You Might Be Upper-Middle Class and Don't Even Know It

Think you’re solidly middle class? Check your paycheck against your state’s numbers first—you could already be upper-middle class.

GOBankingRates ran the math using median household income data from all 50 states. The definition? Middle class = two-thirds to double the median income. Anything above that? You’re upper-middle.

Here’s what’s wild:

• Highest threshold: Maryland and Massachusetts. You need $158K+ to hit upper-middle class status. Hawaii’s not far behind at $153K.
• Lowest threshold: Mississippi and Louisiana. Upper-middle starts at $85K-$93K—wild gap compared to coastal states.
• Your state matters: In Alabama, $96K gets you upper-middle. In California? You need $150K. Nearly $54K difference for the same label.

Middle-class ranges vary just as much:

• Alabama: $41K-$124K
• California: $64K-$193K
• Mississippi: $37K-$110K

The takeaway: Class isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your $100K salary might be upper-middle in one state and barely scraping middle class in another. Cost of living, taxes, and local economics are doing the heavy lifting here.

Data sourced: US Census American Community Survey, collected Jan 29, 2025