Comparison of CEO compensation with top 0.1 percent wages, 1947–2016
| Year | Ratio of CEO pay to top 0.1% wages | 1947–1979 average ratio: 3.18 |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 3.50 | 3.18 |
| 1948 | 3.10 | 3.18 |
| 1949 | 3.50 | 3.18 |
| 1950 | 2.98 | 3.18 |
| 1951 | 2.98 | 3.18 |
| 1952 | 2.91 | 3.18 |
| 1953 | 3.25 | 3.18 |
| 1954 | 3.37 | 3.18 |
| 1955 | 3.39 | 3.18 |
| 1956 | 3.36 | 3.18 |
| 1957 | 3.74 | 3.18 |
| 1958 | 3.74 | 3.18 |
| 1959 | 4.18 | 3.18 |
| 1960 | 3.22 | 3.18 |
| 1961 | 3.49 | 3.18 |
| 1962 | 3.50 | 3.18 |
| 1963 | 3.61 | 3.18 |
| 1964 | 3.37 | 3.18 |
| 1965 | 3.28 | 3.18 |
| 1966 | 3.10 | 3.18 |
| 1967 | 3.05 | 3.18 |
| 1968 | 2.99 | 3.18 |
| 1969 | 3.06 | 3.18 |
| 1970 | 2.97 | 3.18 |
| 1971 | 2.81 | 3.18 |
| 1972 | 2.89 | 3.18 |
| 1973 | 2.69 | 3.18 |
| 1974 | 2.66 | 3.18 |
| 1975 | 2.26 | 3.18 |
| 1976 | 2.30 | 3.18 |
| 1977 | 2.40 | 3.18 |
| 1978 | 2.78 | 3.18 |
| 1979 | 3.22 | 3.18 |
| 1980 | 2.72 | 3.18 |
| 1981 | 2.94 | 3.18 |
| 1982 | 2.76 | 3.18 |
| 1983 | 2.76 | 3.18 |
| 1984 | 2.54 | 3.18 |
| 1985 | 3.08 | 3.18 |
| 1986 | 2.89 | 3.18 |
| 1987 | 2.59 | 3.18 |
| 1988 | 2.35 | 3.18 |
| 1989 | 2.60 | 3.18 |
| 1990 | 2.72 | 3.18 |
| 1991 | 3.08 | 3.18 |
| 1992 | 2.81 | 3.18 |
| 1993 | 3.01 | 3.18 |
| 1994 | 3.94 | 3.18 |
| 1995 | 4.06 | 3.18 |
| 1996 | 5.43 | 3.18 |
| 1997 | 5.22 | 3.18 |
| 1998 | 5.84 | 3.18 |
| 1999 | 5.96 | 3.18 |
| 2000 | 7.67 | 3.18 |
| 2001 | 6.80 | 3.18 |
| 2002 | 6.02 | 3.18 |
| 2003 | 5.34 | 3.18 |
| 2004 | 5.21 | 3.18 |
| 2005 | 4.94 | 3.18 |
| 2006 | 5.12 | 3.18 |
| 2007 | 4.31 | 3.18 |
| 2008 | 4.50 | 3.18 |
| 2009 | 4.56 | 3.18 |
| 2010 | 4.79 | 3.18 |
| 2011 | 4.89 | 3.18 |
| 2012 | 5.03 | 3.18 |
| 2013 | 5.71 | 3.18 |
| 2014 | 5.55 | 3.18 |
| 2015 | 5.28 | 3.18 |
| 2016 | 5.45 | 3.18 |
Source: Authors’ analysis of data on top 0.1 percent wages from Mishel and Wolfe 2017 and extrapolation of Kaplan’s (2012) CEO compensation series