The most accepted definition of America’s Middle Class comes from the Pew Research Center
and says that America’s middle economic class lies between 2/3 and double the Median
Household** Income in a given year.

As an example, in 2024, the median household income was about $80,000 which means
America’s middle economic class was between $53,000 (2/3 of the median income) and
$160,000 (double the median income). We’re between 50% and 60% of the U.S. population in
the middle of America’s economy.

Of course, whether you feel like you’re in the Middle Class in this range of incomes also
depends upon where you live in the U.S. For example, an annual household income of $80,000 provides a different level of economic “quality of life” in Mississippi, than it does in California.
Nevertheless, the Pew Research Center’s definition of America’s Middle Class is a very
worthwhile benchmark to use when discussing the middle class.

**Household income will be a total of all the incomes that contribute to a household (usually
residing in one location) in addition to any investment income.