Nationwide, that comes to around $54,000 – $161,000.
Of that bracket of middle class earners, they then identified the top third as “upper-middle class.” In some states, you can count as upper-middle class with incomes as low as $85,424 (Mississippi). In others, you need a minimum of $158,126 (Maryland) to qualify.
Personally, I find that definition a little low.
Using Percentiles to Define Upper-Middle Class
In a recent YouTube video breakdown, Deni and I proposed defining the upper-middle class as those earning between the 75th and 90th percentile in income.
That puts the nationwide average in the range of $144,770 – $234,769 household income, based on Current Population Survey data. That feels closer to accurate to me.
Alternatively, you can define upper-middle class through net worth instead of income. Using the same bracket, you’d need a net worth between $658,340 (75th percentile) and $1,920,758 (90th percentile). That too feels about right for upper-middle class.
Again, it depends on where you live though. An $175,000 income in Manhattan, Kansas goes a lot further than a $175,000 income in Manhattan, New York.
