Figure C
Advanced degree holders' wages exceed 5% topcode share in all but 10 years since 1979: Topcode shares by education, 1979–2021
| Year | Less than high school | High school | Some college | College | Advanced degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 3.3% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 2.1% | 3.8% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 3.1% | 5.1% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 4.0% | 7.3% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 1.1% | 5.1% | 9.1% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 1.5% | 6.1% | 11.2% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | 0.9% | 1.9% | 6.8% | 13.0% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | 1.0% | 2.2% | 8.3% | 15.3% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 2.6% | 9.6% | 17.6% |
| 1988 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 11.0% | 20.1% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.1% | 2.7% |
| 1990 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 3.4% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.5% | 4.3% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.7% | 4.5% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 5.1% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 2.7% | 6.8% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 2.9% | 7.7% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 3.0% | 7.8% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 3.6% | 8.9% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 3.3% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 1.6% | 3.7% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.8% | 4.1% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 2.1% | 4.2% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 2.2% | 4.9% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 4.8% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 5.7% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 2.6% | 5.9% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 2.9% | 6.9% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 3.3% | 7.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 3.6% | 8.0% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 3.7% | 8.9% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 4.2% | 8.9% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 4.1% | 8.9% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 4.6% | 10.5% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 5.0% | 10.6% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 5.0% | 10.6% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 5.5% | 10.9% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 6.1% | 11.9% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 6.4% | 12.3% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 6.8% | 14.1% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | 1.0% | 1.4% | 7.5% | 14.8% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 8.4% | 16.3% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | 1.2% | 1.9% | 9.3% | 17.0% |
Notes: The topcode nominal dollar thresholds for weekly earnings have been updated three times since 1973. The topcode value was $999 from 1973–1988, $1923 from 1989–1997, and has currently sat at $2,884.61 since 1998.
Source: Authors’ analysis of EPI Microdata Extracts.
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