Comments on: Average Income in the United States (1913-2006)

By: Occupy the Dollar

Occupy the Dollar — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:40:00 +0000

First of all, I checked the source. Not only is none of this information there, but it only goes back to 1993.

Second, this graph is meaningless because it’s not adjusted for inflation.

By: John C. Randolph

John C. Randolph — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:25:00 +0000

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I find that referring to people as “tax units” is really offensive.

By: Fearless Leader

Fearless Leader — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:21:00 +0000

Sandy, these numbers are adjusted to 2006 Dollars. The Average US Yearly Income of any US citizen was not $15,000 in 1915 (you’d be rich beyond your dreams in that day and age). The graph is showing you the increase in earnings the average worker has received in a given year compared to 2006 wage earners adjusted for inflation.

Also, Thanks for posting the info for 1974, that’s actually the type of data I am searching for right now!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:13:00 +0000

I think a lot of people are doing worse than their parents despite their higher income. Most of my generation want what it took our parents had, and took decades to earn, the moment they graduate college (with excessive debt). They want the nice car and a home to own. The problem is, they get it, because debt isn’t shameful any more. It’s now “cool” to use “other people’s money” (OPM) to build their life. Problem is when the house gets foreclosed on and the car repo-ed, the American dream becomes a nightmare.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Average (mean), in 2006 dollars. That means it will be pulled up by the value of dollar being worth more before that date, and by the super rich being included. Both of these will play a part in the inflated number.

By: bglorfboz

bglorfboz — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:24:00 +0000

The point of this graph, I think–for all you people arguing over the income part of it–is to show the relationship between income peaks and recessions. Sharp climbs are always followed by a slight tapering off correction, and then BAM– a recession. It shows the boom-and-bust bubble cycle of our economy and how it is related to sharp increases in income that define the bubble.

By: Latoya McGuire

Latoya McGuire — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:57:00 +0000

Sandy, indeed, the average is distorted by “investors” and the “super-rich” more generally. The average income is simply the total income in the US divided by the number of earners (tax units) in the US. That number is distorted because a huge percentage of income is at one end of the scale. What you’re looking for is the 50th percentile: the *median*: the number at which 50% of the population makes more, and 50% make less.

By: Visualizing Economics, una web que recopilas las mejores infografías sobre datos económicos | Radiocable.com - Radio por Internet

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:54:22 +0000

[...] el nivel de impuestos que pagan los ricos, clases medias y pobres o como ha ido evolucionando el salario medio en Estados Unidos desde 1913 hasta [...]

By: A pro on how to go from visual clutter to clear infographics : BusinessJournalism.org Reynolds Center for Business Journalism

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:14:30 +0000

[...] and averages to help put the numbers into perspective and tell a story. For instance, in her infographic showing average income in the United States since 1913, she added in presidential terms, global events and recessions to put the income data into [...]

By: Average Income in the United States (1913-2006) | Jackpot Investor

Average Income in the United States (1913-2006) | Jackpot Investor — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 09:56:42 +0000

[...] Under: BlogsA pre NFP look at the really long term growth of average income in the USA, via Visualizing Economics:>Average Income in the United States (1913-2006)As of May 4, 2008 Read More at the [...]