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The first paragraph of that Wikipedia page: "Personal income is an individual's total earnings from wages, investment interest, and other sources. The Bureau of

The first paragraph of that Wikipedia page: "Personal income is an individual's total earnings from wages, investment interest, and other sources. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median weekly personal income of $1,037 for full-time workers in Q1 2022. For the year 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the median annual earnings for all workers (aged 15 and over) was $41,535; and more specifically estimates that median annual earnings for those who worked full-time, year round, was $56,287." That graph seems to be just incorrect. All three of the links it's supposedly sourced from don't have it on their pages. There is a remark of "own work," so I think a Wikipedian assembled it themself. Given that it frankly contradicts the article it's in, I would assume that it's in error.

mort96 4y ago
The graph would be consistent with the part you quoted if the median earners were paying 33.5% tax: 41535 - (41535 * 0.335) is roughly the 27598 figure it shows for 2020. The figure only shows state and federal income tax, which adds up to 13% tax; I don't know enough about the US to now if there are other taxes which would add up to 33.5%.
- endominus 4y ago
  The graph includes state, federal, and payroll tax. They're stacked above the income after tax. They do not add up to $41,535.
  - mort96 4y ago
    I ignored the payroll tax, because I assumed that's not counted as part of the employee's gross income? And I agree that neither income tax nor income + payroll tax adds up to the 33.5%. I don't know if there are more taxes which need to be considered. 13% total tax seems low.
    - dragonwriter 4y ago
      > I ignored the payroll tax, because I assumed that's not counted as part of the employee's gross income Employee share of payroll tax is, employer share (which is shown reaching down from the bottom) is not. > 13% total tax seems low. Given what I've actually paid with a far above median income, 13% soubds reasonable. Its low as a nominal rate, but there are lots of credits and deductions available, and the before-tax median personal income is well below the cutoff for EITC, which can be a huge one. Heck, a large minority of the population pays zero or negative net income tax.

mort96 4y ago

The graph would be consistent with the part you quoted if the median earners were paying 33.5% tax: 41535 - (41535 * 0.335) is roughly the 27598 figure it shows for 2020. The figure only shows state and federal income tax, which adds up to 13% tax; I don't know enough about the US to now if there are other taxes which would add up to 33.5%.

endominus 4y ago
The graph includes state, federal, and payroll tax. They're stacked above the income after tax. They do not add up to $41,535.
- mort96 4y ago
  I ignored the payroll tax, because I assumed that's not counted as part of the employee's gross income? And I agree that neither income tax nor income + payroll tax adds up to the 33.5%. I don't know if there are more taxes which need to be considered. 13% total tax seems low.
  - dragonwriter 4y ago
    > I ignored the payroll tax, because I assumed that's not counted as part of the employee's gross income Employee share of payroll tax is, employer share (which is shown reaching down from the bottom) is not. > 13% total tax seems low. Given what I've actually paid with a far above median income, 13% soubds reasonable. Its low as a nominal rate, but there are lots of credits and deductions available, and the before-tax median personal income is well below the cutoff for EITC, which can be a huge one. Heck, a large minority of the population pays zero or negative net income tax.