A three-person household earning between $55,262 and $167,460 was generally considered middle class in the United States in 2024, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center.
The definition, which uses two-thirds and double the national median income of $83,730 as its boundaries, highlights the complex factors determining middle-class status. Income is not the sole determinant; household size, geographic location, and overall financial security all play significant roles, the report indicated.
Cost of living variations across the country dramatically alter the practical application of these income thresholds. For example, the cost of living in Jackson, Tennessee, is 13% below the national average, while the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metropolitan area in California exceeds the national average by nearly 18%. A $65,000 salary may provide a comfortable lifestyle in parts of the Midwest or South, but would present significant financial challenges in major coastal cities.
The income range for middle-class designation shifts based on household composition. The $55,262 to $167,460 range applies specifically to a three-person household; the thresholds are lower for single-person households and higher for larger families. The lower income threshold is also relative to local costs, effectively decreasing in less expensive areas like Jackson, Tennessee, and increasing in high-cost areas like San Francisco.
Beyond income and location, financial stability is a critical component of middle-class status. Debt burdens, lack of savings, and anxieties about retirement all contribute to whether individuals perceive themselves as financially secure.
In 2023, slightly more than half of all Americans – 51% – identified as middle class, a decline from 61% in 1971. Over the same period, the proportion of the population identifying as lower class increased to 30%, while the upper class grew to 19%.
