Wage Statistics for 2012

Social Security Online	Automatic Increases

Office of the Chief Actuary	Wage Statistics for 2012

Automatic increases

Development of the AWI

The national average wage index (AWI) is based on compensation (wages, tips, and the like) subject to Federal income taxes, as reported by employers on Forms W-2. Beginning with the AWI for 1991, compensation includes contributions to deferred compensation plans, but excludes certain distributions from plans where the distributions are included in the reported compensation subject to income taxes. We call the result of including contributions, and excluding certain distributions, net compensation. The table below summarizes the components of net compensation for 2012.

Net compensation components for 2012
Compensation subject to Federal income taxes $6,297,781,982,042.81

Deferred compensation plan
Contributions^a
Distributions^b
+ 233,158,457,110.85
- 1,842,478,462.91

Net compensation 6,529,097,960,690.75

^aWages on which contributions were paid by 50,466,637 workers.
^bDistributions, to the extent included in reported wages (see text above), paid to 55,566 workers.

The "raw" average wage, computed as net compensation divided by the number of wage earners, is $6,529,097,960,690.75 divided by 153,632,290, or $42,498.21. Based on data in the table below, about 67.1 percent of wage earners had net compensation less than or equal to the $42,498.21 raw average wage. By definition, 50 percent of wage earners had net compensation less than or equal to the median wage, which is estimated to be $27,519.10 for 2012.

Distribution of wage earners by level of net compensation

Wage earners Net compensation

Net compensation interval Number Cumulative
number Percent
of total Aggregate amount Average amount

$0.01 — 4,999.99 23,303,064 23,303,064 15.16808 $47,183,753,407.04 $2,024.79

5,000.00 — 9,999.99 13,839,616 37,142,680 24.17635 102,500,638,297.93 7,406.32

10,000.00 — 14,999.99 12,312,564 49,455,244 32.19066 153,421,129,619.73 12,460.53

15,000.00 — 19,999.99 11,420,589 60,875,833 39.62437 199,398,369,215.82 17,459.55

20,000.00 — 24,999.99 10,798,184 71,674,017 46.65296 242,604,011,694.86 22,467.11

25,000.00 — 29,999.99 10,017,271 81,691,288 53.17325 275,019,343,966.28 27,454.52

30,000.00 — 34,999.99 9,282,086 90,973,374 59.21501 301,162,172,349.52 32,445.53

35,000.00 — 39,999.99 8,317,471 99,290,845 64.62889 311,393,440,479.48 37,438.48

40,000.00 — 44,999.99 7,261,520 106,552,365 69.35545 308,087,495,327.81 42,427.41

45,000.00 — 49,999.99 6,262,046 112,814,411 73.43145 297,046,618,079.65 47,436.03

50,000.00 — 54,999.99 5,437,201 118,251,612 76.97055 285,000,166,908.01 52,416.71

55,000.00 — 59,999.99 4,568,352 122,819,964 79.94411 262,359,915,949.22 57,429.88

60,000.00 — 64,999.99 3,932,564 126,752,528 82.50383 245,421,183,211.26 62,407.42

65,000.00 — 69,999.99 3,331,743 130,084,271 84.67248 224,634,035,978.54 67,422.38

70,000.00 — 74,999.99 2,872,834 132,957,105 86.54242 208,064,761,906.17 72,424.92

75,000.00 — 79,999.99 2,473,508 135,430,613 88.15244 191,516,039,796.28 77,426.89

80,000.00 — 84,999.99 2,097,234 137,527,847 89.51754 172,870,543,883.48 82,427.88

85,000.00 — 89,999.99 1,790,548 139,318,395 90.68302 156,537,324,612.08 87,424.25

90,000.00 — 94,999.99 1,544,850 140,863,245 91.68857 142,776,231,315.99 92,420.77

95,000.00 — 99,999.99 1,338,847 142,202,092 92.56003 130,454,386,174.71 97,437.86

100,000.00 — 104,999.99 1,171,733 143,373,825 93.32272 119,999,937,569.68 102,412.36

105,000.00 — 109,999.99 994,423 144,368,248 93.96999 106,838,496,790.27 107,437.68

110,000.00 — 114,999.99 873,171 145,241,419 94.53834 98,165,459,835.55 112,424.10

115,000.00 — 119,999.99 763,062 146,004,481 95.03502 89,614,007,707.54 117,440.01

120,000.00 — 124,999.99 682,898 146,687,379 95.47952 83,595,323,916.05 122,412.61

125,000.00 — 129,999.99 592,056 147,279,435 95.86490 75,443,210,201.19 127,425.80

130,000.00 — 134,999.99 524,661 147,804,096 96.20640 69,469,980,977.22 132,409.27

135,000.00 — 139,999.99 457,040 148,261,136 96.50389 62,814,075,394.80 137,436.71

140,000.00 — 144,999.99 406,767 148,667,903 96.76866 57,942,508,918.79 142,446.43

145,000.00 — 149,999.99 366,387 149,034,290 97.00714 54,028,568,606.42 147,463.12

