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You've been hearing about the K-shaped economy and the shrinking middle class, but what does it actually mean to be in the middle class in the US today?
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.
Rankings were then determined by comparing the upper limit of middle-class income among states and ranking those earnings from highest to lowest.
In five states, households earning over $200,000 can still be considered middle class, while in seven, you can be counted in the category even with household incomes of under $45,000.
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.
See how much money you really need to earn to be in the middle class in every US state.
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.
49. West Virginia
Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596
Median household income: $60,798
48. Louisiana
Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972
Median household income: $60,986
47. Arkansas
Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212
Median household income: $62,106
46. Kentucky
Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052
Median household income: $64,526
45. Oklahoma
Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296
Median household income: $66,148
44. Alabama
Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318
Median household income: $66,659
43. New Mexico
Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632
Median household income: $67,816
42. Missouri
Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178
Median household income: $71,589
41. Indiana
Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918
Median household income: $71,959
40. Tennessee
Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994
Median household income: $71,997
39. Ohio
Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424
Median household income: $72,212
38. South Carolina
Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700
Median household income: $72,350
37. Michigan
Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778
Median household income: $72,389
36. North Carolina
Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916
Median household income: $73,958
35. Montana
Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680
Median household income: $75,340
34. Iowa
Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002
Median household income: $75,501
33. Kansas
Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028
Median household income: $75,514
32. Wyoming
Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064
Median household income: $75,532
31. Nebraska
Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752
Median household income: $76,376
30. Maine
Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884
Median household income: $76,442
29. South Dakota
Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762
Median household income: $76,881
28. Wisconsin
Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976
Median household income: $77,488
27. Pennsylvania
Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090
Median household income: $77,545
26. Florida
Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470
Median household income: $77,735
25. North Dakota
Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742
Median household income: $77,871
24. Texas
Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442
Median household income: $79,721
23. Georgia
Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982
Median household income: $79,991
22. Nevada
Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268
Median household income: $81,134
21. Idaho
Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332
Median household income: $81,166
20. Arizona
Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972
Median household income: $81,486
19. Vermont
Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460
Median household income: $82,730
18. Illinois
Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422
Median household income: $83,211
17. Rhode Island
Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008
Median household income: $83,504
16. Oregon
Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440
Median household income: $85,220
15. New York
Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640
Median household income: $85,820
14. Minnesota
Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234
Median household income: $87,117
13. Delaware
Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068
Median household income: $87,534
12. Virginia
Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180
Median household income: $92,090
11. Alaska
Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330
Median household income: $95,665
10. Connecticut
Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098
Median household income: $96,049
9. Utah
Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316
Median household income: $96,658
8. Colorado
Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226
Median household income: $97,113
7. Washington
Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778
Median household income: $99,389
6. New Hampshire
Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564
Median household income: $99,782
5. California
Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298
Median household income: $100,149
4. Hawaii
Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490
Median household income: $100,745
3. Maryland
Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810
Median household income: $102,905
2. New Jersey
Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588
Median household income: $104,294
1. 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.
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Kristine Villarroel is a reporter on Business Insider's Editorial Partnerships team.Her reporting often turns data into accessible stories about how money, education, policy, and place shape Americans’ lives. She covers stories on college costs and degree outcomes, state-by-state comparisons, public officials’ salaries, the rising cost of living, travel, food, and real estate.She has previously worked writing about culture, entertainment, music, and tech. Her work has been featured on Teen Vogue and Wired. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism. There, she worked as editor of The Independent Florida Alligator. Email Villarroel at [email protected] and follow her on X @ktnedelvalle
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