The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members. 

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income. Income is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Research Series (CPI-U-RS).

In 2002, there were substantial changes in the racial categories used by the Census Bureau. Time series by race that include data from both racial classifications should be interpreted with care. More details on the changes in racial categories.

The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members. 

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income. Income is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Research Series (CPI-U-RS).

In 2002, there were substantial changes in the racial categories used by the Census Bureau. Time series by race that include data from both racial classifications should be interpreted with care. More details on the changes in racial categories.

The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members.

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income.

In 2002, there were substantial changes in the racial categories used by the Census Bureau. Time series by race that include data from both racial classifications should be interpreted with care. More details on the changes in racial categories.

The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members.

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income.

The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members.

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income.

The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members.

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income. Income is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Research Series (CPI-U-RS). If the median income is larger than $100,000 (before adjusting for inflation), the Census Bureau reported it as $100,000; these values have been replaced by missing values in the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality database.

In 2002, there were substantial changes in the racial categories used by the Census Bureau. Time series by race that include data from both racial classifications should be interpreted with care. More details on the changes in racial categories.

Breakdowns by education only include families where the head of family is 25 years old or over. The category “high school graduates” includes people who received a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

The Current Population Survey defines a family as a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together; all such people (including related subfamily members) are considered as members of one family. Beginning with the 1980 Current Population Survey, unrelated subfamilies (referred to in the past as secondary families) are no longer included in the count of families, nor are the members of unrelated subfamilies included in the count of family members.

In the Annual Social and Economic Supplement, respondents report income from the previous calendar year, but they report family and household composition as of the date of the survey. The measure of family income used by the Census Bureau is the sum of the income obtained by all family members 15 years old and over. Income refers to the amount of money income received from each of the following sources: earnings; unemployment compensation; workers’ compensation; social security; supplemental security income; public assistance; veterans’ payments; survivor benefits; disability benefits; pension or retirement income; interest; dividends; rents, royalties, and estates and trusts; educational assistance; alimony; child support; financial assistance from outside of the household; and other income. 

In 2002, there were substantial changes in the racial categories used by the Census Bureau. Time series by race that include data from both racial classifications should be interpreted with care. More details on the changes in racial categories.

The CBO’s estimates are based on Internal Revenue Service data from individual income tax returns.

Before-tax income is the sum of market income and government transfers.  Market income includes labor income, business income, capital gains, capital income other than capital gains, income received in retirement for past services, and other sources of income.  Government transfers are cash payments from Social Security, unemployment insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (and its predecessor, Aid to Families with Dependent Children), veterans’ programs, workers’ compensation, and state and local government assistance programs. They also include the value of in-kind benefits, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program vouchers (formerly known as food stamps), school lunches and breakfasts, housing assistance, energy assistance, and benefits provided by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. (The value of health insurance is measured on the basis of the Census Bureau’s estimates of the average cost to the government of providing such insurance.)

Income categories are defined by ranking all people by income, adjusted for household size—that is, divided by the square root of the number of people in a household, which consists of the people who share a housing unit, regardless of their relationships. Quintiles, or fifths, contain equal numbers of people, as do percentiles, or hundredths. If a household has negative income (that is, if its business or investment losses are larger than other income) it is excluded from the lowest income category but included in totals.

The CBO’s estimates are based on Internal Revenue Service data from individual income tax returns.

Tax rates are calculated by dividing tax liabilities by before-tax income. When refundable tax credits, such as the earned income and child tax credits, exceed tax liabilities of the households in an income group, those households are said to have a negative average tax rate. (Refundable tax credits are not limited to the amount of income tax owed before they are applied.)

Tax liabilities are the amount of taxes a household owes based on income earned in a year, regardless of when the taxes are paid. Individual income taxes are allocated directly to households paying those taxes. Social insurance, or payroll, taxes are allocated to households that pay those taxes directly or indirectly through their employers. Excise taxes are allocated to households according to their consumption of the taxed good or service. Corporate income taxes are allocated to households according to their share of capital and labor income.

Before-tax income is the sum of market income and government transfers. Market income includes labor income, business income, capital gains, capital income other than capital gains, income received in retirement for past services, and other sources of income.  Government transfers are cash payments from Social Security, unemployment insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (and its predecessor, Aid to Families with Dependent Children), veterans’ programs, workers’ compensation, and state and local government assistance programs. They also include the value of in-kind benefits, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program vouchers (formerly known as food stamps), school lunches and breakfasts, housing assistance, energy assistance, and benefits provided by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. (The value of health insurance is measured on the basis of the Census Bureau’s estimates of the average cost to the government of providing such insurance.)

Income categories are defined by ranking all people by income, adjusted for household size—that is, divided by the square root of the number of people in a household, which consists of the people who share a housing unit, regardless of their relationships. Quintiles, or fifths, contain equal numbers of people, as do percentiles, or hundredths. If a household has negative income (that is, if its business or investment losses are larger than other income) it is excluded from the lowest income category but included in totals.

The CBO’s estimates are based on Internal Revenue Service data from individual income tax returns.

Household income after taxes and transfers is equivalent to the CBO’s measure of before-tax income minus federal tax liabilities.

Before-tax income is the sum of market income and government transfers.  Market income includes labor income, business income, capital gains, capital income other than capital gains, income received in retirement for past services, and other sources of income.  Government transfers are cash payments from Social Security, unemployment insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (and its predecessor, Aid to Families with Dependent Children), veterans’ programs, workers’ compensation, and state and local government assistance programs. They also include the value of in-kind benefits, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program vouchers (formerly known as food stamps), school lunches and breakfasts, housing assistance, energy assistance, and benefits provided by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. (The value of health insurance is measured on the basis of the Census Bureau’s estimates of the average cost to the government of providing such insurance.)

Tax liabilities are the amount of taxes a household owes based on income earned in a year, regardless of when the taxes are paid. Individual income taxes are allocated directly to households paying those taxes. Social insurance, or payroll, taxes are allocated to households that pay those taxes directly or indirectly through their employers. Excise taxes are allocated to households according to their consumption of the taxed good or service. Corporate income taxes are allocated to households according to their share of capital and labor income.

EPI’s tables are based on unpublished analyses, conducted by Edward Wolff, of data from the Survey of Consumer Finances.

EPI’s tables are based on unpublished analyses, conducted by Edward Wolff, of data from the Survey of Consumer Finances.

EPI’s tables are based on data from the Congressional Budget Office.

Capital and business income includes rents, dividends, interest payments, capital gains, and business income.

Detailed methodological notes are available at the Forbes website.

Data are adjusted for inflation by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers Research Series (CPI-U-RS).

An elderly household is an unmarried individual over age 65 or a married couple in which at least one person is over age 65. Demographic characteristics such as race are those of the husband unless the husband is under age 65, in which case they are those of the wife.

Income from assets includes interest; dividends; rent or royalties; and estates or trusts. If either spouse has income from assets, the unit is considered to be a recipient unit.

Household financial obligations consist of estimated required payments on outstanding mortgage and consumer debt, automobile lease payments, rental payments on tenant-occupied property, homeowners’ insurance, and property tax payments. Disposable personal income is total household income after taxes. Annual estimates are an average of quarterly estimates.