150,000.00 — 154,999.99 334,544 149,368,834 97.22490 50,980,836,341.18 152,389.03

155,000.00 — 159,999.99 289,242 149,658,076 97.41316 45,533,883,998.04 157,424.87

160,000.00 — 164,999.99 254,482 149,912,558 97.57881 41,334,132,311.83 162,424.58

165,000.00 — 169,999.99 228,916 150,141,474 97.72781 38,330,391,364.45 167,443.04

170,000.00 — 174,999.99 205,305 150,346,779 97.86145 35,404,476,536.04 172,448.19

175,000.00 — 179,999.99 187,519 150,534,298 97.98350 33,271,769,049.44 177,431.46

180,000.00 — 184,999.99 172,973 150,707,271 98.09609 31,549,655,376.24 182,396.42

185,000.00 — 189,999.99 152,840 150,860,111 98.19558 28,649,912,185.05 187,450.35

190,000.00 — 194,999.99 141,392 151,001,503 98.28761 27,211,154,312.32 192,451.87

195,000.00 — 199,999.99 132,632 151,134,135 98.37394 26,190,609,342.00 197,468.25

200,000.00 — 249,999.99 889,250 152,023,385 98.95276 197,428,650,390.97 222,017.04

250,000.00 — 299,999.99 481,491 152,504,876 99.26616 131,099,976,147.45 272,279.18

300,000.00 — 349,999.99 288,002 152,792,878 99.45362 92,998,527,035.45 322,909.31

350,000.00 — 399,999.99 188,850 152,981,728 99.57655 70,493,610,753.02 373,278.32

400,000.00 — 449,999.99 131,391 153,113,119 99.66207 55,633,820,317.14 423,421.85

450,000.00 — 499,999.99 94,663 153,207,782 99.72369 44,855,858,825.15 473,847.85

500,000.00 — 999,999.99 305,108 153,512,890 99.92228 203,304,014,055.67 666,334.59

1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99 59,767 153,572,657 99.96118 71,691,398,838.14 1,199,514.76

1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99 21,919 153,594,576 99.97545 37,655,292,524.30 1,717,929.31

2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99 10,981 153,605,557 99.98260 24,423,801,656.70 2,224,187.38

2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99 6,569 153,612,126 99.98688 17,941,046,566.02 2,731,168.60

3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99 4,401 153,616,527 99.98974 14,219,111,245.40 3,230,881.90

3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99 2,951 153,619,478 99.99166 11,015,715,508.28 3,732,875.47

4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99 2,176 153,621,654 99.99308 9,207,611,931.02 4,231,439.31

4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99 1,654 153,623,308 99.99415 7,835,992,842.95 4,737,601.48

5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99 6,067 153,629,375 99.99810 41,153,891,735.77 6,783,235.82

10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99 2,021 153,631,396 99.99942 27,309,707,840.18 13,512,967.76

20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99 728 153,632,124 99.99989 20,832,426,527.70 28,615,970.51

