Figure E
The inequality tax costs middle-income households almost $40,000 annually: Average market income of the middle fifth of households and their income if it had grown at average rate between 1979 and 2021
| Year | Middle fifth market income, actual | Middle fifth market income, grown at average rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $66,400 | $66,400 |
| 1980 | $63,400 | $63,959 |
| 1981 | $63,300 | $63,959 |
| 1982 | $61,400 | $63,568 |
| 1983 | $60,500 | $64,154 |
| 1984 | $64,100 | $68,353 |
| 1985 | $64,500 | $69,427 |
| 1986 | $65,900 | $74,309 |
| 1987 | $65,500 | $71,771 |
| 1988 | $66,400 | $75,091 |
| 1989 | $67,000 | $75,481 |
| 1990 | $67,300 | $74,895 |
| 1991 | $65,300 | $72,552 |
| 1992 | $65,100 | $74,309 |
| 1993 | $65,500 | $74,407 |
| 1994 | $66,500 | $75,384 |
| 1995 | $68,600 | $78,704 |
| 1996 | $69,500 | $81,926 |
| 1997 | $71,200 | $86,027 |
| 1998 | $74,000 | $91,105 |
| 1999 | $77,000 | $96,182 |
| 2000 | $76,800 | $98,331 |
| 2001 | $76,200 | $92,472 |
| 2002 | $73,700 | $88,175 |
| 2003 | $73,300 | $89,445 |
| 2004 | $75,900 | $95,011 |
| 2005 | $77,500 | $100,381 |
| 2006 | $77,900 | $104,092 |
| 2007 | $80,800 | $107,509 |
| 2008 | $77,600 | $98,721 |
| 2009 | $73,600 | $91,007 |
| 2010 | $72,300 | $92,569 |
| 2011 | $72,400 | $92,862 |
| 2012 | $72,400 | $97,647 |
| 2013 | $74,100 | $96,378 |
| 2014 | $75,800 | $100,284 |
| 2015 | $78,700 | $103,408 |
| 2016 | $79,000 | $102,334 |
| 2017 | $80,600 | $105,947 |
| 2018 | $82,200 | $108,291 |
| 2019 | $85,500 | $111,025 |
| 2020 | $82,300 | $111,318 |
| 2021 | $83,900 | $122,547 |
Source: All data from CBO 2025d.
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