.
Table 7. Supplement estimates of median earnings for men as a percentage of the taxable maximum amount, by age group, 1960–1980
Year 19 or younger 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 12.81 44.08 82.13 100.65 107.81 107.65 103.21 97.96 92.00 82.96 79.42 44.00 25.15 27.92
1961 12.96 43.29 82.42 102.56 110.42 110.81 107.77 100.90 94.69 84.90 82.60 44.17 25.58 28.60
1962 13.46 44.19 87.19 107.38 116.25 118.06 113.44 106.33 100.77 92.08 85.98 46.73 24.75 29.17
1963 12.75 46.08 90.98 111.75 120.42 122.44 117.94 110.77 104.54 97.23 89.56 48.10 24.77 28.79
1964 13.44 49.83 97.13 117.67 126.06 128.60 126.44 117.31 110.69 101.06 93.83 52.52 24.79 29.75
1965 14.79 54.35 103.27 126.15 135.02 135.81 132.69 123.35 116.27 104.02 99.67 54.75 25.96 30.06
1966 12.44 40.56 82.58 97.32 104.56 106.42 104.56 98.03 90.95 83.88 76.61 36.14 21.92 23.47
1967 12.09 38.97 86.53 102.05 108.38 110.14 109.12 102.94 94.71 88.30 80.71 37.82 22.29 23.36
1968 10.87 35.74 78.90 93.51 99.37 101.35 100.33 94.73 86.41 80.82 72.51 33.91 20.53 21.55
1969 11.67 39.33 85.26 100.08 105.60 108.10 107.33 101.95 93.95 86.99 77.94 35.96 21.18 22.62
1970 11.92 42.06 87.53 104.24 109.33 111.36 112.22 107.31 98.40 90.40 82.77 37.53 21.31 23.88
1971 12.05 31.62 90.68 108.50 112.55 118.35 117.22 112.79 104.71 95.36 86.83 38.10 21.40 24.55
1972 11.47 45.68 82.28 102.89 109.22 111.33 110.67 107.44 99.80 90.03 79.64 32.26 18.69 22.34
1973 10.82 42.01 72.94 93.61 99.35 102.13 101.94 99.47 91.68 83.19 71.55 25.91 18.06 20.52
1974 9.66 36.88 62.85 81.45 87.47 90.14 90.27 87.70 80.91 73.86 62.61 21.33 16.48 17.61
1975 8.84 34.54 60.03 79.22 86.04 88.89 89.40 87.02 80.07 73.74 61.70 20.53 16.14 16.82
1976 8.90 33.99 58.92 78.59 86.46 89.05 90.27 87.68 81.44 73.41 62.10 19.37 15.92 16.94
1977 8.86 34.09 57.73 77.35 86.85 89.36 90.13 88.12 82.27 74.32 62.32 19.02 15.78 16.52
1978 9.28 34.95 58.55 77.24 88.82 90.96 92.20 89.79 84.54 76.71 63.15 21.89 16.86 17.39
1979 7.96 29.66 49.37 64.23 74.17 76.72 77.08 75.45 71.27 64.76 53.63 19.40 14.66 14.52
1980 7.17 27.05 45.87 59.81 69.08 72.28 72.96 71.01 67.90 61.54 50.97 18.93 14.12 13.63
SOURCE: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, various editions.

Chart 18 presents EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of Supplement estimates for male workers aged 60 or older and reveals more divergence than was seen for younger workers, especially for men aged 72 or older. Most of the variation occurs in the same years for which EPUF and Supplement estimates of number of workers vary.

