The numbers I mentioned were scalars, for housing prices. But if you want a factor of increase, figure an order of magnitude and then some. Have wages increased an order of magnitude?
Maybe those 'golden parachute' packages - Franklin Raines, and such. Maybe them. But many others?
2004 Average US Annual Salary; $36,764
Increase by factor of twelve.
$10.00 buying power in 1950 equals $78.38 buying power 2004.
Increase by a factor of eight.
You do the math.
Look at the figures I just posted.