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Interesting.

Born in 1955 ( a few days from now actually), but my first SS “yearly pay” was in 1974 for $32.00.

So, do I “remove” that year (since the next year’s salary in 1975 was much higher), or leave it as-is? After all, I expect to continue working for another 10 years or so.

You can't do anything. SS has formulas. It uses 35 years of the highest earnings. It takes older salaries and adjusts them for inflation. So a salary of 5k from 1967 might be 25k for adjusted purposes today.

The best book on SS I have ever read is: "Get What's Yours - The Secrets To Maxing out Your Social Security."

SS, if done right, can be a cash cow.

My wife and I were 66 in the same year. I retired at FRA and got full benefits. My wife filed a restricted claim ( it's not file and suspend) against my benefits and receives half of my monthly benefit. ( I had to read it a couple of times...I couldn't believe we(the U.S.A.) were that studid - I think, thanks to Bill Clinton)

My wife will wait to 70 before she makes a decision on which benefit(s) to take. In the mean time, her benefit increases an average of 8% a year from 66 to 70. There is no further benefit to waiting to file after 70 years old.
The Feds closed the "restricted claim" loophole in 2015. They did grandfather in these:

1. A spouse must be full retirement age and born on or before 1/1/1954 to file a restricted application for a spousal benefit only - and must not have already begun their own benefits.

2. A widow/widower, or survivor of a deceased ex-spouse, may file a restricted application even if they have not yet reached full retirement age and regardless of when they were born. 3. A claimant who is caring for a child (under age 16 or disabled adult child) who is entitled to child’s benefits may have the option to restrict the application to spouse’s benefits only even if they have not yet reached their full retirement age.

Should my wife decide to claim at 70, but wants to her start date to be 6 months earlier, she can get a 6 month lump sum payment with a trade off of a reduction of approx. 6% in the monthly check. So in 4 years, my wife can collect, as an example, let's say a total 72k. then get a lump sum of 17k. And her monthly benefits increased 26% rather than 32% over 4 years.

Of course, tax ramifications apply.

Bottom line...America, whatta country.!!

“...my first SS “yearly pay” was in 1974 for $32.00.

So, do I “remove” that year (since the next year’s salary in 1975 was much higher), or leave it as-is?”

Social Security is figured on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you work more than 35 years, like me, year 36 wipes out the lowest year (assuming it is larger) and the same for year 37, etc. Wiping out some small years early in your working career makes a significant difference in the monthly payout. Also, if you start past 62, you can get a lump sum payout for as many months in arrears (till 62) that you want. It just reduces your monthly payout. Maybe to payoff your house, etc.