Chart 18.
EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, male workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 18. EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, male workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 100.96 100.54 110.09 99.24 101.87
1961 101.96 98.88 109.96 97.72 101.97
1962 100.12 99.47 105.36 101.01 102.39
1963 98.03 99.32 98.90 100.52 100.71
1964 98.95 100.30 94.89 100.84 98.76
1965 96.13 99.27 99.96 96.31 102.02
1966 99.15 99.34 101.91 101.48 97.64
1967 99.13 99.13 101.27 101.34 106.37
1968 99.22 99.63 94.93 100.11 100.89
1969 98.23 100.10 90.08 98.97 100.96
1970 100.75 98.50 96.31 100.03 98.53
1971 101.84 97.83 97.33 100.64 98.75
1972 99.96 99.18 99.64 99.26 99.35
1973 99.77 99.03 99.05 100.92 97.52
1974 99.12 100.46 95.86 101.01 99.68
1975 97.43 99.83 96.10 100.08 101.61
1976 99.01 98.11 96.11 102.67 97.22
1977 101.10 97.58 96.92 101.57 100.73
1978 100.13 99.91 100.15 100.50 96.43
1979 98.46 100.04 98.09 99.00 98.17
1980 98.16 100.47 99.20 99.77 98.57
1981 98.03 98.88 98.10 99.70 96.78
1982 98.61 100.30 99.76 99.58 97.16
1983 99.32 98.26 97.98 98.35 99.28
1984 100.88 98.92 99.24 96.48 98.18
1985 101.64 97.29 99.42 99.04 94.06
1986 101.40 98.93 100.23 96.11 93.16
1987 99.05 98.35 100.67 98.60 91.52
1988 97.13 99.16 99.24 98.17 89.26
1989 99.62 99.77 98.51 104.43 94.24
1990 98.95 99.26 98.33 99.18 91.39
1991 99.09 98.78 99.92 95.33 94.18
1992 99.44 100.25 98.49 99.23 94.63
1993 100.56 99.92 98.76 103.17 91.40
1994 99.31 95.04 101.62 96.36 88.77
1995 98.31 97.49 100.24 101.30 92.76
1996 100.09 96.30 97.62 96.80 90.65
1997 99.43 101.45 99.50 94.35 92.64
1998 100.56 97.22 100.81 99.88 96.06
1999 102.21 101.43 98.22 104.88 97.74
2000 101.48 99.99 101.46 96.00 99.47
2001 99.68 102.04 97.63 95.16 98.38
2002 99.11 101.59 99.44 99.73 99.10
2003 99.29 99.98 98.63 97.29 101.29
2004 98.44 99.31 99.70 100.92 100.01
2005 97.59 98.64 98.92 100.52 99.86
2006 99.06 98.67 99.77 100.68 96.16
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Chart 19 shows minimal differences between EPUF and Supplement median earnings estimates for female workers younger than age 60. Chart 20 reveals much more variation between the estimates for female workers aged 60 or older, mirroring the pattern of divergence seen for older men.

