The US income distribution
We hear a lot about growing inequality in our country and all across the global economy. But how unequal are we? To answer this question we can use the Public-Use Microsample (PUMS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey.
The most recent ACS PUMS data contain almost 16 million observations, each representing a person sampled from the entire US population in the years 2010-2014. Sample weights allow extrapolation of these data to the entire population.
Figure 1 shows mean personal income, by percentile, for households in this period. Not all persons live in households; the alternative is Group Quarters, either institutionalized (such as nursing homes or prisons, where all daily activity is controlled), or non-institutionalized (such as college dormitories, where residents are free to conduct outside activities). For the purposes of this analysis, each resident of group quarters is treated as a one person household.
Income comes from various sources. Figure 1 aggregates the various sources into three main categories: wages (obtained from selling labor time to an employer); property income (here considered as returns to capital, land, and entrepreneurship); and government income (public assistance income, supplementary security income, and-most importantly-social security income).
The lowest 3.4% of households have an income of zero. These households would include prisoners, the homeless, and persons whose living costs are paid by a separate household (for example, college students supported by their parents). While cash assistance is considered in government income, there are a myriad of subsidies to low income persons that would not be included as income: SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Section 8 housing vouchers, and so on. And then, of course, not everyone reports income honestly to government statistics collectors, particularly when that income comes from the underground economy. Therefore, one can maintain that conditions are not as bleak at the lowest end as the numbers suggest.
The highest household income reported in the ACS is $3,819,148. There are certainly households with higher annual income who were not sampled for the ACS, so one can consider this figure truncated: the mean income for the highest range is almost certainly higher than shown here, though the cut-off for the top 1% ($407,865) should be close enough.
Table 1 provides the actual numbers for Figure 1, as well as some characteristics of the income percentiles. The table is sorted by ascending percentile. The table columns are as follows:
| table column | description |
|---|---|
| Ypercentile | Total personal income percentile |
| Ymin_to_Ymax_range | Lowest and highest personal income within percentile |
| meanY | Mean of personal income within percentile |
| pctwagesY | Percent of mean personal income consisting of wages obtained by selling labor time to an employer |
| pctpropY | Percent of mean personal income consisting of returns to capital, land, and entrepreneurship |
| pctgovtY | Percent of mean personal income consisting of government-origin income maintenance payments |
| HHs | Number of households within income percentile |
| persHH | Average number of persons per household within income percentile |
| pctNinstGQ | Percent of households consisting of single person living in non-institutionalized group quarters (such as college dormitory) |
| pctinstGQ | Percent of households consisting of single person living in institutionalized group quarters (such as prison or nursing home) |
| pctund18 | Percent of persons in income percentile under age 18 |
| pct65up | Percent of persons in income percentile age 65 or older |
