Income
Census.gov › People and Households › Income Main › Income Data › Historical Tables › Experimental Measures › Table RDI-4. Median Household Income, by Definition of Income: 1979 to 2003
Table RDI-4. Median Household Income, by Definition of Income: 1979 to 2003
(In current and 2003 CPI-U-RS adjusted dollars 28/)
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Definition 2003 2002 2001 2000 30/
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IN CURRENT DOLLARS
Income before taxes:
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $43,318 $42,409 $42,228 $41,990
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 39,896 39,102 39,010 38,730
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 40,263 39,544 39,561 39,329
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 42,295 41,472 41,346 41,063
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 39,695 38,776 38,773 38,472
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 37,274 36,042 36,116 35,465
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 37,490 36,231 36,291 35,624
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 36,688 35,386 35,152 34,553
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 40,605 39,198 38,834 37,998
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 42,679 41,276 40,847 39,801
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 42,690 41,288 40,857 39,811
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 42,876 41,482 41,023 40,004
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 43,465 42,050 41,586 40,389
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 43,629 42,188 41,734 40,522
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 45,154 43,879 43,425 42,721
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Definition 1999 26/29/ 1998 1997 1996
________________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $40,696 $38,885 $37,005 $35,492
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 37,127 35,712 33,966 32,093
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 37,622 36,011 34,233 32,296
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 39,578 37,673 35,976 34,375
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 37,031 35,369 33,709 32,155
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 34,240 32,656 30,980 29,672
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 34,414 32,801 31,126 29,813
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 33,369 31,816 30,250 28,982
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 36,789 35,183 33,429 32,016
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 38,601 37,001 35,283 33,769
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 38,615 37,012 35,295 33,781
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 38,810 37,195 35,450 33,983
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 39,141 37,530 35,743 34,376
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 39,252 37,673 35,860 34,519
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 41,088 39,308 37,623 36,360
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Definition 1995 25/ &yrtitl10 1993 23/ 1992 22/
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1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $34,076 $32,264 $31,241 $30,636
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 30,931 29,409 28,044 27,491
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 31,082 29,547 28,214 27,717
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 32,819 31,173 29,828 29,199
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 30,793 29,193 27,946 27,327
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 28,393 26,993 25,861 25,178
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 28,535 27,133 25,949 25,255
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 27,772 26,428 25,313 24,574
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 30,892 29,422 28,391 27,506
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 32,549 30,841 29,723 28,805
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 32,563 30,856 29,732 28,817
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 32,761 31,056 29,917 28,982
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 33,149 31,391 30,241 29,242
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 33,306 31,553 30,395 29,373
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 35,259 33,486 32,091 31,151
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Definition 1991 1990 1989 1988
____________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $30,126 $29,943 $28,906 $27,225
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 27,302 27,263 26,712 25,311
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 27,427 27,375 26,891 25,384
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 28,792 28,708 28,125 26,474
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 27,005 26,881 26,430 24,856
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 24,820 24,663 24,212 22,757
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 24,866 24,698 24,243 22,782
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 24,212 24,032 23,529 22,150
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 26,813 26,467 25,705 24,229
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 27,937 27,410 26,564 24,963
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 27,951 27,421 26,575 24,974
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 28,104 27,542 26,697 25,114
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 28,316 27,726 26,831 25,230
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 28,428 27,815 26,913 25,296
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 30,538 29,695 29,081 27,571
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Definition 1987 21/ 1986 1985 20/ 1984 19/
_______________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $26,061 $24,897 $23,618 $22,415
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 24,004 22,745 21,666 20,642
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 24,209 23,274 22,003 20,960
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 25,198 24,211 22,850 21,711
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 23,750 22,816 21,634 20,572
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 21,805 20,685 19,608 18,642
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 21,828 20,690 19,613 18,649
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 21,241 20,185 19,147 18,185
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 23,269 22,211 21,044 20,023
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 24,058 22,936 21,625 20,539
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 24,071 22,947 21,639 20,549
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 24,173 23,044 21,725 20,636
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 24,276 23,160 21,826 20,731
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 24,343 23,229 21,900 20,802
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 26,518 24,996 24,170 23,302
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Definition 1983 1982 1981 1980
____________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $21,018 $20,171 $19,074 $17,710
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 19,067 18,201 17,388 16,346
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 19,429 18,406 17,622 16,567
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 20,214 19,161 18,310 17,116
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 19,130 18,125 17,370 16,316
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 17,348 16,276 15,479 14,557
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 17,357 16,285 15,490 14,568
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 16,976 15,927 15,152 14,245
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 18,894 17,835 16,692 15,649
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 19,363 18,287 17,066 15,947
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 19,376 18,297 17,083 15,960
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 19,443 18,374 17,155 16,039
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 19,538 18,461 17,249 16,125
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 19,610 18,538 17,334 16,217
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 21,804 21,041 20,280 17,879
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Definition 1979 18/
____________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $16,461
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 15,407
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 15,626
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 16,225
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 15,438
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 13,788
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 13,802
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 13,518
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 14,610
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 14,845
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 14,857
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 14,922
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 15,003
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 15,092
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 16,089
