Understanding Middle Class Income Across America: What Is Middle Class in Maryland and Beyond

Determining whether you truly belong to the middle class requires looking beyond your job title or perceived status. The reality is that what qualifies as middle class varies dramatically depending on where you live. Using household income data and demographic analysis, we can establish clear thresholds that define middle-class versus upper-middle-class status in each state.

Methodology and Definition

The analysis examined the median household income across all states, combined with population and household statistics from the US Census American Community Survey. Based on PewResearch’s established definition—income ranging from two-thirds to double the median household income—we calculated middle-class income ranges and identified the precise income threshold where upper-middle-class status begins in every state.

High-Income States Leading the Way

Several states maintain notably elevated income standards. Maryland stands out with a median household income of $101,652, making it one of the nation’s wealthiest states. In Maryland, what is middle class translates to an income range of $67,768 to $203,304, with upper-middle-class status beginning at $158,125. This places Maryland residents significantly ahead of the national average.

Similarly prosperous states include:

• Massachusetts: Median of $101,341; upper-middle class begins at $157,642
• New Jersey: Median of $101,050; upper-middle class begins at $157,189
• Hawaii: Median of $98,317; upper-middle class begins at $152,938
• California: Median of $96,334; upper-middle class begins at $149,853

Mid-Range Income States

The majority of states fall into the moderate-to-comfortable income bracket:

• Colorado: Median $92,470; middle-class range $61,647 to $184,940; upper-middle class at $143,842
• Minnesota: Median $87,556; middle-class range $58,371 to $175,112; upper-middle class at $136,198
• New York: Median $84,578; middle-class range $56,385 to $169,156; upper-middle class at $131,566
• Illinois: Median $81,702; middle-class range $54,468 to $163,404; upper-middle class at $127,092

Lower-Income States with Accessible Thresholds

Residents in lower-income states face significantly lower thresholds to achieve middle-class status:

• Mississippi: Median $54,915; upper-middle class begins at $85,423
• West Virginia: Median $57,917; upper-middle class begins at $90,093
• Arkansas: Median $58,773; upper-middle class begins at $91,425
• Louisiana: Median $60,023; upper-middle class begins at $93,369

The Complete State-by-State Breakdown

Here’s where middle-class and upper-middle-class income begins in all 50 states:

Alabama: $41,351–$124,054 middle class; upper-middle class at $96,486 Alaska: $59,557–$178,672 middle class; upper-middle class at $138,967 Arizona: $51,248–$153,744 middle class; upper-middle class at $119,579 Connecticut: $62,507–$187,520 middle class; upper-middle class at $145,849 Delaware: $55,237–$165,710 middle class; upper-middle class at $128,886 Florida: $47,807–$143,422 middle class; upper-middle class at $111,550 Georgia: $49,776–$149,328 middle class; upper-middle class at $116,144 Idaho: $49,757–$149,272 middle class; upper-middle class at $116,100 Indiana: $46,701–$140,102 middle class; upper-middle class at $108,968 Iowa: $48,765–$146,294 middle class; upper-middle class at $113,784 Kansas: $48,426–$145,278 middle class; upper-middle class at $112,994 Kentucky: $41,611–$124,834 middle class; upper-middle class at $97,093 Maine: $47,849–$143,546 middle class; upper-middle class at $111,647 Michigan: $47,433–$142,298 middle class; upper-middle class at $110,676 Missouri: $45,947–$137,840 middle class; upper-middle class at $107,209 Montana: $46,615–$139,844 middle class; upper-middle class at $108,768 Nebraska: $49,990–$149,970 middle class; upper-middle class at $116,643 Nevada: $50,374–$151,122 middle class; upper-middle class at $117,539 New Hampshire: $63,752–$191,256 middle class; upper-middle class at $148,755 New Mexico: $41,417–$124,250 middle class; upper-middle class at $96,639 North Carolina: $46,603–$139,808 middle class; upper-middle class at $108,740 North Dakota: $50,633–$151,898 middle class; upper-middle class at $118,143 Ohio: $46,453–$139,360 middle class; upper-middle class at $108,391 Oklahoma: $42,402–$127,206 middle class; upper-middle class at $98,938 Oregon: $53,617–$160,852 middle class; upper-middle class at $125,107 Pennsylvania: $50,721–$152,162 middle class; upper-middle class at $118,348 Rhode Island: $57,581–$172,744 middle class; upper-middle class at $134,356 South Carolina: $44,545–$133,636 middle class; upper-middle class at $103,939 South Dakota: $48,281–$144,842 middle class; upper-middle class at $112,655 Tennessee: $44,731–$134,194 middle class; upper-middle class at $104,373 Texas: $50,861–$152,584 middle class; upper-middle class at $118,676 Utah: $61,167–$183,500 middle class; upper-middle class at $142,722 Vermont: $52,016–$156,048 middle class; upper-middle class at $121,371 Virginia: $60,649–$181,948 middle class; upper-middle class at $141,515 Washington: $63,301–$189,904 middle class; upper-middle class at $147,703 Wisconsin: $50,447–$151,340 middle class; upper-middle class at $117,709 Wyoming: $49,877–$149,630 middle class; upper-middle class at $116,379

Key Takeaways

You might currently believe you’re solidly middle class, yet depending on your state’s income benchmarks, you could already qualify as upper-middle class without realizing it. In high-income states like Maryland, reaching upper-middle-class status requires substantially higher earnings compared to lower-income regions. Understanding your exact position relative to your state’s definitions helps with financial planning and wealth-building strategies.