50,000,000.00 and over 166 153,632,290 100.00000 16,177,553,041.48 97,455,138.80

**Distribution of wage earners by level of net compensation**
	Wage earners	Net compensation
$0.01 — 4,999.99	23,303,064	23,303,064	15.16808	$47,183,753,407.04	$2,024.79
5,000.00 — 9,999.99	13,839,616	37,142,680	24.17635	102,500,638,297.93	7,406.32
10,000.00 — 14,999.99	12,312,564	49,455,244	32.19066	153,421,129,619.73	12,460.53
15,000.00 — 19,999.99	11,420,589	60,875,833	39.62437	199,398,369,215.82	17,459.55
20,000.00 — 24,999.99	10,798,184	71,674,017	46.65296	242,604,011,694.86	22,467.11
25,000.00 — 29,999.99	10,017,271	81,691,288	53.17325	275,019,343,966.28	27,454.52
30,000.00 — 34,999.99	9,282,086	90,973,374	59.21501	301,162,172,349.52	32,445.53
35,000.00 — 39,999.99	8,317,471	99,290,845	64.62889	311,393,440,479.48	37,438.48
40,000.00 — 44,999.99	7,261,520	106,552,365	69.35545	308,087,495,327.81	42,427.41
45,000.00 — 49,999.99	6,262,046	112,814,411	73.43145	297,046,618,079.65	47,436.03
50,000.00 — 54,999.99	5,437,201	118,251,612	76.97055	285,000,166,908.01	52,416.71
55,000.00 — 59,999.99	4,568,352	122,819,964	79.94411	262,359,915,949.22	57,429.88
60,000.00 — 64,999.99	3,932,564	126,752,528	82.50383	245,421,183,211.26	62,407.42
65,000.00 — 69,999.99	3,331,743	130,084,271	84.67248	224,634,035,978.54	67,422.38
70,000.00 — 74,999.99	2,872,834	132,957,105	86.54242	208,064,761,906.17	72,424.92
75,000.00 — 79,999.99	2,473,508	135,430,613	88.15244	191,516,039,796.28	77,426.89
80,000.00 — 84,999.99	2,097,234	137,527,847	89.51754	172,870,543,883.48	82,427.88
85,000.00 — 89,999.99	1,790,548	139,318,395	90.68302	156,537,324,612.08	87,424.25
90,000.00 — 94,999.99	1,544,850	140,863,245	91.68857	142,776,231,315.99	92,420.77
95,000.00 — 99,999.99	1,338,847	142,202,092	92.56003	130,454,386,174.71	97,437.86
100,000.00 — 104,999.99	1,171,733	143,373,825	93.32272	119,999,937,569.68	102,412.36
105,000.00 — 109,999.99	994,423	144,368,248	93.96999	106,838,496,790.27	107,437.68
110,000.00 — 114,999.99	873,171	145,241,419	94.53834	98,165,459,835.55	112,424.10
115,000.00 — 119,999.99	763,062	146,004,481	95.03502	89,614,007,707.54	117,440.01
120,000.00 — 124,999.99	682,898	146,687,379	95.47952	83,595,323,916.05	122,412.61
125,000.00 — 129,999.99	592,056	147,279,435	95.86490	75,443,210,201.19	127,425.80
130,000.00 — 134,999.99	524,661	147,804,096	96.20640	69,469,980,977.22	132,409.27
135,000.00 — 139,999.99	457,040	148,261,136	96.50389	62,814,075,394.80	137,436.71
140,000.00 — 144,999.99	406,767	148,667,903	96.76866	57,942,508,918.79	142,446.43
145,000.00 — 149,999.99	366,387	149,034,290	97.00714	54,028,568,606.42	147,463.12
150,000.00 — 154,999.99	334,544	149,368,834	97.22490	50,980,836,341.18	152,389.03
155,000.00 — 159,999.99	289,242	149,658,076	97.41316	45,533,883,998.04	157,424.87
160,000.00 — 164,999.99	254,482	149,912,558	97.57881	41,334,132,311.83	162,424.58
165,000.00 — 169,999.99	228,916	150,141,474	97.72781	38,330,391,364.45	167,443.04
170,000.00 — 174,999.99	205,305	150,346,779	97.86145	35,404,476,536.04	172,448.19
175,000.00 — 179,999.99	187,519	150,534,298	97.98350	33,271,769,049.44	177,431.46
180,000.00 — 184,999.99	172,973	150,707,271	98.09609	31,549,655,376.24	182,396.42
185,000.00 — 189,999.99	152,840	150,860,111	98.19558	28,649,912,185.05	187,450.35
190,000.00 — 194,999.99	141,392	151,001,503	98.28761	27,211,154,312.32	192,451.87
195,000.00 — 199,999.99	132,632	151,134,135	98.37394	26,190,609,342.00	197,468.25
200,000.00 — 249,999.99	889,250	152,023,385	98.95276	197,428,650,390.97	222,017.04
250,000.00 — 299,999.99	481,491	152,504,876	99.26616	131,099,976,147.45	272,279.18
300,000.00 — 349,999.99	288,002	152,792,878	99.45362	92,998,527,035.45	322,909.31
350,000.00 — 399,999.99	188,850	152,981,728	99.57655	70,493,610,753.02	373,278.32
400,000.00 — 449,999.99	131,391	153,113,119	99.66207	55,633,820,317.14	423,421.85
450,000.00 — 499,999.99	94,663	153,207,782	99.72369	44,855,858,825.15	473,847.85
500,000.00 — 999,999.99	305,108	153,512,890	99.92228	203,304,014,055.67	666,334.59
1,000,000.00 — 1,499,999.99	59,767	153,572,657	99.96118	71,691,398,838.14	1,199,514.76
1,500,000.00 — 1,999,999.99	21,919	153,594,576	99.97545	37,655,292,524.30	1,717,929.31
2,000,000.00 — 2,499,999.99	10,981	153,605,557	99.98260	24,423,801,656.70	2,224,187.38
2,500,000.00 — 2,999,999.99	6,569	153,612,126	99.98688	17,941,046,566.02	2,731,168.60
3,000,000.00 — 3,499,999.99	4,401	153,616,527	99.98974	14,219,111,245.40	3,230,881.90
3,500,000.00 — 3,999,999.99	2,951	153,619,478	99.99166	11,015,715,508.28	3,732,875.47
4,000,000.00 — 4,499,999.99	2,176	153,621,654	99.99308	9,207,611,931.02	4,231,439.31
4,500,000.00 — 4,999,999.99	1,654	153,623,308	99.99415	7,835,992,842.95	4,737,601.48
5,000,000.00 — 9,999,999.99	6,067	153,629,375	99.99810	41,153,891,735.77	6,783,235.82
10,000,000.00 — 19,999,999.99	2,021	153,631,396	99.99942	27,309,707,840.18	13,512,967.76
20,000,000.00 — 49,999,999.99	728	153,632,124	99.99989	20,832,426,527.70	28,615,970.51
50,000,000.00 and over	166	153,632,290	100.00000	16,177,553,041.48	97,455,138.80


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