Chart 19.
EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, female workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 19. EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, female workers younger than age 60 by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
Under 20 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59
1960 100.00 98.58 97.66 100.70 99.68 99.84 99.20 99.60 99.30
1961 95.64 96.42 99.38 99.68 99.65 99.49 99.76 99.73 99.65
1962 103.36 98.94 98.41 98.13 100.17 100.08 98.21 100.51 99.07
1963 101.98 100.36 98.92 97.25 99.79 99.15 99.88 98.64 99.27
1964 93.91 99.73 98.51 98.52 99.82 99.46 98.64 98.82 98.54
1965 95.13 99.96 99.55 97.30 100.20 100.84 99.05 99.62 98.69
1966 97.41 100.22 97.73 97.12 97.02 99.26 99.19 100.49 98.38
1967 99.95 99.26 99.27 99.87 97.66 99.64 99.66 99.18 98.67
1968 98.53 100.72 99.89 100.64 98.70 99.11 100.07 100.95 98.42
1969 99.11 100.10 99.38 99.00 98.85 99.50 100.50 100.15 98.99
1970 101.13 99.92 98.57 100.30 99.22 99.63 99.12 100.24 99.58
1971 98.14 98.66 99.90 98.26 99.79 98.13 98.91 100.68 99.59
1972 99.27 99.60 99.45 99.45 99.68 99.59 99.50 99.75 99.41
1973 99.85 99.54 98.62 97.46 99.50 98.23 99.08 99.40 98.44
1974 99.72 100.22 99.87 99.07 98.68 98.02 99.22 99.43 99.37
1975 98.04 101.26 99.31 98.16 99.05 99.36 99.18 98.92 98.90
1976 101.21 100.28 100.05 98.63 98.64 100.01 99.89 99.39 98.38
1977 98.23 100.20 100.22 99.74 97.84 99.52 100.22 99.57 99.43
1978 100.86 100.20 100.47 99.98 98.86 98.92 100.33 99.66 99.75
1979 100.17 100.55 99.76 100.19 98.75 98.03 99.24 98.71 100.08
1980 100.48 101.02 99.57 100.35 100.00 98.71 100.81 98.74 99.46
1981 100.11 100.83 99.50 101.09 99.54 99.44 100.43 98.22 99.18
1982 99.62 98.92 99.42 100.00 99.87 99.24 99.72 99.25 98.21
1983 100.88 98.70 99.18 101.12 100.54 99.26 99.13 100.10 97.34
1984 99.97 99.90 99.49 101.18 100.02 99.84 99.59 100.31 99.55
1985 99.46 99.58 99.12 99.93 100.07 100.57 99.31 101.44 99.05
1986 98.48 99.35 99.09 98.67 100.72 99.39 99.67 99.90 99.37
1987 99.73 99.93 98.86 99.30 101.05 99.76 99.45 99.23 99.85
1988 98.83 99.31 99.76 99.21 100.77 99.81 99.25 98.27 99.76
1989 100.87 98.33 99.66 99.62 101.39 99.68 99.78 98.07 100.76
1990 101.53 98.25 100.11 99.74 101.06 101.29 99.74 98.25 100.33
1991 99.67 98.28 99.32 99.88 100.37 101.49 99.97 98.14 100.24
1992 100.41 99.75 99.34 99.80 100.18 101.08 99.62 99.11 98.47
1993 100.34 101.06 98.67 99.89 100.32 100.50 99.47 100.14 97.67
1994 97.95 100.56 98.66 100.18 100.03 99.76 99.21 99.76 98.00
1995 101.16 100.58 99.70 99.69 100.19 98.95 99.82 99.42 99.02
1996 99.66 100.80 99.94 99.49 100.57 99.54 100.00 99.39 99.24
1997 98.12 99.99 100.86 99.32 100.15 99.55 99.93 99.39 99.12
1998 98.76 99.63 100.90 99.23 100.36 99.94 99.54 99.70 99.89
1999 100.40 99.35 100.52 100.57 100.57 100.20 99.74 99.88 100.63
2000 99.77 99.51 99.79 100.19 100.33 100.06 99.87 100.52 100.03
2001 99.47 100.28 100.08 100.23 100.36 100.70 99.64 100.22 99.86
2002 99.66 100.23 99.78 100.19 99.78 99.94 100.47 99.22 99.97
2003 100.68 100.37 100.03 100.27 99.75 100.30 100.25 99.59 100.51
2004 101.03 99.11 99.73 100.43 99.65 100.17 100.53 100.18 100.45
2005 98.99 98.62 100.62 100.45 99.94 100.42 100.93 99.66 100.31
2006 98.56 99.03 100.39 101.09 99.95 99.42 101.17 99.98 100.14
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.
Chart 20.
EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, female workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Line chart with tabular version below.
Show as table
Table equivalent for Chart 20. EPUF estimates of median earnings as a percentage of the Supplement estimate, female workers aged 60 or older by age group, 1960–2006
Year Age group
60–61 62–64 65–69 70–71 72 or older
1960 103.94 99.25 101.09 99.11 92.66
1961 100.56 99.22 100.59 104.06 97.94
1962 101.10 100.04 99.78 103.48 96.25
1963 100.43 104.38 100.25 97.77 95.92
1964 100.73 102.84 100.17 95.24 97.25
1965 98.83 98.65 99.34 104.84 98.52
1966 99.57 99.94 101.75 102.19 93.24
1967 99.31 99.53 101.15 97.76 95.21
1968 101.93 97.37 101.78 97.08 95.35
1969 97.82 103.69 100.78 101.41 98.34
1970 96.74 100.31 99.98 105.01 98.32
1971 99.91 98.59 99.41 104.97 93.78
1972 98.60 96.10 99.12 98.55 100.45
1973 98.99 98.37 100.31 103.08 99.57
1974 97.14 100.75 99.36 110.56 95.72
1975 100.85 96.92 102.79 94.88 98.40
1976 101.72 99.21 100.02 101.63 100.45
1977 97.07 99.16 98.05 110.47 99.01
1978 98.08 99.67 100.07 95.08 94.43
1979 98.69 98.77 101.44 98.59 100.93
1980 98.57 98.54 102.36 98.94 96.03
1981 100.54 99.53 99.61 100.31 98.99
1982 99.37 100.87 99.83 100.13 93.38
1983 97.23 100.48 96.40 98.66 99.70
1984 100.07 95.84 100.21 98.26 95.31
1985 99.20 97.12 98.00 97.20 99.47
1986 99.62 100.23 100.00 96.34 96.60
1987 98.40 103.34 97.58 94.77 90.88
1988 95.83 98.90 99.59 97.23 92.41
1989 98.46 97.93 97.54 109.32 91.26
1990 98.74 92.52 96.77 107.03 94.80
1991 97.72 96.77 96.02 100.00 96.91
1992 102.14 95.48 95.88 91.21 98.40
1993 101.21 96.90 94.00 96.00 97.60
1994 98.96 98.70 96.72 105.52 95.24
1995 100.49 98.65 97.03 101.11 93.70
1996 99.82 96.55 97.37 94.37 97.11
1997 97.67 97.34 97.98 97.46 93.88
1998 98.55 99.52 100.62 94.93 98.40
1999 99.85 97.68 98.81 100.77 97.44
2000 99.01 98.72 98.26 102.87 99.34
2001 100.82 95.75 100.50 99.49 102.32
2002 101.11 96.98 101.73 97.90 102.73
2003 101.04 102.11 98.75 96.72 104.09
2004 99.51 103.45 99.81 98.89 98.24
2005 99.00 104.75 101.05 101.55 97.94
2006 98.90 101.19 98.09 103.03 98.51
 
SOURCES: SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, Table 4.B6, various editions; and author's calculations using EPUF.
NOTE: 2008 Supplement estimates for 2004–2006 were based on preliminary data.

