What is the middle class?
The Pew Research Center defines the **American middle class** as households earning between **two-thirds (67%) and twice the national median income**, after adjusting for household size and local cost of living.
This means middle class isn't a fixed dollar amount — it varies based on where you live, how many people are in your household, and what the current national median is.
How this calculator works
**Step 1 — Adjust for household size:** The calculator divides your income by the square root of your household size. This "size normalization" allows fair comparison across households of different sizes. A family of 4 earning \$100,000 has less per-person purchasing power than a single person earning the same amount.
**Step 2 — Adjust for cost of living:** Each state has a different cost of living. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics Regional Price Parities (RPP), the calculator adjusts your income to a national equivalent. \$80,000 in Mississippi goes further than \$80,000 in California.
**Step 3 — Compare to the national median:** Your adjusted income is compared to the size-normalized national median (~\$43,300 per person-equivalent) to determine your class:
| Class | Income Range (% of median) | |-------|---------------------------| | Low Income | Below 50% | | Lower-Middle Class | 50%-67% | | Middle Class | 67%-200% | | Upper-Middle Class | 200%-400% | | Upper Class | Above 400% |
Income class thresholds by household size
At the national average cost of living, here are approximate income ranges for each class:
| Household Size | Low Income | Middle Class | Upper Class | |---------------|-----------|--------------|-------------| | 1 person | Under \$25,000 | \$34,000-\$102,000 | Above \$204,000 | | 2 people | Under \$35,000 | \$48,000-\$144,000 | Above \$288,000 | | 3 people | Under \$43,000 | \$59,000-\$177,000 | Above \$354,000 | | 4 people | Under \$50,000 | \$68,000-\$204,000 | Above \$408,000 | | 5 people | Under \$56,000 | \$76,000-\$228,000 | Above \$456,000 |
Approximate values at national average cost of living. Use the calculator for your state.
Why cost of living matters so much
The same income can mean very different lifestyles depending on where you live. A \$75,000 salary in Mississippi (COL multiplier: 0.85) has the same purchasing power as about \$88,000 at the national average. The same salary in Hawaii (1.18) is equivalent to only about \$64,000.
This calculator uses BLS Regional Price Parities to adjust for these differences, giving you a fairer picture of your economic standing relative to Americans nationwide.
How to use this calculator
1. Enter your total annual household income (before taxes) 2. Select how many people live in your household 3. Select your state 4. Your income class appears instantly with detailed breakdowns 5. Use "Copy Share Link" to share your result
FAQs
Q: Should I use gross or net income? A: Use gross income (before taxes). The Pew Research methodology and most income statistics use pre-tax income for comparability.
Q: Why does household size matter so much? A: A household of 4 earning \$100,000 has to divide that income among more people than a single person. The square-root adjustment (dividing by the square root of household size) is a standard economic technique for comparing household incomes of different sizes.
Q: What if my state has a low cost of living? Does that make me richer? A: In terms of purchasing power, yes. If you live in a low-cost state, your dollars go further, which is why the calculator adjusts for this. You might technically be upper-middle class on a national adjusted basis even if your nominal income seems modest.
Q: The definition says 67%-200% — that's a huge range. Isn't that too broad? A: This is a common critique of the Pew definition. The middle class does encompass a very wide range of incomes and lifestyles. Some researchers prefer narrower definitions (80%-150%), but the 67%-200% range is the most widely cited and reported.
Q: What year is this data from? A: The national median income figure (~\$75,000 for a 3-person household) reflects recent U.S. Census data. The BLS Regional Price Parities used for state adjustments are based on the most recently available data.
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