On average across all 50 states, US middle-class households earn between $53,935 and $161,806 annually.
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Household incomes can vary widely across the US — and what counts as middle class does as well.
Massachusetts has the highest median household income in the US, while Mississippi has the lowest.
Households earning between two-thirds and double the median income are considered middle-class.
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 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 of lifestyles.
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. 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 .
50. Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi.
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Middle-class range: $39,418 to $118,254
Median household income: $59,127
Mississippi has the lowest middle-class income ceiling in the US.
49. West Virginia
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.
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Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596
Median household income: $60,798
48. Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972
Median household income: $60,986
47. Arkansas
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Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212
Median household income: $62,106
46. Kentucky
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Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052
Median household income: $64,526
45. Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296
Median household income: $66,148
44. Alabama
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Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318
Median household income: $66,659
43. New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632
Median household income: $67,816
42. Missouri
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Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178
Median household income: $71,589
41. Indiana
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Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918
Median household income: $71,959
40. Tennessee
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Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994
Median household income: $71,997
39. Ohio
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Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424
Median household income: $72,212
38. South Carolina
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Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700
Median household income: $72,350
37. Michigan
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Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778
Median household income: $72,389
36. North Carolina
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Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916
Median household income: $73,958
35. Montana
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Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680
Median household income: $75,340
34. Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa.
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Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002
Median household income: $75,501
33. Kansas
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Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028
Median household income: $75,514
32. Wyoming
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Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064
Median household income: $75,532
31. Nebraska
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Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752
Median household income: $76,376
30. Maine
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Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884
Median household income: $76,442
29. South Dakota
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Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762
Median household income: $76,881
28. Wisconsin
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Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976
Median household income: $77,488
27. Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh.
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Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090
Median household income: $77,545
26. Florida
St. Augustine, Florida.
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Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470
Median household income: $77,735
25. North Dakota
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Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742
Median household income: $77,871
24. Texas
Houston.
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Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442
Median household income: $79,721
23. Georgia
Sean Pavone/Getty Images
Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982
Median household income: $79,991
22. Nevada
Sean Pavone/Getty Images
Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268
Median household income: $81,134
21. Idaho
Boise, Idaho.
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Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332
Median household income: $81,166
20. Arizona
Tempe, Arizona.
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Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972
Median household income: $81,486
19. Vermont
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Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460
Median household income: $82,730
18. Illinois
Chicago.
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Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422
Median household income: $83,211
17. Rhode Island
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Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008
Median household income: $83,504
16. Oregon
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Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440
Median household income: $85,220
15. New York
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Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640
Median household income: $85,820
14. Minnesota
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Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234
Median household income: $87,117
13. Delaware
Dewey Beach, Delaware.
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Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068
Median household income: $87,534
12. Virginia
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Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180
Median household income: $92,090
11. Alaska
Juneau, Alaska.
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Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330
Median household income: $95,665
10. Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut.
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Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098
Median household income: $96,049
9. Utah
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Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316
Median household income: $96,658
8. Colorado
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Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226
Median household income: $97,113
7. Washington
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Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778
Median household income: $99,389
6. New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire.
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Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564
Median household income: $99,782
5. California
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Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298
Median household income: $100,149
4. Hawaii
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Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490
Median household income: $100,745
3. Maryland
Baltimore.
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Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810
Median household income: $102,905
2. New Jersey
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Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588
Median household income: $104,294
1. Massachusetts
Boston.
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Middle-class range: $69,885 to $209,656
Median household income: $104,828
Massachusetts has the highest middle-class income ceiling in the US.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in June 2026 and most recently updated in November 2026.
Read the original article on Business Insider