Percentage of Workers with Earnings Below the Taxable Maximum

Supplement Table 4.B4 contains estimates of the percentage of all workers with earnings below the taxable maximum amount beginning in 1951. Table 8 compares the EPUF estimates with those found in the Supplement. Few of the estimates differ by more than one-tenth of a percentage point. For all workers, the largest difference between the estimates occurs in 1967, where the EPUF estimate is 0.6 percent greater than the Supplement estimate. The largest difference in the estimates of workers by sex is seen for 1969, in which EPUF estimates are 1.7 percent higher for men and 1.0 percent lower for women than the Supplement estimates. Apart from these and scattered other modest differences, the EPUF and Supplement estimates scarcely differ.

Table 8. Comparing Supplement and EPUF estimates: Percentage of all, male, and female workers with earnings below the taxable maximum amount, 1951–2006
Year Supplement a EPUF EPUF estimate as a percentage of Supplement estimate
All Men Women All Men Women All Men Women
1951 75.5 64.6 96.7 75.4 64.7 96.6 99.9 100.1 99.9
1952 72.1 60.0 95.4 72.2 60.1 95.3 100.2 100.2 99.9
1953 68.8 55.5 93.8 68.8 55.5 93.8 100.0 100.0 100.0
1954 68.4 55.4 93.0 68.4 55.4 93.1 100.0 100.0 100.1
1955 74.4 63.4 95.9 74.7 63.8 95.8 100.4 100.7 99.9
1956 71.6 59.7 94.5 71.8 59.9 94.6 100.2 100.4 100.1
1957 70.1 58.7 93.1 70.2 58.8 93.0 100.1 100.2 99.9
1958 69.4 58.4 91.8 69.6 58.6 91.7 100.2 100.3 99.9
1959 73.3 62.7 94.3 73.3 62.6 94.2 99.9 99.9 99.9
1960 72.0 60.9 93.5 71.9 60.7 93.4 99.8 99.7 99.9
1961 70.8 59.6 92.4 70.8 59.6 92.4 100.0 99.9 100.0
1962 68.8 57.1 91.1 68.8 57.0 91.1 100.0 99.9 100.0
1963 67.5 55.5 90.0 67.4 55.4 90.0 99.9 99.8 100.0
1964 65.5 53.1 88.5 65.5 53.0 88.5 100.0 99.8 100.0
1965 63.9 51.0 87.3 63.9 50.8 87.4 100.0 99.7 100.1
1966 75.8 64.4 95.6 75.7 64.2 95.7 99.9 99.7 100.1
1967 73.6 61.5 94.2 74.0 62.0 94.5 100.6 100.8 100.3
1968 78.6 68.0 96.3 78.6 67.9 96.3 100.0 99.9 100.0
1969 75.5 62.8 96.0 75.8 63.9 95.0 100.4 101.7 99.0
1970 74.0 61.8 93.5 73.9 61.6 93.5 99.8 99.7 100.0
1971 71.7 59.1 91.7 71.6 58.9 91.8 99.9 99.6 100.1
1972 75.0 62.9 93.9 74.9 62.7 93.8 99.9 99.7 99.9
1973 79.7 68.9 96.2 79.6 68.6 96.2 99.9 99.6 100.0
1974 84.9 76.2 97.8 84.8 76.0 97.8 99.9 99.7 100.0
1975 84.9 76.4 97.5 85.0 76.4 97.5 100.1 100.0 100.1
1976 85.1 76.3 97.5 85.0 76.2 97.5 99.9 99.9 100.0
1977 85.2 76.3 97.5 85.2 76.3 97.5 99.9 99.9 100.0
1978 84.6 75.4 97.1 84.6 75.4 97.3 100.0 99.9 100.2
1979 90.0 83.6 98.6 90.1 83.7 98.8 100.2 100.1 100.2
1980 91.2 85.5 98.8 91.3 85.5 98.9 100.1 100.0 100.1
1981 92.4 87.4 99.0 92.4 87.3 99.0 100.0 99.9 100.0
1982 92.9 88.3 98.9 92.9 88.2 99.0 100.0 99.9 100.1
1983 93.7 89.6 99.0 93.7 89.6 99.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
1984 93.6 89.4 98.9 93.6 89.4 98.9 100.0 100.0 100.0
1985 93.5 89.3 98.8 93.5 89.3 98.8 100.0 100.0 100.0
1986 93.8 89.7 98.7 93.8 89.8 98.7 100.0 100.1 100.0
1987 93.9 89.9 98.6 93.8 89.9 98.6 99.9 100.0 100.0
1988 93.5 89.4 98.3 93.5 89.4 98.4 100.0 100.0 100.1
1989 93.8 90.1 98.3 93.8 90.0 98.3 100.0 99.9 100.0
1990 94.3 90.9 98.4 94.3 90.9 98.4 100.0 100.0 100.0
1991 94.4 91.1 98.3 94.4 91.1 98.3 100.0 100.0 100.0
1992 94.3 91.0 98.1 94.3 91.0 98.1 100.0 100.0 100.0
1993 94.4 91.3 98.1 94.4 91.3 98.1 100.0 100.0 100.0
1994 94.6 91.4 98.1 94.6 91.5 98.1 100.0 100.1 100.0
1995 94.2 91.0 97.9 94.2 91.0 97.9 100.0 99.9 100.0
1996 93.9 90.6 97.7 93.9 90.6 97.7 100.0 100.0 100.0
1997 93.8 90.5 97.6 93.8 90.5 97.6 100.0 100.0 100.0
1998 93.7 90.3 97.5 93.7 90.3 97.5 100.0 100.0 100.0
1999 93.9 90.7 97.5 93.9 90.7 97.5 100.0 100.0 100.0
2000 93.8 90.6 97.4 93.8 90.6 97.4 100.0 100.0 100.0
2001 94.1 91.0 97.5 94.0 91.0 97.4 99.9 100.0 99.9
2002 94.6 91.8 97.7 94.5 91.7 97.6 99.9 99.9 99.9
2003 94.5 91.8 97.5 94.5 91.7 97.5 100.0 99.9 100.0
2004 94.1 b 91.2 b 97.3 b 94.1 91.2 97.3 100.0 100.0 100.0
2005 93.9 b 91.0 b 97.1 b 93.9 90.9 97.1 100.0 99.9 100.0
2006 94.0 b 91.1 b 97.1 b 93.9 91.0 97.1 99.9 99.8 100.0
SOURCES: SSA (2009, Table 4.B4) and author's calculations using EPUF.
a. From 1937 to 1950, relates to wage and salary workers. Beginning in 1951, includes self-employed workers.
b. 2008 Supplement estimates were based on preliminary data.