| weeksW | Total number of weeks worked by persons in household (can be greater than 52 when more than one person works) |
Note that wages constitute the key source of income for almost all of the percentiles (the exception being a few containing a high percentage of persons over age 65). The number of weeks worked climbs steadily: already by the 45th percentile it exceeds 52, showing that the highest income households typically have more than one wage earner.
| Ypercentile | Ymin_to_Ymax_range | meanY | pctwagesY | pctpropY | pctgovtY | HHs | persHH | pctNinstGQ | pctinstGQ | pctund18 | pct65up | weeksW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0%-4% | $0-$766 | $60 | 54.8% | 27.4% | 17.8% | 5,151,735 | 1.34 | 23.9% | 36.4% | 9.5% | 8.1% | 1.8 |
| 4%-5% | $768-$2,048 | $1,399 | 57.4% | 19.5% | 23.1% | 1,324,787 | 1.42 | 38.9% | 9.8% | 8.5% | 10.9% | 11.9 |
| 5%-6% | $2,049-$3,501 | $2,742 | 60.9% | 19.1% | 20.0% | 1,250,272 | 1.52 | 37.7% | 8.4% | 9.9% | 10.2% | 16.1 |
| 6%-7% | $3,502-$5,145 | $4,376 | 54.6% | 18.9% | 26.4% | 1,284,564 | 1.65 | 25.9% | 11.0% | 12.2% | 15.1% | 18.9 |
| 7%-8% | $5,146-$6,667 | $5,941 | 50.1% | 18.2% | 31.7% | 1,284,094 | 1.74 | 18.0% | 9.9% | 13.4% | 18.5% | 20.7 |
| 8%-9% | $6,668-$8,097 | $7,472 | 36.7% | 15.2% | 48.1% | 1,285,526 | 1.72 | 10.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% | 28.0% | 17.2 |
| 9%-10% | $8,098-$8,863 | $8,565 | 22.7% | 10.4% | 66.9% | 1,347,881 | 1.60 | 7.6% | 7.7% | 10.1% | 25.4% | 11.2 |
| 10%-11% | $8,864-$9,728 | $9,274 | 22.8% | 11.2% | 66.0% | 1,224,298 | 1.61 | 6.2% | 7.2% | 9.7% | 34.8% | 12.1 |
| 11%-12% | $9,729-$10,521 | $10,151 | 31.8% | 13.3% | 54.9% | 1,294,520 | 1.66 | 5.8% | 7.4% | 10.6% | 33.0% | 16.9 |
| 12%-13% | $10,525-$11,462 | $10,990 | 31.8% | 13.7% | 54.5% | 1,274,803 | 1.69 | 5.6% | 6.9% | 10.8% | 34.2% | 17.8 |
| 13%-14% | $11,466-$12,391 | $11,981 | 31.9% | 14.3% | 53.8% | 1,295,941 | 1.71 | 4.8% | 7.3% | 10.9% | 37.4% | 18.4 |
| 14%-15% | $12,392-$13,130 | $12,812 | 34.2% | 15.7% | 50.1% | 1,301,214 | 1.73 | 4.4% | 7.0% | 11.0% | 36.7% | 19.7 |
| 15%-16% | $13,131-$14,149 | $13,677 | 30.4% | 14.0% | 55.6% | 1,275,950 | 1.77 | 3.7% | 6.3% | 10.9% | 40.7% | 18.8 |
| 16%-17% | $14,150-$15,113 | $14,635 | 31.5% | 14.1% | 54.4% | 1,288,768 | 1.78 | 3.4% | 5.8% | 11.1% | 41.4% | 19.8 |
| 17%-18% | $15,114-$15,937 | $15,490 | 39.4% | 15.0% | 45.6% | 1,273,579 | 1.85 | 3.3% | 5.1% | 12.3% | 36.0% | 24.0 |
| 18%-19% | $15,939-$16,841 | $16,364 | 41.3% | 15.6% | 43.2% | 1,294,203 | 1.91 | 3.0% | 4.3% | 12.6% | 34.8% | 25.9 |
| 19%-20% | $16,844-$17,812 | $17,335 | 37.4% | 15.5% | 47.2% | 1,284,550 | 1.97 | 2.6% | 4.1% | 12.5% | 36.8% | 24.3 |
| 20%-21% | $17,813-$18,750 | $18,328 | 40.9% | 16.0% | 43.1% | 1,346,760 | 1.95 | 2.7% | 3.9% | 12.4% | 36.3% | 26.5 |
| 21%-22% | $18,751-$19,699 | $19,294 | 41.0% | 16.6% | 42.4% | 1,215,881 | 2.00 | 2.4% | 3.3% | 12.7% | 36.8% | 27.4 |
| 22%-23% | $19,701-$20,625 | $20,215 | 46.9% | 17.0% | 36.2% | 1,292,062 | 2.01 | 2.6% | 3.0% | 12.8% | 32.3% | 30.7 |
| 23%-24% | $20,626-$21,505 | $21,105 | 50.0% | 17.4% | 32.6% | 1,319,668 | 2.05 | 2.7% | 2.7% | 13.3% | 29.8% | 32.7 |
| 24%-25% | $21,506-$22,509 | $22,032 | 46.1% | 18.2% | 35.7% | 1,310,752 | 2.06 | 2.3% | 2.6% | 12.7% | 33.3% | 31.6 |
| 25%-26% | $22,510-$23,553 | $23,030 | 47.0% | 17.9% | 35.2% | 1,254,493 | 2.11 | 2.2% | 2.0% | 13.0% | 33.9% | 33.1 |
| 26%-27% | $23,554-$24,577 | $24,089 | 49.2% | 18.2% | 32.6% | 1,349,847 | 2.11 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 13.0% | 32.4% | 34.2 |
| 27%-28% | $24,578-$25,510 | $25,044 | 50.5% | 18.6% | 30.8% | 1,200,479 | 2.13 | 1.9% | 2.0% | 13.1% | 31.4% | 35.3 |
| 28%-29% | $25,511-$26,261 | $25,918 | 56.8% | 17.9% | 25.3% | 1,283,570 | 2.14 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 13.9% | 26.7% | 38.4 |
