What It Takes to Rank in the Top 5% of Wage Earners...

The Top 1%

Based upon 2008 tax data, it took an adjusted gross income of $380,000 to rank in the top 1% of U.S. taxpayers, a group that paid 38% of all federal income tax for the year.

In 1980, the top 1% of taxpayers paid 19% of all federal income tax. 

The Top 5%

Based upon 2008 tax data, it took an adjusted gross income of $160,000 to rank in the top 5% of U.S. taxpayers, a group that paid 59% of all federal income tax for the year.

In 1980, the top 5% of taxpayers paid 37% of all federal income tax.

(source: Internal Revenue Service)