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Definition 2003 2002 2001 2000 30/
_____________________________________________________________________________
IN 2003 DOLLARS
Income before taxes:
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $43,318 $43,381 $43,882 $44,853
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 39,896 39,998 40,538 41,371
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 40,263 40,450 41,111 42,011
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 42,295 42,422 42,966 43,863
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 39,695 39,664 40,292 41,095
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 37,274 36,868 37,531 37,883
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 37,490 37,061 37,713 38,053
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 36,688 36,197 36,529 36,909
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 40,605 40,096 40,355 40,589
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 42,679 42,222 42,447 42,515
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 42,690 42,234 42,458 42,525
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 42,876 42,432 42,630 42,732
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 43,465 43,013 43,215 43,143
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 43,629 43,155 43,369 43,285
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 45,154 44,884 45,126 45,634
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Definition 1999 26/29/ 1998 1997 1996
________________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $44,922 $43,825 $42,294 $41,431
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 40,982 40,249 38,820 37,463
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 41,528 40,586 39,126 37,700
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 43,687 42,459 41,118 40,127
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 40,876 39,863 38,527 37,535
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 37,795 36,805 35,408 34,637
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 37,987 36,968 35,574 34,801
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 36,834 35,858 34,573 33,831
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 40,609 39,653 38,207 37,373
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 42,609 41,702 40,326 39,419
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 42,624 41,714 40,339 39,433
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 42,840 41,921 40,516 39,669
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 43,205 42,298 40,851 40,128
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 43,328 42,459 40,985 40,295
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 45,354 44,302 43,000 42,444
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Definition 1995 25/ &yrtitl10 1993 23/ 1992 22/
_________________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $40,845 $39,613 $39,165 $39,364
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 37,076 36,108 35,157 35,323
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 37,257 36,277 35,370 35,613
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 39,339 38,273 37,393 37,518
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 36,910 35,842 35,034 35,112
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 34,033 33,141 32,420 32,351
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 34,204 33,313 32,530 32,450
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 33,289 32,448 31,733 31,575
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 37,029 36,124 35,592 35,342
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 39,015 37,866 37,262 37,011
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 39,032 37,884 37,273 37,027
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 39,269 38,130 37,505 37,239
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 39,734 38,541 37,911 37,573
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 39,922 38,740 38,104 37,741
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 42,263 41,113 40,230 40,026
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Definition 1991 1990 1989 1988
____________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $39,679 $40,865 $41,411 $40,678
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 35,960 37,207 38,268 37,818
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 36,124 37,360 38,525 37,927
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 37,922 39,179 40,292 39,556
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 35,569 36,686 37,864 37,138
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 32,691 33,659 34,687 34,002
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 32,751 33,707 34,731 34,040
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 31,890 32,798 33,708 33,095
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 35,316 36,121 36,826 36,202
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 36,796 37,408 38,056 37,298
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 36,815 37,423 38,072 37,315
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 37,016 37,588 38,247 37,524
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 37,295 37,839 38,439 37,697
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 37,443 37,960 38,556 37,796
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 40,222 40,526 41,662 41,195
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Definition 1987 21/ 1986 1985 20/ 1984 19/
_______________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $40,357 $39,868 $38,510 $37,767
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 37,172 36,422 35,328 34,780
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 37,489 37,269 35,877 35,316
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 39,020 38,769 37,258 36,581
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 36,778 36,536 35,275 34,662
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 33,766 33,123 31,972 31,410
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 33,802 33,131 31,980 31,422
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 32,893 32,323 31,220 30,640
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 36,033 35,567 34,313 33,737
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 37,255 36,728 35,261 34,606
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 37,275 36,745 35,284 34,623
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 37,433 36,901 35,424 34,770
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 37,593 37,086 35,588 34,930
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 37,696 37,197 35,709 35,049
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 41,065 40,026 39,410 39,262
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Definition 1983 1982 1981 1980
____________________________________________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $36,826 $36,811 $36,868 $37,447
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 33,408 33,216 33,609 34,563
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 34,042 33,590 34,062 35,030
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 35,417 34,968 35,391 36,191
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 33,518 33,077 33,574 34,499
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 30,396 29,703 29,919 30,780
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 30,412 29,719 29,941 30,803
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 29,744 29,066 29,287 30,120
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 33,105 32,548 32,264 33,089
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 33,926 33,373 32,987 33,719
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 33,949 33,391 33,020 33,747
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 34,067 33,531 33,159 33,914
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 34,233 33,690 33,341 34,095
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 34,359 33,831 33,505 34,290
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 38,203 38,398 39,199 37,804
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________
Definition 1979 18/
____________________________________________
1. Money income excluding
capital gains (current
official measure) $38,649
2. Definition 1 less
government transfers 36,175
3. Definition 2 plus capital
gains (losses) 36,689
4. Definition 3 plus health
insurance supplements to
wage or salary income 38,095
Income after taxes:
5. Definition 4 less social
security payroll taxes 36,248
6. Definition 5 less federal
income taxes 32,373
7. Definition 6 plus the
earned income credit 32,406
8. Definition 7 less state
income taxes 31,739
9. Definition 8 plus non-
means-tested government
cash transfers 34,303
10. Definition 9 plus medicare 34,855
11. Definition 10 plus regular-
price school lunches 34,883
12. Definition 11 plus means-
tested government cash
transfers 35,036
13. Definition 12 plus medicaid 35,226
14. Definition 13 plus other
means-tested government
noncash transfers 35,435
15. Definition 14 plus net
imputed return on equity
in own home 37,776
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See separate page for
Footnotes
See separate page for
Suggested Citations
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic 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
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