You’ve been hearing about the K-shaped economy and the shrinking middle class, but what does it actually mean to be in the middle class at all in the US today?
For many, the label can describe a suburban, non-excessive way of life, but the actual income it implies can span a wide range.
A recent SmartAsset study calculated the income needed to be considered middle class in every US state.
The study used the US Census Bureau’s 2024 one-year American Community Survey median household income estimates for all 50 states. It applied a variation of the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class — households that earn between two-thirds and double the median income — to identify a middle-class salary range.
Rankings were then determined by comparing the upper limit of middle-class income among states and ranking those earnings from highest to lowest.
In five states, households earning over $200,000 can still be considered middle class, while in seven, you can be counted in the category even with household incomes of under $45,000.
In Massachusetts, the highest-ranked state, a household can earn up to $209,656 and still be considered middle class, while in Mississippi, the lowest-ranked, earning more than $118,254 puts you above the threshold.
Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the second-lowest, a household earning $40,532 can be considered middle class, while in New Jersey, the second-highest, it takes an annual income of $69,529 to do so.
See how much money you really need to earn to be in the middle class in every US state.
ALABAMA
Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318
Median household income: $66,659
Rank: 44 out of 50
ALASKA
Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330
Median household income: $95,665
Rank: 11
ARIZONA
Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972
Median household income: $81,486
Rank: 20
ARKANSAS
Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212
Median household income: $62,106
Rank: 47
CALIFORNIA
Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298
Median household income: $100,149
Rank: 5
COLORADO
Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226
Median household income: $97,113
Rank: 8
CONNECTICUT
Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098
Median household income: $96,049
Rank: 10
DELAWARE
Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068
Median household income: $87,534
Rank: 13
FLORIDA
Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470
Median household income: $77,735
Rank: 26
GEORGIA
Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982
Median household income: $79,991
Rank: 23
HAWAII
Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490
Median household income: $100,745
Rank: 4
IDAHO
Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332
Median household income: $81,166
Rank: 21
ILLINOIS
Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422
Median household income: $83,211
Rank: 18
INDIANA
Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918
Median household income: $71,959
Rank: 41
IOWA
Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002
Median household income: $75,501
Rank: 34
KANSAS
Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028
Median household income: $75,514
Rank: 33
KENTUCKY
Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052
Median household income: $64,526
Rank: 46
LOUISIANA
Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972
Median household income: $60,986
Rank: 48
MAINE
Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884
Median household income: $76,442
Rank: 30
MARYLAND
Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810
Median household income: $102,905
Rank: 3
MASSACHUSETTS
Middle-class range: $69,885 to $209,656
Median household income: $104,828
Rank: 1 (the highest middle-class ceiling in the US)
MICHIGAN
Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778
Median household income: $72,389
Rank: 37
MINNESOTA
Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234
Median household income: $87,117
Rank: 14
MISSISSIPPI
Middle-class range: $39,418 to $118,254
Median household income: $59,127
Rank: 50 (the lowest middle-class ceiling in the US)
MISSOURI
Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178
Median household income: $71,589
Rank: 42
MONTANA
Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680
Median household income: $75,340
Rank: 35
NEBRASKA
Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752
Median household income: $76,376
Rank: 31
NEVADA
Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268
Median household income: $81,134
Rank: 22
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564
Median household income: $99,782
Rank: 6
NEW JERSEY
Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588
Median household income: $104,294
Rank: 2
NEW MEXICO
Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632
Median household income: $67,816
Rank: 43
NEW YORK
Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640
Median household income: $85,820
Rank: 15
NORTH CAROLINA
Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916
Median household income: $73,958
Rank: 36
NORTH DAKOTA
Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742
Median household income: $77,871
Rank: 25
OHIO
Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424
Median household income: $72,212
Rank: 39
OKLAHOMA
Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296
Median household income: $66,148
Rank: 45
OREGON
Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440
Median household income: $85,220
Rank: 16
PENNSYLVANIA
Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090
Median household income: $77,545
Rank: 27
RHODE ISLAND
Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008
Median household income: $83,504
Rank: 17
SOUTH CAROLINA
Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700
Median household income: $72,350
Rank: 38
SOUTH DAKOTA
Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762
Median household income: $76,881
Rank: 29
TENNESSEE
Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994
Median household income: $71,997
Rank: 40
TEXAS
Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442
Median household income: $79,721
Rank: 24
UTAH
Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316
Median household income: $96,658
Rank: 9
VERMONT
Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460
Median household income: $82,730
Rank: 19
VIRGINIA
Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180
Median household income: $92,090
Rank: 12
WASHINGTON
Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778
Median household income: $99,389
Rank: 7
WEST VIRGINIA
Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596
Median household income: $60,798
Rank: 49
WISCONSIN
Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976
Median household income: $77,488
Rank: 28
WYOMING
Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064
Median household income: $75,532
Rank: 32