Summary

This analysis compares the earnings data contained in EPUF with estimates published in the Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin. The analysis presents four reasons why one should expect differences between the estimates beyond those due to the different sampling frames used to generate the respective 1-percent samples.

First, the Supplement estimates are based on taxable earnings, which can sum to more than the Social Security taxable maximum for multiple jobholders, whereas the EPUF reflects only capped taxable earnings. Second, EPUF data cleaning and disclosure prevention measures reduce the number of records with earnings and the amount of earnings reported. Third, the Supplement estimates reflect adjustments to account for delinquent, erroneous, and potentially fraudulent reporting of earnings information to SSA. Fourth, the Supplement updates only the three most recent years of estimates. As a result, older estimates are frozen and do not reflect any subsequent changes in the MEF. EPUF earnings data reflect the continuously updated MEF and contain the most recent earnings data reported to SSA.

The analysis began by comparing estimates of taxable earnings in the underlying EPUF sample with those in the Supplement. Those estimates proved very similar and supported the expectation that the biggest differences would be for the most recent years. Although there was some divergence between the estimates from the underlying EPUF sample and the Supplement estimates from 1980 through 1988, those differences were relatively minor.

In general, the other differences between EPUF and Supplement earnings estimates are relatively small after accounting for expected differences. The key differences are largely attributable to EPUF's use of capped taxable earnings and the removal of some records due to data cleaning and disclosure prevention procedures.

There were, however, two unexpected differences between EPUF and Supplement estimates: Specifically, estimates of the number of workers by age group and sex, and the value of median earnings by age and sex. The distribution of individuals who have earnings when they are 72 years old or older in EPUF is nearly identical to that in the active file of the CWHS, indicating that EPUF represents the current state of the earnings data contained in the MEF, even though it differs from the Supplement estimates. Median earnings estimates differ because Supplement estimates are adjusted to account for estimated earnings above the taxable maximum and EPUF estimates are not.

