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Family income includes all income earned by members of a family,
even if it is the dividend and/or interest income earned by a toddler.
Most people have no idea where they stand compared to families in the United States.
Another common error is not to realize how little people earned in the past.
Incomes for Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent of Families
All Races): 1947 to 2001
Income in current dollars
| Year | LOWEST | SECOND | THIRD | FOURTH | FIFTH |
| 2000 | 0-24,000 | 24,001-41,000 | 41,001-61,378 | 61,379-91,700 | 91,701- |
| 1990 | 0-16,846 | 16,847-29,044 | 29,045-42,040 | 42,041-61,490 | 61,491- |
| 1980 | 0-10,400 | 10,401-17,510 | 17,511-24,800 | 24,801-34,800 | 34,801- |
| 1970 | 0- 5,100 | 5,101-8,320 | 8,321-11,299 | 11,300-15,531 | 15,532- |
| 1960 | 0- 2,784 | 2,785-4,800 | 4,801- 6,364 | 6,364-8,800 | 8,801- |
| 1950 | 0- 1,661 | 1,662-2,856 | 2,857- 3,801 | 3,801-5,283 | 5,284- |
Family Income Needed to be in the top 5% of the United States
| 2000 | $160,250 |
| 1990 | 102,358 |
| 1980 | 55,000 |
| 1970 | 24,250 |
| 1960 | 13,536 |
| 1950 | 8,615 |
SOURCE: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Demographic Supplements
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Income Surveys Branch
Housing & Household Economic Statistics Division
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20233-8500
(hhes-info@census.gov).