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Income of Persons in the United States: 1951
Income of Persons in the United States: 1951
Report Number P60-11
Wage and salary incomes are more evenly distributed among American workers today than in 1939, according to estimates released today by Robert W. Burgess, Director, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. Although the share of all wage or salary income received by the lowest fifth of the workers has decreased slightly, the share received by each of the middle three-fifths has increased by 2 to 4 percent. The share received by the highest-paid fifth on the other hand, decreased from 49 percent in 1939 to 42 percent in 1951. The share of income received by each fifth of the wage or salary recipients is shown below:
Table A.–PERCENT OF AGGREGATE WAGE OR SALARY INCOME (BEFORE TAXES) RECEIVED BY WAGE OR SALARY RECIPIENTS RANKED BY INCOME, FOR THE UNITED STATES: 1939, 1945, AND 1951
| Wage or salary recipients | 1951 | 1945 | 1939 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Lowest fifth | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.4 |
| Second fifth | 10.6 | 10.1 | 8.4 |
| Middle fifth | 18.9 | 17.4 | 15.0 |
| Fourth fifth | 25.9 | 25.7 | 23.9 |
| Highest fifth | 41.6 | 43.9 | 49.3 |
A Note on Language
Census statistics date back to 1790 and reflect the growth and change of the United States. Past census reports contain some terms that today’s readers may consider obsolete and inappropriate. As part of our goal to be open and transparent with the public, we are improving access to all Census Bureau original publications and statistics, which serve as a guide to the nation's history.
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Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
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