| 29%-30% | $26,262-$27,353 | $26,906 | 54.4% | 18.3% | 27.3% | 1,400,045 | 2.19 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 13.5% | 29.1% | 38.7 |
| 30%-31% | $27,354-$28,437 | $27,923 | 50.8% | 19.1% | 30.1% | 1,171,766 | 2.25 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 13.1% | 32.3% | 38.3 |
| 31%-32% | $28,438-$29,542 | $28,983 | 54.4% | 18.6% | 26.9% | 1,323,797 | 2.26 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 13.6% | 29.8% | 40.5 |
| 32%-33% | $29,543-$30,625 | $30,094 | 55.0% | 19.0% | 26.0% | 1,258,027 | 2.21 | 1.0% | 1.2% | 12.9% | 29.9% | 40.6 |
| 33%-34% | $30,626-$31,438 | $30,995 | 62.8% | 17.7% | 19.5% | 1,276,431 | 2.20 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 13.9% | 23.1% | 44.0 |
| 34%-35% | $31,439-$32,477 | $32,007 | 58.6% | 18.7% | 22.7% | 1,286,772 | 2.26 | 0.8% | 0.9% | 13.5% | 26.9% | 43.6 |
| 35%-36% | $32,478-$33,442 | $32,980 | 61.6% | 18.0% | 20.4% | 1,294,330 | 2.27 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 13.9% | 24.7% | 45.3 |
| 36%-37% | $33,443-$34,690 | $34,102 | 56.1% | 19.8% | 24.1% | 1,275,196 | 2.36 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 13.3% | 29.5% | 44.8 |
| 37%-38% | $34,691-$35,833 | $35,241 | 59.5% | 19.0% | 21.5% | 1,285,252 | 2.31 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 13.4% | 26.9% | 46.3 |
| 38%-39% | $35,834-$36,865 | $36,333 | 62.9% | 18.7% | 18.4% | 1,350,724 | 2.31 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 14.0% | 23.6% | 47.7 |
| 39%-40% | $36,866-$37,944 | $37,435 | 60.7% | 19.3% | 19.9% | 1,234,998 | 2.36 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 13.6% | 26.1% | 48.1 |
| 40%-41% | $37,945-$39,077 | $38,514 | 61.9% | 19.2% | 18.9% | 1,271,999 | 2.36 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 13.6% | 25.2% | 49.1 |
| 41%-42% | $39,080-$40,337 | $39,770 | 62.9% | 19.0% | 18.1% | 1,443,734 | 2.37 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 13.6% | 24.4% | 50.1 |
| 42%-43% | $40,338-$41,345 | $40,853 | 65.1% | 18.3% | 16.6% | 1,153,938 | 2.39 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 13.8% | 22.9% | 51.7 |
| 43%-44% | $41,346-$42,455 | $41,874 | 64.8% | 18.6% | 16.6% | 1,266,614 | 2.39 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 13.7% | 23.3% | 51.6 |
| 44%-45% | $42,456-$43,665 | $43,024 | 64.8% | 18.8% | 16.4% | 1,289,602 | 2.42 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 13.5% | 23.4% | 53.0 |
| 45%-46% | $43,666-$44,804 | $44,141 | 66.5% | 18.5% | 15.0% | 1,285,058 | 2.41 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 13.7% | 21.9% | 54.2 |
| 46%-47% | $44,805-$46,041 | $45,414 | 66.1% | 18.4% | 15.5% | 1,287,919 | 2.47 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 13.8% | 22.9% | 55.5 |
| 47%-48% | $46,042-$47,162 | $46,606 | 68.8% | 17.6% | 13.6% | 1,287,332 | 2.45 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 13.9% | 20.7% | 56.9 |
| 48%-49% | $47,163-$48,491 | $47,925 | 65.8% | 19.1% | 15.1% | 1,276,387 | 2.50 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 13.5% | 23.0% | 56.8 |
| 49%-50% | $48,492-$49,973 | $49,226 | 64.4% | 19.9% | 15.7% | 1,295,922 | 2.53 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 13.5% | 24.2% | 56.9 |
| 50%-51% | $49,974-$51,202 | $50,599 | 71.9% | 16.9% | 11.2% | 1,482,651 | 2.43 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 13.9% | 18.0% | 58.5 |
| 51%-52% | $51,203-$52,226 | $51,760 | 69.4% | 18.1% | 12.5% | 1,104,885 | 2.48 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 13.6% | 20.2% | 58.6 |
| 52%-53% | $52,227-$53,593 | $53,000 | 70.7% | 17.7% | 11.7% | 1,417,630 | 2.51 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 14.1% | 19.4% | 60.1 |
