 The real wages of the top fifth rose by 99% and then 55% during the same periods, respectively.Average real hourly wages have also increased by a significantly larger rate for the top 20% than they have for the bottom 20%.Real family income for the bottom 20% increased by 7.4% from 1979 to 2009 while it increased by 49% for the top 20% and increased by 22.7% for the second top fifth of American families.