What salary is considered middle class for a single person?

For a single person, a middle-class salary varies significantly by location, but generally falls roughly between $40,000 to $100,000+, depending on the area's cost of living, with national guidelines suggesting around $41,000 to $124,000 (Pew Research, 2025) while expensive states like California can see the range start at $60k+.

Are you middle class if you make $100,000 a year?

According to Pew Research Center, for a three-person household the “middle-income” range in 2022 dollars was about $56,600 to $169,800. A household earning $100,000 places you squarely in the middle-income range under that definition — you're not lower-income, but neither are you upper class.

What salary is considered good for a single person?

Anything above the poverty line is good for a single person. $50k - $80k. It's enough for a single person. $80k above is for family it's great.

What percent of Americans make over $150,000 a year?

Over one quarter, 28.5%, of all income was earned by the top 8%, those households earning more than $150,000 a year. The top 3.65%, with incomes over $200,000, earned 17.5%. Households with annual incomes from $50,000 to $75,000, 18.2% of households, earned 16.5% of all income.

Is $75,000 a year considered middle class?

Yes, $75,000 a year is generally considered middle-class income in the U.S., but it heavily depends on your location and household size, as costs of living vary significantly; for some expensive cities, it's low-middle, while in cheaper areas, it's comfortably middle-class, aligning with definitions like Pew Research Center's range of two-thirds to double the median income. 

What Is Considered a “Good Income”?

What percentage of Americans make over $75000 a year?

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau (2025). Forty-five percent of American households earn less than $75,000 per year. Forty-three percent earn $100,000 or more.

What are the 5 income classes?

The five common income classes, from lowest to highest, are generally defined as Lower Class, Lower-Middle Class, Middle Class, Upper-Middle Class, and Upper Class, with definitions often based on income relative to the national median, though specific brackets vary by source (like Pew Research or U.S. News and The Motley Fool). These classifications help gauge economic standing, with the middle class typically spanning two-thirds to double the median income, adjusted for household size and location. 

What percentage of Americans make over $100,000 annually?

Only 18% of Americans earn more than $100K/year — here's the 1 big thing they credit most for success.

Am I working class or middle class?

Whether you're working class or middle class depends on income, but also job type, education, and lifestyle; generally, middle class means earning roughly 2/3 to double the median income (around $57k-$170k for families recently), with higher job security/education, while working class often involves lower wages, manual labor, and less control over work, though some high-paid manual jobs blur lines. You can check your status using Pew Research Center's calculator or by comparing your income/job to general brackets, keeping in mind definitions vary.
 

How rare is a 150K salary?

A $150k salary is relatively rare but not elite, placing you in the top 10-12% of U.S. earners, well above median income, yet it can feel middle-class in high-cost areas due to inflation and housing costs. While significant, it's not "rich" (top 1% needs ~$785k+) but puts you in the upper-middle-class bracket in most locations, with the actual feel depending heavily on your state and living expenses. 

What salary is $40 an hour?

$40 an hour is an annual salary of $83,200, calculated by multiplying $40 by 40 hours per week and then by 52 weeks in a year ($40 x 40 x 52). This breaks down to about $6,933 per month, $3,200 bi-weekly, and $1,600 weekly, before taxes and deductions. 

Is $6,000 a month good for a single person?

Basic Lifestyle: $4,000–$6,000/month

Covers essentials like housing, food, healthcare, insurance, and taxes. This is the minimum needed to maintain a modest lifestyle in most parts of the U.S.

What is the best state to live in financially?

There's no single "best" state, as it depends on your priorities (low taxes vs. high wages), but Washington, Texas, Florida, Utah, and New Hampshire consistently rank high due to no income tax, strong economies, or low cost of living, with states like Arkansas, Alabama, and Tennessee offering very affordable options if budget is key. Key factors are state income tax, housing costs, job market strength, and overall affordability. 

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 rare is making 100K a year?

Most Americans Earn Far Less Than $100k

According to last year's YouGov data, only 18% of U.S. adults earn more than $100,000 annually. And the biggest earners are mostly men—25%—and those aged 35 to 44—25%. For comparison, just 12% of women make six figures.

What is the average salary in the U.S. 2025?

What Is the Average US Salary (2025) The national average salary is $63,795. That is the sum of all incomes divided by the number of workers.

What are the 4 levels of income?

The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income.

Are teachers considered working class or middle class?

The middle class typically refers to people who work in professional positions that often require a college education or other advanced skills. These are what we tend to think of as white-collar jobs. Some examples of middle-class jobs include: Teacher.

How can I tell if I'm middle class?

Whether you're middle class depends on your household income relative to your area's cost of living, but generally, the middle-income range is defined as earning two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income, which for a three-person household in 2022 was roughly $56,600 to $169,800, though this varies significantly by state. Your actual financial stability, ability to save, access to healthcare, and even lifestyle (like homeownership) also play a role beyond just income. 

How much do I need to retire comfortably?

To retire comfortably, aim for 80-90% of your pre-retirement income or 10-12 times your final salary, but the exact figure varies by lifestyle, location, and retirement age; use online calculators that factor in your expenses, Social Security, and savings to find your personalized number, generally needing around $1 million to $2.5 million+ depending on your spending. A key strategy is the "4% Rule," suggesting you can withdraw 4% of your savings annually, requiring a nest egg of about 25 times your annual expenses, notes Ramit Sethi, while CNBC shows massive state-by-state differences in minimums. 

What is the average salary in America?

The average yearly salary in the US is $65,470, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure represents the average wage regardless of location, occupation, gender, and other factors.

How much is 100k biweekly paycheck?

A $100,000 annual salary breaks down to approximately $3,846.15 gross pay every two weeks (bi-weekly), calculated by dividing the yearly salary by 26 pay periods, though your actual take-home (net) pay will be lower after taxes, deductions, and benefits, varying significantly by location and individual circumstances, with some estimates suggesting around $2,800 net per bi-weekly check after taxes. 

How much does the average middle class person have in savings?

The average middle-class person's savings vary, but recent data shows the median bank account balance is around $8,000, while the average (mean) is much higher at about $25,000-$44,000 for middle-income brackets, reflecting a wide range of savings, with many having less than $1,000 and some having significant retirement funds. For example, households earning $60k-$90k have a median of $7,400 in bank accounts, but higher income groups (>$90k) have significantly more, with medians over $15,000, showing how income impacts savings. 

What jobs are typical for upper middle class?

Typical professions for this class include psychologists, professors, accountants, architects, urban planners, engineers, economists, pharmacists, executive assistants, physicians, optometrists, dentists, and lawyers.

How many Americans make six figures?

Roughly 18% of American adults earn six figures (over $100,000 annually), though this varies significantly by demographics like age (higher for 35-44 year olds), gender (more men than women), education, and location, with household income data showing a larger percentage (over 30%) of households hitting this mark, says Fidelity Investments and Zippia. Despite inflation, earning $100k is increasingly seen as upper-middle class, not necessarily "rich," and many still feel financially stretched, according to USA Today.