CEO compensation relative to top 0.1% earners is much higher than it was in the 1965–1978 period: Ratio of CEO compensation to top 0.1% wages, 1965–2022
| Year | Ratio of CEO pay to top 0.1% wages | 1965–1978 average ratio: 2.6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
| 1966 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1967 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1968 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 1969 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1970 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1971 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1972 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1973 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| 1974 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1975 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1976 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1977 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1978 | 3.1 | 2.6 |
| 1979 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1980 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1981 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1982 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1983 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1984 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1985 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1986 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1987 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1988 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1989 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| 1990 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1991 | NA | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 3.8 | 2.6 |
| 1993 | 4.4 | 2.6 |
| 1994 | 3.9 | 2.6 |
| 1995 | 4.4 | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 5.3 | 2.6 |
| 1997 | 7.0 | 2.6 |
| 1998 | 9.2 | 2.6 |
| 1999 | 7.2 | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 8.9 | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 5.9 | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 5.8 | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 7.4 | 2.6 |
| 2004 | 7.3 | 2.6 |
| 2005 | 8.3 | 2.6 |
| 2006 | 8.1 | 2.6 |
| 2007 | 7.6 | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 5.7 | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 5.5 | 2.6 |
| 2010 | 6.2 | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 6.8 | 2.6 |
| 2012 | 9.0 | 2.6 |
| 2013 | 8.6 | 2.6 |
| 2014 | 8.2 | 2.6 |
| 2015 | 8.0 | 2.6 |
| 2016 | 7.6 | 2.6 |
| 2017 | 7.7 | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 7.6 | 2.6 |
| 2019 | 8.4 | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 9.2 | 2.6 |
| 2021 | 8.2 | 2.6 |
| 2022 | 9.4 | 2.6 |
Note: Wages of top 0.1% of wage earners reflect W-2 annual earnings, which includes the value of exercised stock options and vested stock awards.
Source: Authors’ analysis of EPI State of Working America Data Library data on top 0.1% wages in Gould and Kandra 2023.