| 53%-54% | $53,594-$54,707 | $54,281 | 71.0% | 17.6% | 11.4% | 1,165,154 | 2.52 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 14.1% | 19.1% | 61.2 |
| 54%-55% | $54,708-$56,249 | $55,528 | 68.2% | 18.9% | 13.0% | 1,273,049 | 2.61 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 13.9% | 21.6% | 62.4 |
| 55%-56% | $56,250-$57,551 | $56,904 | 72.5% | 16.8% | 10.7% | 1,266,407 | 2.56 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14.2% | 18.3% | 64.0 |
| 56%-57% | $57,552-$59,094 | $58,404 | 69.3% | 18.8% | 11.9% | 1,286,051 | 2.65 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14.2% | 20.6% | 64.8 |
| 57%-58% | $59,095-$60,505 | $59,955 | 73.0% | 17.2% | 9.8% | 1,329,108 | 2.58 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14.3% | 17.8% | 65.2 |
| 58%-59% | $60,506-$62,083 | $61,315 | 69.6% | 19.1% | 11.2% | 1,245,799 | 2.66 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14.2% | 20.3% | 65.7 |
| 59%-60% | $62,086-$63,490 | $62,760 | 73.5% | 17.2% | 9.3% | 1,304,030 | 2.63 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14.6% | 17.5% | 67.1 |
| 60%-61% | $63,491-$65,062 | $64,281 | 72.6% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 1,268,475 | 2.65 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 14.2% | 18.3% | 67.6 |
| 61%-62% | $65,063-$66,562 | $65,865 | 75.8% | 16.1% | 8.1% | 1,404,250 | 2.63 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 14.8% | 15.8% | 68.6 |
| 62%-63% | $66,563-$68,170 | $67,413 | 72.5% | 17.9% | 9.6% | 1,170,735 | 2.72 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 14.3% | 18.6% | 70.6 |
| 63%-64% | $68,171-$69,915 | $69,112 | 73.9% | 17.2% | 8.9% | 1,285,137 | 2.74 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 14.7% | 17.4% | 72.2 |
| 64%-65% | $69,916-$71,683 | $70,891 | 75.9% | 16.3% | 7.8% | 1,424,408 | 2.70 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 15.0% | 15.8% | 71.6 |
| 65%-66% | $71,684-$73,307 | $72,553 | 75.5% | 16.8% | 7.8% | 1,177,755 | 2.74 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 14.9% | 16.1% | 73.3 |
| 66%-67% | $73,308-$75,030 | $74,304 | 75.3% | 16.9% | 7.8% | 1,267,246 | 2.76 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 14.9% | 16.2% | 74.1 |
| 67%-68% | $75,031-$76,803 | $76,061 | 77.2% | 15.9% | 7.0% | 1,293,607 | 2.75 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 15.3% | 14.8% | 74.3 |
| 68%-69% | $76,804-$78,778 | $77,857 | 75.8% | 16.7% | 7.5% | 1,278,188 | 2.81 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 14.9% | 16.0% | 75.9 |
| 69%-70% | $78,779-$80,694 | $79,877 | 77.4% | 15.9% | 6.8% | 1,274,909 | 2.79 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 15.2% | 15.0% | 76.9 |
| 70%-71% | $80,695-$82,691 | $81,763 | 78.0% | 15.6% | 6.4% | 1,313,796 | 2.80 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 15.5% | 14.6% | 77.4 |
| 71%-72% | $82,692-$84,796 | $83,745 | 77.6% | 15.8% | 6.6% | 1,263,811 | 2.88 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 15.7% | 14.9% | 79.4 |
| 72%-73% | $84,798-$86,978 | $85,885 | 78.6% | 15.2% | 6.2% | 1,280,869 | 2.86 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 15.7% | 14.3% | 79.7 |
| 73%-74% | $86,982-$89,091 | $88,013 | 80.0% | 14.5% | 5.5% | 1,316,962 | 2.86 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 16.1% | 13.1% | 80.9 |
| 74%-75% | $89,092-$91,565 | $90,397 | 78.4% | 15.5% | 6.1% | 1,258,443 | 2.92 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 15.8% | 14.5% | 81.9 |
| 75%-76% | $91,566-$93,784 | $92,716 | 80.9% | 14.1% | 5.0% | 1,288,480 | 2.89 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.1% | 12.4% | 83.0 |
| 76%-77% | $93,785-$96,467 | $95,269 | 80.1% | 14.6% | 5.3% | 1,330,085 | 2.96 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.2% | 13.2% | 84.7 |
