In Australia, the middle class is broadly defined by income and wealth metrics, often falling between 75% and 200% of the median income, with figures around $67,000 (median income) to $100,000+ for individuals, but it's shrinking, characterized by steady jobs, education, and homeownership aspirations, though increasingly challenged by rising costs.
Middle-income households – those with an income that is two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income – had incomes ranging from about $56,600 to $169,800 in 2022. Lower-income households had incomes less than $56,600, and upper-income households had incomes greater than $169,800.
Median Full Time Salary Australia for Skilled Workers
Entry to mid-level skilled roles often range between AUD 70,000 and AUD 100,000, comfortably above the national median.
According to ABS data, just 2.61 million Aussies – or about 10 per cent of the population – earn $100,000 or more a year. Many people will never reach a six-figure income in their working lives.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
“Ultimately, a 'good' salary really depends on your individual circumstances – where you live, your expenses, and your personal goals. “A figure like $130,000 will seem high to some, while others may find it barely enough to keep up with the demands of inner city life.”
On a £70,000 salary, your take home pay will be £51,157.40 after tax and National Insurance. This equates to £4,263.12 per month and £983.80 per week. If you work 5 days per week, this is £196.76 per day, or £24.59 per hour at 40 hours per week.
While exact real-time figures vary, recent analyses suggest hundreds of thousands of Australians hold over $1 million in superannuation, though it's a minority, with estimates from around 2021 pointing to over 400,000 people, a number that has grown significantly due to investment returns, though many still don't reach this milestone. About 2.5% of the population held >$1 million in super as of mid-2021 (around 417,000 people), with forecasts indicating a larger number, while projections suggest over 10% of women and 15% of men retiring by 2060 could reach this goal, and recent studies highlight that a large majority (around 94%) of retirees don't hit $1 million.
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.
In 2022 the median income in Australia was $65,000 a year according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Anyone making less than this amount would be considered working class. Anyone making more than $137,000 falls in the top 10% which is considered upper class.
Jobs paying $200k+ in Australia are common in specialized fields like Medicine (Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Specialists), Technology (Data Scientists, Cloud Engineers), Engineering, Executive Management (C-Suite, Directors), Law, and high-end Sales, with significant opportunities also in the Mining sector, alongside specialized roles in Finance, Construction Management, and Healthcare Administration, often requiring significant experience or niche skills.
The middle class is the economic stratum between the working class and the wealthy. In the United States, the middle class occupies about half of the population, mainly consisting of people who work in white-collar professions, run small businesses, or are in skilled trades.
The average Australian full-time worker is now earning more than $2000 a week for the first time in history. New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the average ordinary full-time weekly earnings for adults hit $2011.40 before tax in May.
You're Financially Stable
“Members of the middle class and upper-middle class tend to have a certain level of financial stability,” Allen said. “This means having a steady income that is sufficient to cover basic necessities, as well as some discretionary spending for non-essentials.
Key Signs You're in the Upper-Middle Class
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.
Once you are aware of your salary every month, you should set aside a particular % of it for savings after spending on needs and wants, as per the 50-30-20 budget rule. This will ensure that you are saving at least 20% of your salary every month.
Most In-Demand Skills for 2026 and Beyond
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 top ten financial mistakes most people make after retirement are:
A household earning $70,000 — about $10,000 below the median U.S. salary — could comfortably afford to spend about $257,000 on a house, assuming they put 20% down on a 30-year mortgage with a 6.5% rate.
It depends on the field you're in and your location, but $50,000 is below the average starting salary in the U.S. of $68,680 for college graduates in 2025. However, for those in certain fields, such as psychology, in which the average starting salary is $44,700, $50,000 would be a good entry level salary.
Summary of Key Points of the Article: A £75,000 salary in the UK for 2024/2025 results in an annual net take-home pay of approximately £54,057 after taxes. Income tax for this salary includes a combination of 20% basic rate and 40% higher rate, totaling approximately £16,432.