Middle-class income varies significantly by location, but generally, it's defined as earning between two-thirds and double the national median income, with the Pew Research Center's 2022 U.S. benchmark falling roughly between $56,000 and $169,000 for a household, though local costs of living greatly affect this. In Australia for 2022-23, the median personal income was around $58,216, with full-time workers earning closer to $78,800, placing many within the middle-income bracket.
The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $83,730 in 2024. 2 Using Pew's yardstick, middle income is made up of people who make between $55,820 and $167,460.
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.
Common definitions for the middle class range from the middle fifth of individuals on a nation's income ladder, to everyone but the poorest and wealthiest 20%. Theories like "Paradox of Interest" use decile groups and wealth distribution data to determine the size and wealth share of the middle class.
In 2022, the national middle-income range was about $56,600 to $169,800 annually for a household of three. Lower-income households had incomes less than $56,600, and upper-income households had incomes greater than $169,800. (Incomes are calculated in 2022 dollars.)
Despite being in the top 4% of UK earners, only one in 10 people earning £100,000 or more would describe themselves as 'wealthy', while only 1% of the UK population identify as such. High earners also place the threshold for wealth much higher, citing £724,000 as the income it takes to be considered wealthy.
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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.
Earning more than $110,000 in household income doesn't make you rich — but in most states, it means you're upper-middle class. Nationwide, upper-middle class households earn a median income between $117,000 and $150,000, according to a new GOBankingRates analysis of 2023 Census Bureau data.
The upper bound of what's considered middle class for households exceeds $100,000 in every U.S. state, according to a SmartAsset analysis of 2023 income data, the most recent available from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income.
For most people, what constitutes the middle class is less about literal earnings than it is about a standard of living—including owning a home, being able to afford to pay for a college education for your kids, and having enough disposable income to take a family vacation.
Key takeaways: The working class is described as those who work hourly, wage-based, and sometimes manual jobs. The middle class means people who work in professional positions that may require a college education or other advanced skills.
People earning £100,000 or more a year typically positioned themselves in the top 52 per cent relative to the rest of the population, which is just above average. In fact, they are almost right at the top of the earnings tree.
The New York Times has used income quintiles to define class. It has assigned the quintiles from lowest to highest as lower class, lower middle class, middle class, upper middle class, and upper class. These definitions equate class with income, permitting people to move from class to class as their income changes.
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According to the Minimum Income Calculator, a single adult would need to earn a wage of £20,383 – or £325.26 a week – for a decent standard of living, while couples with no children would need £27,340 between the two of you (which is £13,670 each). But when children get involved, these costs creep up even higher.
$40 an hour is how much a year? Therefore, an hourly rate of $40, working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, would result in an annual salary of $83,200.
The concept of 'Upper Middle Class' refers to a social group within the middle classes that includes wealthy property owners, entrepreneurs, individuals with high salaries, and highly educated professionals.
At least 20% of your income should go towards savings. Meanwhile, another 50% (maximum) should go toward necessities, while 30% goes toward discretionary items. This is called the 50/30/20 rule of thumb, and it provides a quick and easy way for you to budget your money.
Most In-Demand Skills for 2026 and Beyond
But all the same, 100k in retirement can last up to 30 years if you stick to the general 4% thumb rule of financial planning during retirement. This rule suggests that retirees 65 and older should withdraw at most 4% of their savings during the first year of retirement.
That is about 12 per cent of the total. That is more than double the 206,000 earners in this category in 2020, when they represented 7.5 per cent of total taxpayers. Even as recently as 2022, the total number earning more than €100,000 was just over 236,000. Inflation, of course, is part of this story.
David Beckham was reportedly overlooked for a knighthood because of an investment in a film scheme considered tax avoidance by HRMC. It is calculated the Beckhams paid a total of £12.7m of tax, due from their dividends and other levies in the accounts of their two principal companies.
If you earn between £100k-125k a year, the 60% tax trap could cost you thousands. This is because in the UK, as your earnings grow above £100,000, your personal allowance reduces, until eventually you pay tax on every penny you earn.