What jobs are upper-middle class?

Upper-middle-class jobs are typically high-skill, white-collar professions requiring advanced education (bachelor's or higher), like doctors, lawyers, engineers, university professors, and high-level managers/analysts, involving specialized knowledge, problem-solving, and often self-directed work, leading to high income and financial stability. While salaries vary, these roles provide the credentials and earning power to be firmly in the top tier below the wealthy elite, often starting in the mid-hundreds of thousands and growing significantly with experience.

What jobs are most common in the upper-middle class?

Most people in the upper-middle class strata are highly educated white collar professionals such as but not limited to physicians, dentists, lawyers, military officers, economists, business analysts, urban planners, university professors, architects, psychologists, scientists, managers, accountants, engineers, ...

What income is considered upper-middle class?

Upper-middle class income varies significantly by location and definition, but generally falls between roughly $100,000 and $250,000, often starting around the top third of a state's median income and extending towards the upper end of the middle-class range, depending on whether it's based on Pew Research (around $106k-$149k) or broader analyses (up to $250k or more in high-cost areas like Maryland or California).
 

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

Jobs that can pay $400K a year without a degree include commercial real estate brokers, successful YouTubers or influencers, self-employed software developers, high-stakes sales roles like enterprise tech sales, and business owners. These roles rely on skill, market demand, and performance rather than formal education.

Is $100,000 a year upper-middle class?

Sociologists William Thompson and Joseph Hickey estimate an income range of roughly $35,000 to $75,000 for the lower middle class and $100,000 or more for the upper middle class.

7 Characteristics of the Upper and Upper Middle Classes

Can I afford a 500K house on 100k salary?

You might be able to afford a $500k house on a $100k salary, but it will be tight and depends heavily on your existing debts, credit, down payment, and location; the general guideline (28/36 rule) suggests your total housing costs (PITI) should be around $2,300/month, while some scenarios show you'd need closer to $117k-$140k income or have very little left after housing, taxes, and insurance. 

How many Americans make $200,000 a year?

Around 14-16% of U.S. households earn $200,000 or more annually, which translates to roughly 15-20 million households, while for individuals, $200k puts you in the top 5% of earners, with data suggesting roughly 10-12% of households are above this mark, showing it's a significant income bracket but still well above the median household earnings. 

What jobs make $3,000 a month without a degree?

What jobs make $3,000 a month without a degree?

• Dental Assistant. Dental assisting is one of the best-paying jobs you can start with no degree. ...
• Medical Assistant. ...
• Electrician or HVAC Technician. ...
• Delivery Driver or Courier. ...
• Office or Administrative Assistant. ...
• Security Guard. ...
• Real Estate Agent.

What jobs allow you to make $500,000 a year?

Earning a 500K salary is most commonly achievable in executive leadership roles (such as CEO, CFO, or CTO), highly specialized medical or legal professions, senior investment roles in finance, or top-performing sales and business development positions, often within major corporations or high-growth startups.

How much is $60,000 a year hourly?

$60,000 a year is approximately $28.85 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour workweek (2080 work hours per year). You calculate this by dividing your annual salary by 2080 (52 weeks x 40 hours/week). 

What are signs you're upper-middle class?

Key Signs You're in the Upper-Middle Class

• You Have Extra Money After Investments and Expenses. ...
• You Own a Mix of Assets. ...
• You Live in a More Expensive Neighborhood. ...
• You Have Minimal Financial Stress. ...
• You've Experienced Positive Lifestyle Changes. ...
• You Can Afford Higher Education. ...
• You Can Retire Early.

Are doctors upper-middle class?

Yes, doctors are generally considered part of the upper-middle class, characterized by high education, professional status, and comfortable, often high, incomes, though they may not always reach "wealthy" status due to significant debt and long training periods, with some specialties and locations earning significantly more than primary care physicians. They fit the profile of highly educated professionals with self-directed work and postgraduate degrees, often exceeding typical middle-class income thresholds. 

What's a good salary in 2025?

A good salary in 2025 varies wildly by location, but generally, earning over $100,000 is considered strong, while a comfortable living for one person in high-cost states like California can require over $119,000, and middle-class income ranges from roughly $56,600 to $170,000 nationally, depending on location and household size, making location and lifestyle key factors.
 

What skill pays $100 an hour?

To earn $100 an hour, professionals typically need specialized expertise in high-demand fields such as executive consulting, advanced IT services, legal counsel, or medical specializations, often backed by advanced degrees or certifications.

What percentage of US is upper middle class?

About 14-16% of Americans identify as upper-middle class according to recent Gallup polls, while sociologists often place this group at around 15-20% of the population when defined by income or occupation, typically the top fifth or professionals/managers, though Pew Research places its broader "upper-income" category (more than double the median) at 19%. 

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

What jobs pay $300,000 a year non-medical?

• Investment Banker. ...
• Hedge Fund Manager or Portfolio Manager. ...
• Corporate Lawyer (Partner Track) ...
• Software Engineering Director / VP of Engineering. ...
• Tech Entrepreneur / Startup Founder. ...
• Real Estate Developer. ...
• Management Consultant (Partner or Director Level) ...
• Private Equity Executive.

What job pays you $1,000,000 a year?

Healthcare, especially highly specialized medicine, enables seven-figure incomes, with top neurosurgeons and cardiac surgeons often exceeding $1 million in private practice. This is driven by demand for life-saving procedures, per a 2023 physician compensation study.

What is the #1 best paying job?

The #1 highest-paying job consistently falls within specialized medicine, with Pediatric Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, and Anesthesiologists often topping lists, earning well over $400,000 annually due to extensive training and high stakes, though specific rankings vary slightly by source and year, with CEOs and other surgeons also high on the list. 

What percent of Americans make $500,000 a year?

While just 0.79 percent of jobs in the country paid more than $500,000 per year, that's well more than 1 million positions. Per the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, average annual employment in the United States during 2023 was 153,140,899, or 131,289,681 if only the private sector is included.

What jobs pay $5000 a week without a degree?

$5000 per week no degree jobs

• Virtual Sales Representative. All Star Life Group. ...
• Live Streamer. The Shark Tank. ...
• Life Insurance Agent. Anchor Life Strategies LLC. ...
• Pool Maintenance Laborer. America's Swimming Pool Co. - ...
• Janitor Mornings. ...
• Create a profile on Indeed. ...
• Remote Sales Representative. ...
• Daycare Teacher Aide.

How can I make $8000 a month?

To make $8k a month, focus on high-income skills like tech (engineering, IT), sales, or healthcare (nursing), or build scalable online ventures such as freelancing (web dev, writing, marketing), e-commerce (Amazon FBA, Etsy), or content creation (YouTube, blogging), often requiring specialized training, consistent effort, or building a strong portfolio and audience. Combining a stable job with a strong side hustle, like consulting or affiliate marketing, can also bridge the gap.
 

What is the average US salary?

In the BLS' survey sample of 60,000 US households, men earn a median wage of $1,307 per week or $67,964 per year. By comparison, women earn a median wage of $1,096 per week, or $56,992 per year—almost 20% less than men.

How rare is a 200k salary?

The survey: The Census Bureau's new 2024 tables show that about 14% of U.S. households have annual income over $200,000.

How many households make over 250k?

Around 10-16% of U.S. households earn over $250,000 annually, with figures varying by source and year, but recent data suggests over 10% is common, placing them in the top decile (top 10%) of earners, though some sources cite percentages closer to 7% (from 2023 data) or higher in specific areas like Washington D.C.