Appendix

EPUF's two linkable subfiles differ in structure and in the ways the data cleaning and disclosure protection procedures affect them. The demographic and aggregate earnings subfile uses a person-record format containing a single record for each of the 4,348,254 individuals in the EPUF. Each record contains the individual's EPUF identification code, year of birth, sex, aggregate taxable earnings from 1937 through 1950, aggregate quarters of coverage earned from 1937 through 1950, and quarters of coverage earned in 1951 and 1952. Appendix Table A-2 presents an illustrative listing of 20 hypothetical demographic and aggregate earnings subfile records. The annual earnings subfile is a vertical-event history file that contains a single record for each year with positive earnings for each person in EPUF. Every earnings-year record contains the individual's EPUF identification code, capped taxable earnings, and earned quarters of coverage. The annual earnings subfile contains 60,326,474 records for the 3,131,424 individuals who had at least 1 year of positive earnings from 1951 through 2006. Appendix Table A-3 presents an illustrative listing of 41 earnings years for four hypothetical earners.

Nearly 28 percent of the individuals in EPUF had no positive annual earnings from 1951 through 2006. These individuals have a record in the demographic and aggregate earnings subfile, but no records in the annual earnings subfile.

The MEF 1-percent sample underlying the EPUF contained records for 4,413,024 individuals. Data "cleaning" led to the removal of records for 28,770 individuals; those records had dubious or missing year-of-birth values, coding errors, or other issues. Then, to protect against disclosure of personal data, earnings records for individuals aged 14 or younger or 86 or older were zeroed out, effectively removing those records from the annual earnings subfile (because the subfile only contains records with positive earnings values). However, setting those earnings equal to $0 does not affect the individual's record in the demographic and aggregate earnings subfile.

