Federal Reserve Economic Data

Table Data - Real Median Household Income in the United States

Title Real Median Household Income in the United States
Series ID MEHOINUSA672N
Source U.S. Census Bureau
Release Income and Poverty in the United States
Seasonal Adjustment Not Seasonally Adjusted
Frequency Annual
Units 2022 CPI-U-RS Adjusted Dollars
Date Range 1984-01-01 to 2023-01-01
Last Updated 2024-09-11 9:45 AM CDT
Notes Household data are collected as of March.

As stated in the Census's Source and Accuracy of Estimates for Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011.

Estimation of Median Incomes. The Census Bureau has changed the methodology for computing median income over time. The Census Bureau has computed medians using either Pareto interpolation or linear interpolation. Currently, we are using linear interpolation to estimate all medians. Pareto interpolation assumes a decreasing density of population within an income interval, whereas linear interpolation assumes a constant density of population within an income interval. The Census Bureau calculated estimates of median income and associated standard errors for 1979 through 1987 using Pareto interpolation if the estimate was larger than $20,000 for people or $40,000 for families and households. This is because the width of the income interval containing the estimate is greater than $2,500.

We calculated estimates of median income and associated standard errors for 1976, 1977, and 1978 using Pareto interpolation if the estimate was larger than $12,000 for people or $18,000 for families and households. This is because the width of the income interval containing the estimate is greater than $1,000. All other estimates of median income and associated standard errors for 1976 through 2011 (2012 ASEC) and almost all of the estimates of median income and associated standard errors for 1975 and earlier were calculated using linear interpolation.

Thus, use caution when comparing median incomes above $12,000 for people or $18,000 for families and households for different years. Median incomes below those levels are more comparable from year to year since they have always been calculated using linear interpolation. For an indication of the comparability of medians calculated using Pareto interpolation with medians calculated using linear interpolation, see Series P-60, Number 114, Money Income in 1976 of Families and Persons in the United States.
DATE VALUE
1984-01-01 58930
1985-01-01 60050
1986-01-01 62280
1987-01-01 63060
1988-01-01 63530
1989-01-01 64610
1990-01-01 63830
1991-01-01 61960
1992-01-01 61450
1993-01-01 61150
1994-01-01 61800
1995-01-01 63770
1996-01-01 64710
1997-01-01 66050
1998-01-01 68470
1999-01-01 70210
2000-01-01 70020
2001-01-01 68870
2002-01-01 68310
2003-01-01 68350
2004-01-01 68250
2005-01-01 69310
2006-01-01 70080
2007-01-01 71210
2008-01-01 68780
2009-01-01 68340
2010-01-01 66730
2011-01-01 65750
2012-01-01 65740
2013-01-01 68220
2014-01-01 67360
2015-01-01 71000
2016-01-01 73520
2017-01-01 74810
2018-01-01 75790
2019-01-01 81210
2020-01-01 79560
2021-01-01 79260
2022-01-01 77540
2023-01-01 80610

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