Here’s how much you need to earn to be middle class in every US state, ranked
- 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.
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.
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.
50. Mississippi
Middle-class range: $39,418 to $118,254
Median household income: $59,127
Mississippi has the lowest middle-class income ceiling in the US.
- West Virginia
Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596
Median household income: $60,798
- Louisiana
Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972
Median household income: $60,986
- Arkansas
Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212
Median household income: $62,106
- Kentucky
Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052
Median household income: $64,526
- Oklahoma
Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296
Median household income: $66,148
- Alabama
Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318
Median household income: $66,659
- New Mexico
Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632
Median household income: $67,816
- Missouri
Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178
Median household income: $71,589
- Indiana
Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918
Median household income: $71,959
- Tennessee
Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994
Median household income: $71,997
- Ohio
Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424
Median household income: $72,212
- South Carolina
Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700
Median household income: $72,350
- Michigan
Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778
Median household income: $72,389
- North Carolina
Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916
Median household income: $73,958
- Montana
Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680
Median household income: $75,340
- Iowa
Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002
Median household income: $75,501
- Kansas
Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028
Median household income: $75,514
- Wyoming
Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064
Median household income: $75,532
- Nebraska
Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752
Median household income: $76,376
- Maine
Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884
Median household income: $76,442
- South Dakota
Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762
Median household income: $76,881
- Wisconsin
Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976
Median household income: $77,488
- Pennsylvania
Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090
Median household income: $77,545
- Florida
Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470
Median household income: $77,735
- North Dakota
Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742
Median household income: $77,871
- Texas
Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442
Median household income: $79,721
- Georgia
Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982
Median household income: $79,991
- Nevada
Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268
Median household income: $81,134
- Idaho
Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332
Median household income: $81,166
- Arizona
Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972
Median household income: $81,486
- Vermont
Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460
Median household income: $82,730
- Illinois
Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422
Median household income: $83,211
- Rhode Island
Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008
Median household income: $83,504
- Oregon
Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440
Median household income: $85,220
- New York
Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640
Median household income: $85,820
- Minnesota
Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234
Median household income: $87,117
- Delaware
Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068
Median household income: $87,534
- Virginia
Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180
Median household income: $92,090
- Alaska
Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330
Median household income: $95,665
- Connecticut
Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098
Median household income: $96,049
- Utah
Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316
Median household income: $96,658
- Colorado
Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226
Median household income: $97,113
- Washington
Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778
Median household income: $99,389
- New Hampshire
Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564
Median household income: $99,782
- California
Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298
Median household income: $100,149
- Hawaii
Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490
Median household income: $100,745
- Maryland
Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810
Median household income: $102,905
- New Jersey
Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588
Median household income: $104,294
- Massachusetts
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
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