Table A-1. Taxable earnings amounts removed from underlying EPUF sample by reason for removal, 1951–2006
Year Total taxable earnings in underlying EPUF sample (million $) Capping (earnings exceeding the taxable maximum) Data cleaning and disclosure prevention Total earnings removed from underlying EPUF sample
Dollars (in millions) As a percentage of taxable earnings Dollars (in millions) As a percentage of taxable earnings Dollars (in millions) As a percentage of taxable earnings
1951 1,206.9 24.8 2.06 5.7 0.47 30.5 2.53
1952 1,287.8 31.3 2.43 5.9 0.46 37.2 2.89
1953 1,357.9 36.3 2.67 6.0 0.44 42.3 3.11
1954 1,334.2 32.7 2.45 5.9 0.44 38.5 2.89
1955 1,570.5 30.2 1.92 7.0 0.44 37.2 2.37
1956 1,705.6 38.3 2.25 7.5 0.44 45.8 2.69
1957 1,818.0 43.0 2.37 7.6 0.42 50.6 2.78
1958 1,801.3 40.6 2.25 7.4 0.41 48.0 2.67
1959 2,014.9 41.2 2.04 8.1 0.40 49.3 2.45
1960 2,067.3 44.0 2.13 8.2 0.40 52.1 2.52
1961 2,091.5 45.3 2.17 8.1 0.39 53.4 2.55
1962 2,187.2 53.4 2.44 8.3 0.38 61.7 2.82
1963 2,252.2 57.4 2.55 8.5 0.38 65.9 2.92
1964 2,359.8 66.9 2.84 8.8 0.37 75.7 3.21
1965 2,498.0 79.1 3.17 9.2 0.37 88.3 3.54
1966 3,116.6 63.6 2.04 11.3 0.36 74.9 2.40
1967 3,274.5 73.4 2.24 11.6 0.36 85.0 2.60
1968 3,745.5 68.5 1.83 13.1 0.35 81.6 2.18
1969 4,014.2 89.2 2.22 13.7 0.34 102.9 2.56
1970 4,142.5 95.2 2.30 13.8 0.33 108.9 2.63
1971 4,255.7 101.1 2.38 14.1 0.33 115.2 2.71
1972 4,824.7 99.5 2.06 15.6 0.32 115.2 2.39
1973 5,591.1 91.4 1.63 17.6 0.32 109.0 1.95
1974 6,340.4 74.4 1.17 19.7 0.31 94.0 1.48
1975 6,631.7 70.9 1.07 20.1 0.30 91.0 1.37
1976 7,351.2 78.8 1.07 21.5 0.29 100.3 1.37
1977 8,121.2 87.0 1.07 22.8 0.28 109.8 1.35
1978 9,126.4 122.7 1.34 24.3 0.27 147.0 1.61
1979 10,662.1 93.7 0.88 27.3 0.26 121.0 1.13
1980 11,680.1 92.1 0.79 28.2 0.24 120.3 1.03
1981 12,898.0 89.7 0.70 28.2 0.22 118.0 0.91
1982 13,533.3 85.8 0.63 28.0 0.21 113.8 0.84
1983 14,400.7 80.5 0.56 28.3 0.20 108.9 0.76
1984 15,829.2 96.0 0.61 29.2 0.18 125.2 0.79
1985 17,059.9 105.7 0.62 30.0 0.18 135.7 0.80
1986 18,180.7 108.5 0.60 30.4 0.17 138.9 0.76
1987 19,391.7 114.6 0.59 30.3 0.16 144.8 0.75
1988 20,829.8 130.6 0.63 30.2 0.14 160.8 0.77
1989 22,249.7 135.5 0.61 30.7 0.14 166.2 0.75
1990 23,451.3 130.9 0.56 30.8 0.13 161.7 0.69
1991 24,078.2 130.3 0.54 29.8 0.12 160.0 0.67
1992 25,184.5 146.3 0.58 30.6 0.12 177.0 0.70
1993 26,179.2 158.5 0.61 31.2 0.12 189.8 0.72
1994 27,701.5 182.0 0.66 32.2 0.12 214.2 0.77
1995 29,020.8 202.9 0.70 33.0 0.11 235.9 0.81
1996 30,564.4 239.0 0.78 33.9 0.11 272.8 0.89
1997 32,654.2 271.4 0.83 35.5 0.11 306.9 0.94
1998 34,991.9 303.9 0.87 37.3 0.11 341.2 0.98
1999 37,156.0 318.3 0.86 38.9 0.10 357.3 0.96
2000 39,651.7 398.2 1.00 40.2 0.10 438.4 1.11
2001 41,167.3 345.0 0.84 40.5 0.10 385.5 0.94
2002 41,919.1 283.0 0.68 40.1 0.10 323.1 0.77
2003 42,922.0 275.9 0.64 39.7 0.09 315.6 0.74
2004 44,773.0 319.6 0.71 40.7 0.09 360.3 0.80
2005 46,539.3 358.1 0.77 40.5 0.09 398.6 0.86
2006 48,843.1 411.4 0.84 40.4 0.08 451.8 0.93
Total 871,600.1 7,387.7 0.85 1,267.6 0.15 8,655.3 0.99
SOURCE: Author's calculations using underlying EPUF sample.
Table A-2. Illustrative examples of person records in the EPUF Demographic and Aggregate Earnings subfile
ID number Year of birth (YOB) Sex a Total covered earnings ($) (TOT_COV_EARN3750) Quarters of coverage 1937–1950 (QC3750) Quarters of coverage 1951–1952 (QC5152)
1 1973 1 0 0 0
2 1976 2 0 0 0
3 1917 2 9,300 18 3
4 1947 2 0 0 0
5 1983 1 0 0 0
6 1927 2 0 0 0
7 1995 2 0 0 0
8 1996 2 0 0 0
9 1931 1 39 0 2
10 1984 2 0 0 0
11 1961 2 0 0 0
12 1983 2 0 0 0
13 1914 2 13,100 26 0
14 1918 1 9,400 18 7
15 1932 2 225 2 0
16 1978 2 0 0 0
17 1937 1 0 0 0
18 1945 2 0 0 0
19 1985 1 0 0 0
20 1921 1 15,900 31 6
SOURCE: Author's reconstruction based on EPUF.
a. 1 = male, 2 = female.
Table A-3. Illustrative examples of earnings-year records in the EPUF Annual Earnings subfile
ID number Year with earnings (YEAR_EARN) Quarters of coverage (ANNUAL_QTRS) Capped taxable earnings ($) (ANNUAL_EARNINGS)
1 1998 4 7,500
1 1999 4 10,000
1 2000 4 16,200
1 2001 4 24,000
1 2002 4 15,900
1 2004 3 3,600
1 2005 4 20,500
1 2006 4 24,300
2 1993 2 1,600
2 1994 4 2,600
2 1995 3 2,100
2 1996 4 4,500
2 1997 4 7,600
2 1998 4 22,700
2 1999 4 16,900
2 2000 4 26,300
2 2001 4 33,200
2 2002 4 36,300
2 2003 4 41,900
2 2004 4 42,100
2 2005 4 38,500
2 2006 4 29,800
3 1951 0 550
3 1952 0 325
3 1953 4 575
3 1954 3 2,000
3 1955 3 1,600
4 1966 1 675
4 1967 4 3,200
4 1968 4 4,000
4 1969 4 4,400
4 1970 4 4,800
4 1971 4 5,000
4 1972 4 5,300
4 1973 4 5,800
4 1974 4 6,300
4 1975 4 7,200
4 1976 4 8,000
4 1977 4 8,600
4 1978 4 6,600
4 1980 4 3,000
SOURCE: Author's reconstruction based on EPUF.

