Most people have an idea of what a middle-class lifestyle looks like. Typically, most people think of the middle class household as people with good jobs, a decent house to live in, and enough money for vacations and small luxuries but not endless supplies of cash.
But how much income, exactly, would you need to be considered middle class in America? It's pretty easy to find that out, since the U.S. Census publishes data on earnings and divides households into five quintiles.
Here's what the Census data shows you'd need to make to be considered part of the official middle class based on your income.
If you earn this much, you're in the middle class
According to the Census data, here's how household income breaks down in the United States:
- Households in the lowest quintile: $30,000 or less
- Households in the second quintile: $30,001 to $58,020
- Households in the third quintile: $58,021 to $94,000
- Households in the fourth quintile: $94,001 to $153,000
- Households in the highest quintile: $153,001 or higher
To be considered middle class -- since you are literally in the middle quintile with an equal percentage of households above and below you -- you would need to have a household income between $58,021 and $94,000.
If your earnings fall within this range, you're officially in the middle class in the U.S. -- but, depending on where you live and how you're spending money, this may or may not mean you feel middle class.
There's a lot more to money management than your income
While it's easy to see what income makes you middle class, a lot more goes into whether you feel like you fall within this class category. While your income is important in determining how you manage your personal finances and whether you can build wealth, other factors also matter a lot in terms of how your financial life works.
One of the biggest issues that can shape how you feel about your financial situation is where you live. If you make a household income of $153,001, you're technically in the upper class. And you might feel like it if you live in West Virginia where the median household income is $51,248. But if you live in Washington, D.C., where the median income is $90,088, you probably aren't going to feel rich with a $153,001 income.
The financial decisions you've already made can also impact whether you feel middle class. If you bought a huge house and are spending 45% of your income on the mortgage and other housing expenses (well above the recommended 30%), then you may feel like you're struggling financially even if you have a comfortable middle-class income.
The bottom line is, you want to try to maximize your earnings since the more money you make, the more you have to spend and save and accomplish financial goals. But feeling middle class -- or even rich -- and attaining the lifestyle you want is often going to require a lot more than just earning $58,021 to $94,000.
You'll also want to take steps like:
- Limiting your fixed expenses to no more than 50% of your income
- Saving 20% of your income for the future to provide financial security and peace of mind
- Choosing a place to live based on being to afford the essentials and a few life luxuries
If you can take these steps, you should be well on your way to setting yourself up for financial success -- even if your income is above or below the range that puts you squarely in the middle class.
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FAQs
The Pew Research Center defines being middle class as earning between two-thirds and double each state's median income. In Texas, that's between $48,200 and $144,600, and in Minnesota, middle-class residents make between $54,900 and $164,700. Americans often debate who truly is in the middle class.
How much money do you have to make to be considered middle class in America? ›
The Post survey found that most Americans think of a household income level of $75,000 to $100,000 as middle class. The good news for Alabamians: according to a new study by GoBankingRates, the income needed to live a middle class lifestyle in Alabama remains below the national average.
Is 75k a year middle class for a single person? ›
There's no single definition of “middle class.” According to the Pew Research Center, middle class households have an income that's between two-thirds and twice the U.S. median household income of $70,784. (A $75,000 salary falls easily within this range.)
Is $100,000 income middle class? ›
A $100,000 salary may be considered middle-income in many parts of the U.S., but it's no longer a ticket to the middle class.
Is $30,000 a year considered middle class? ›
You also need an annual household salary of at least $50,000 to be considered middle class in 17 other states, including California, New York, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Hawaii.
What salary range is considered upper middle class? ›
Middle class: Those in the 40th to 60th percentile of household income, ranging from $55,001 to $89,744. Upper middle class: Households in the 60th to 80th percentile, with incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: The top 20% of earners, with household incomes of $149,132 or more.
What makes you upper middle class in America? ›
Upper middle class might mean earning 15-50% above the median with a comfortable financial cushion, while the upper class generally refers to the top 1-3% earners with substantial wealth and investment-derived income,” said Jeff Rose, CFP and founder of Good Financial Cents.
What salary is needed to live comfortably in the USA? ›
On average, an individual needs $96,500 for sustainable comfort in a major U.S. city. This includes being able to pay off debt and invest for the future.
Is 75k a year poor? ›
Today, $75,000 is a statistical gateway to the modern middle class: Though it's more than what many Americans earn, it's still not enough to relieve the many anxieties rooted in money.
Is $80,000 a year a good salary? ›
$80,000 is about $5,000 higher than the U.S. median household income, so many people would consider it very good for a single person. “Good” is always a relative term when it comes to salary; whether or not the amount you earn covers your expenses is a highly personal dynamic.
More than 1 in 5 Americans were upper income in 2022, compared to only 14% in 1971. In 2020, according to Pew Research Center analysis, the median for upper income households was around $220,000 and the median for middle income households was slightly above $90,000.
What are the five income classes? ›
Where you rank by income
- Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000.
- Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.
- Middle class: $58,021 – $94,000.
- Upper-middle class: $94,001 – $153,000.
- Upper class: greater than $153,000.
Lower class: This is defined as the bottom 20% of earners. Those in the lower class have an income at or below $28,007. Lower middle class: This is defined as individuals in the 20th to 40th percentile of household income. Earnings among this group are between $28,008 and $55,000.
What salary puts you in the upper class? ›
In 2021, the median household income is roughly $68,000. An upper class income is usually considered at least 50% higher than the median household income. Therefore, an upper class income in America is $100,000 and higher.
Is 35k a year poverty? ›
The Poverty Threshold in 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses the Census Bureau threshold to determine who is eligible for certain government assistance programs, like SNAP (food stamps). Under their guidelines, a family of four is considered impoverished if they earn $30,000 or less per year.
What salary is considered middle class in 2024? ›
What is the average middle class income? In 2024, a large U.S. city's middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000, with the median household income across all 345 cities at $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590, SmartAsset noted.
What is US classed as middle class? ›
the middle class | Business English
the social group that consists of well-educated people, such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers, who are neither very rich nor very poor: lower/upper middle class The upper middle class tends to go into business or the professions.
Is $150 000 middle class? ›
However, new research from GOBankingRates shows that in some major U.S. cities, an annual income of $150,000 is only enough to qualify as “lower middle class.” This is especially pronounced in two Northern California cities and Arlington, Virginia.
Is $200 K middle class? ›
One commonly used definition from the Pew Research Center sets a middle-class income between two-thirds and twice the national median income, or $67,819 to $203,458 for a family of four in 2022. Most Americans consider the lower end of that range, $75,000 and $100,000, to be middle class, according to the Post poll.
