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Family Income Distributions, 1950-2000

Historical Family Income
Family income includes all income earned by members of a family,
even if it is the dividend and/or interest income earned by a toddler.
Most people have no idea where they stand compared to families in the United States.
Another common error is not to realize how little people earned in the past.
Incomes for Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent of Families All Races): 1947 to 2001
Income in current dollars

Year LOWEST SECOND THIRD FOURTH FIFTH

2000 0-24,000 24,001-41,000 41,001-61,378 61,379-91,700 91,701-

1990 0-16,846 16,847-29,044 29,045-42,040 42,041-61,490 61,491-

1980 0-10,400 10,401-17,510 17,511-24,800 24,801-34,800 34,801-

1970 0- 5,100 5,101-8,320 8,321-11,299 11,300-15,531 15,532-

1960 0- 2,784 2,785-4,800 4,801- 6,364 6,364-8,800 8,801-

1950 0- 1,661 1,662-2,856 2,857- 3,801 3,801-5,283 5,284-

Family Income Needed to be in the top 5% of the United States

2000 $160,250

1990 102,358

1980 55,000

1970 24,250

1960 13,536

1950 8,615

SOURCE: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Demographic Supplements
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Income Surveys Branch
Housing & Household Economic Statistics Division
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20233-8500 (hhes-info@census.gov).

Go to Historical Income Tables - Families