Notes

1 For an introduction to the EPUF, see Compson (2011).

2 See appendix for more details on the structure of the two subfiles.

3 The CWHS is a longitudinal database produced by ORES for internal research and statistical purposes. SSA is authorized to share the CWHS with the Treasury Department's Offices of Economic Policy and Tax Analysis and with the Congressional Budget Office. For more information about the CWHS, see Buckler (1988) and Smith (1989).

4 For information on the MEF, see Olsen and Hudson (2009).

5 Some Supplement tables are based on CWHS annual files. However, this analysis examines Supplement earnings tables based on the MEF 1-percent sample, an extract of earnings data from the MEF summary segment using the CWHS sampling frame, which selects a random sample of records based on certain serial digits of the SSN.

6 Although other circumstances may account for records with taxable earnings above the taxable maximum, the vast majority of cases involve earnings from multiple employers.

7 Capping earnings at the taxable maximum in a given year eliminates the need to top-code this data field.

8 Posting all the information from the W-2s and selected information from Schedule SE is a massive annual undertaking. The MEF is continuously updated as additional W-2 and Schedule SE information is reported, or previously reported earnings are corrected. For more details, see Olsen and Hudson (2009).

9 For example, suppose that the total amount of taxable earnings on the MEF was $98 and the expected total amount of earnings posted to the MEF was $100. The adjustment factor in this case would be 1.0204082. ORES would multiply the aggregate earnings on the MEF for this tax year by the adjustment factor to generate an estimate of $100 in the Supplement.

10 For more details, see Compson (2011).

11 For example, if an individual has annual earnings in each year between ages 12 and 62, the EPUF earnings records would reflect $0 for ages 12, 13, and 14 years old and all of the individual's other earnings records would remain unchanged.

12 Supplement figures cited in this note are primarily from the 2008 edition, the most recent Supplement consulted for this analysis.

13 As noted earlier, Supplement estimates make use of OCACT adjustment factors for the number of workers and the amount of earnings reported to the ESF. Those adjustment factors are beyond the scope of this analysis.

14 Appendix Table A-1 contains the data for Chart 3.

15 Taxable maximums for 1979 through 1981 were set by legislation. Those for 1990 through 1992 were set using a transitional rule. See SSA (2011, Tables 2.A3 and 2.A18).

16 Supplement Tables 4.B3, 4.B5, and 4.B6 present annual data only for the most recent years. Data for prior periods are shown only for selected years—specifically, for 1937 and then at 5-year intervals from 1940 until annual coverage begins. Therefore, beginning with Table 3, most of this note's charts and tables draw data from various editions of the Supplement, always using the most recent edition that presented data for a particular year.

17 There is no overlap between the individuals removed from the file due to dubious age values and those whose earnings at ages 86 or older were zeroed out. See appendix for more information.

18 As previously noted, the age subcategories used in the Supplement for individuals aged 60 or older are not consistent throughout the 1951–2006 period. For that reason, the analysis is limited to 1960 through 2006.

19 The cap for covered earnings subject to the Medicare payroll tax was higher than the taxable maximum for the Social Security program in 1992 and 1993, and was removed altogether in 1994.

20 The period 1960–1980 contains the only years in which men's median taxable earnings in EPUF are equal to the taxable maximum.

References

Buckler, Warren. 1988. "Commentary: Continuous Work History Sample." Social Security Bulletin 51(4): 12, 56.

Compson, Michael. 2011. "The 2006 Earnings Public-Use Microdata File: An Introduction." Social Security Bulletin 71(4): 33–59.

Olsen, Anya, and Russell Hudson. 2009. "Social Security Administration's Master Earnings File: Background Information." Social Security Bulletin 69(3): 29–45.

Smith, Creston M. 1989. "The Social Security Administration's Continuous Work History Sample." Social Security Bulletin 52(10): 20–28.

[SSA] Social Security Administration. 2002. Congressional Response Report: Status of the Social Security Administration's Earnings Suspense File. Report No. A-03-03-23038. Baltimore, MD: SSA, Office of the Inspector General.

———. 2009. Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, 2008. Washington, DC: SSA, ORES.

———. 2011. Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Security Bulletin, 2010. Washington, DC: SSA, ORES.