Here's how much you need to earn to be middle class in every US state, ranked

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 Jackson, Mississippi. SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $39,418 to $118,254Median household income: $59,127Mississippi has the lowest middle-class income ceiling in the US. 49. West Virginia Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596Median household income: $60,798 48. Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana. George Dodd/Getty Images Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972Median household income: $60,986 47. Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas. Rdlamkin/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212Median household income: $62,106 46. Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky. littleny/Getty Images Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052Median household income: $64,526 45. Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296Median household income: $66,148 44. Alabama Montgomery, Alabama. Kruck20/Getty Images Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318Median household income: $66,659 43. New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico. GummyBone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632Median household income: $67,816 42. Missouri St. Louis. Perry Spring/Getty Images Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178Median household income: $71,589 41. Indiana Indianapolis. Nicholas Klein/Getty Images Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918Median household income: $71,959 40. Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee. Kruck20/Getty Images Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994Median household income: $71,997 39. Ohio Akron, Ohio. RudyBalasko/Getty Images Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424Median household income: $72,212 38. South Carolina Spartanburg, South Carolina. Kruck20/Getty Images Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700Median household income: $72,350 37. Michigan Detroit. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778Median household income: $72,389 36. North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina. Kruck20/Getty Images Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916Median household income: $73,958 35. Montana Missoula, Montana. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680Median household income: $75,340 34. Iowa Des Moines, Iowa. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002Median household income: $75,501 33. Kansas Topeka, Kansas. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028Median household income: $75,514 32. Wyoming Cheyenne, Wyoming. HABesen/Getty Images Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064Median household income: $75,532 31. Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752Median household income: $76,376 30. Maine Augusta, Maine. SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884Median household income: $76,442 29. South Dakota Rapid City, South Dakota. EunikaSopotnicka/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762Median household income: $76,881 28. Wisconsin Milwaukee. Nicholas Klein/Getty Images Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976Median household income: $77,488 27. Pennsylvania Pittsburgh. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090Median household income: $77,545 26. Florida St. Augustine, Florida. Bilanol/Getty Images Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470Median household income: $77,735 25. North Dakota Medora, North Dakota. Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742Median household income: $77,871 24. Texas Houston. Kruck20/Getty Images Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442Median household income: $79,721 23. Georgia Atlanta. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982Median household income: $79,991 22. Nevada Las Vegas. Sean Pavone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268Median household income: $81,134 21. Idaho Boise, Idaho. knowlesgallery/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332Median household income: $81,166 20. Arizona Tempe, Arizona. Kruck20/Getty Images Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972Median household income: $81,486 19. Vermont Stowe, Vermont. Jim Espey/Getty Images Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460Median household income: $82,730 18. Illinois Chicago. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422Median household income: $83,211 17. Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008Median household income: $83,504 16. Oregon Portland, Oregon. Nicholas Klein/Getty Images Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440Median household income: $85,220 15. New York New York City. Wirestock/Getty Images Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640Median household income: $85,820 14. Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota. GummyBone/Getty Images Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234Median household income: $87,117 13. Delaware Dewey Beach, Delaware. Tyler Smiley/Getty Images Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068Median household income: $87,534 12. Virginia Richmond, Virginia. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images/iStockphoto Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180Median household income: $92,090 11. Alaska Juneau, Alaska. Lana2011/Getty Images Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330Median household income: $95,665 10. Connecticut New Haven, Connecticut. Ashley RK Smith/Getty Images Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098Median household income: $96,049 9. Utah Salt Lake City. Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316Median household income: $96,658 8. Colorado Denver. Nicholas Campbell/Getty Images Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226Median household income: $97,113 7. Washington Seattle. Engel Ching/Getty Images Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778Median household income: $99,389 6. New Hampshire Concord, New Hampshire. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564Median household income: $99,782 5. California San Jose, California f11photo/Getty Images Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298Median household income: $100,149 4. Hawaii Honolulu. Iryna Olkhova/Getty Images Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490Median household income: $100,745 3. Maryland Baltimore. Thomas Berberich/Getty Images Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810Median household income: $102,905 2. New Jersey Jersey City, New Jersey. bluebeat76/Getty Images Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588Median household income: $104,294 1. Massachusetts Boston. Vadym Terelyuk/Getty Images Middle-class range: $69,885 to $209,656Median household income: $104,828Massachusetts 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.