CEO compensation has grown faster than the wages of the top 0.1 percent and the stock market: Cumulative percentage change in CEO compensation, wages of the top 0.1 percent, and the S&P 500, 1978–2015
| Date | CEO compensation | Wages of the top 0.1 percent | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 1979 | 5.81% | -0.90% | -2.16% |
| 1980 | 11.97% | 4.85% | 1.45% |
| 1981 | 18.48% | 6.33% | -0.06% |
| 1982 | 25.37% | 16.31% | -11.89% |
| 1983 | 32.66% | 27.49% | 13.29% |
| 1984 | 40.37% | 42.74% | 8.78% |
| 1985 | 48.53% | 44.44% | 22.45% |
| 1986 | 57.17% | 59.42% | 52.23% |
| 1987 | 66.31% | 104.76% | 78.75% |
| 1988 | 75.98% | 138.06% | 59.75% |
| 1989 | 86.21% | 121.91% | 86.05% |
| 1990 | 125.32% | 127.75% | 83.61% |
| 1991 | 172.66% | 102.75% | 99.23% |
| 1992 | 229.93% | 153.65% | 114.75% |
| 1993 | 269.92% | 138.07% | 127.61% |
| 1994 | 192.91% | 124.87% | 127.30% |
| 1995 | 294.33% | 134.87% | 161.13% |
| 1996 | 401.44% | 154.96% | 214.76% |
| 1997 | 663.00% | 222.68% | 301.35% |
| 1998 | 1036.94% | 251.67% | 392.01% |
| 1999 | 904.22% | 296.89% | 489.17% |
| 2000 | 1270.10% | 333.65% | 512.70% |
| 2001 | 668.15% | 296.85% | 398.65% |
| 2002 | 578.74% | 236.46% | 308.51% |
| 2003 | 767.72% | 246.92% | 287.92% |
| 2004 | 853.69% | 284.09% | 342.50% |
| 2005 | 1016.44% | 303.29% | 357.09% |
| 2006 | 1143.90% | 321.17% | 380.58% |
| 2007 | 1162.70% | 358.30% | 426.69% |
| 2008 | 791.96% | 305.35% | 318.93% |
| 2009 | 610.64% | 238.51% | 226.69% |
| 2010 | 751.05% | 274.63% | 286.50% |
| 2011 | 764.82% | 275.70% | 316.64% |
| 2012 | 908.08% | 324.27% | 344.15% |
| 2013 | 955.95% | 286.09% | 421.65% |
| 2014 | 1005.62% | 320.54% | 503.16% |
| 2015 | 940.87% | 542.86% |
Notes: Wage data for the top 0.1 percent is not yet available for 2015.
Source: EPI analysis of Compustat Execucomp, Social Security Administration, and Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis databases.