| 77%-78% | $96,468-$99,024 | $97,877 | 80.7% | 14.3% | 4.9% | 1,236,375 | 2.96 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.4% | 12.4% | 84.9 |
| 78%-79% | $99,025-$101,851 | $100,568 | 80.6% | 14.5% | 4.8% | 1,312,173 | 2.95 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 16.2% | 12.6% | 84.8 |
| 79%-80% | $101,852-$104,452 | $103,240 | 82.4% | 13.6% | 4.0% | 1,295,849 | 2.92 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.8% | 11.1% | 83.6 |
| 80%-81% | $104,453-$107,397 | $106,075 | 81.5% | 14.2% | 4.3% | 1,253,366 | 2.98 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.6% | 12.0% | 86.3 |
| 81%-82% | $107,399-$110,596 | $109,061 | 82.2% | 13.8% | 4.0% | 1,307,290 | 3.01 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17.0% | 11.2% | 87.8 |
| 82%-83% | $110,597-$114,002 | $112,306 | 82.0% | 14.0% | 4.0% | 1,262,233 | 3.04 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16.7% | 11.8% | 89.2 |
| 83%-84% | $114,003-$117,811 | $115,885 | 82.0% | 14.1% | 4.0% | 1,288,373 | 3.07 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.6% | 11.9% | 91.2 |
| 84%-85% | $117,814-$121,678 | $119,729 | 82.9% | 13.6% | 3.6% | 1,284,299 | 3.07 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17.1% | 11.0% | 90.8 |
| 85%-86% | $121,679-$125,935 | $123,786 | 82.4% | 14.1% | 3.5% | 1,287,944 | 3.07 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17.0% | 11.4% | 91.0 |
| 86%-87% | $125,936-$130,519 | $128,153 | 82.9% | 13.8% | 3.3% | 1,286,711 | 3.08 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16.7% | 11.0% | 92.5 |
| 87%-88% | $130,520-$135,415 | $132,935 | 83.6% | 13.4% | 3.0% | 1,314,539 | 3.10 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.2% | 10.5% | 92.8 |
| 88%-89% | $135,416-$141,179 | $138,296 | 82.4% | 14.3% | 3.2% | 1,264,098 | 3.13 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16.9% | 11.5% | 94.5 |
| 89%-90% | $141,180-$147,432 | $144,148 | 83.1% | 13.9% | 3.0% | 1,278,443 | 3.13 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.1% | 11.2% | 94.9 |
| 90%-91% | $147,433-$154,273 | $150,854 | 83.3% | 13.9% | 2.8% | 1,291,680 | 3.11 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.2% | 10.9% | 93.8 |
| 91%-92% | $154,274-$162,155 | $158,202 | 83.5% | 13.9% | 2.6% | 1,281,433 | 3.13 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17.0% | 10.8% | 95.4 |
| 92%-93% | $162,157-$171,779 | $166,889 | 83.0% | 14.4% | 2.6% | 1,290,134 | 3.16 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17.1% | 11.3% | 95.9 |
| 93%-94% | $171,782-$183,620 | $177,577 | 82.9% | 14.6% | 2.5% | 1,281,951 | 3.16 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16.9% | 11.7% | 97.0 |
| 94%-95% | $183,621-$198,663 | $190,915 | 82.6% | 15.1% | 2.3% | 1,289,146 | 3.14 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 16.6% | 11.9% | 96.6 |
| 95%-96% | $198,664-$218,827 | $208,334 | 82.1% | 15.8% | 2.1% | 1,304,703 | 3.14 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17.1% | 12.0% | 95.6 |
| 96%-97% | $218,828-$251,098 | $233,562 | 77.7% | 20.2% | 2.1% | 1,265,953 | 3.12 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 16.1% | 14.1% | 95.9 |
| 97%-98% | $251,104-$311,829 | $277,739 | 67.6% | 30.4% | 2.0% | 1,285,612 | 3.03 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16.0% | 16.7% | 88.6 |
| 98%-99% | $311,830-$407,843 | $355,193 | 71.1% | 27.6% | 1.3% | 1,286,398 | 3.02 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 18.6% | 14.2% | 79.3 |
| 99%-100% | $407,865-$3,819,148 | $532,545 | 78.1% | 21.1% | 0.8% | 1,286,153 | 3.08 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 20.0% | 11.7% | 84.0 |
Compiled on 2017-02-27 by E. Anthon Eff
