How much money should a middle class person have?
Pew defines “middle class” as those earning between two-thirds and twice the median American household income, which in 2021 was $70,784, according to the United States Census Bureau. That means American households earning as little as $47,189 and up to $141,568 are technically in the middle class.
Middle Class Defined by Region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in 2021 was $70,784. So American families earning between $47,189 and $141,568 are technically in the middle class, according to the Pew Research Center's definition. However, other factors must be considered.
Across the entire country, that range is between $47,189 and $141,568, based on Census Bureau income data. But $150,000 is still a middle-class income by Pew's definition in nearly half of the country's 50 most-populated metropolitan areas, where incomes tend to be high.
Is $40,000 a year considered middle class? According to Pew Research, a middle-class family of three makes between $56,000 and $156,000. Families of that size who bring in $40,000 a year would not be considered middle class. However, an individual making $40,000 a year would likely qualify as middle class.
Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range.
Statisticians say middle class is a household income between $25,000 and $100,000 a year. Anything above $100,000 is deemed “upper middle class”.
Here's an explanation for how we make money . If you're earning $75,000 each year, you're doing a bit better than half the country. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2021 stood at $70,784, so that extra $4,216 puts you in the upper 50 percent of earners.
With the median U.S. income being about $80,000 a year, a household of four earning between roughly $52,000 and $175,000 a year is considered middle class.
The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Can I live comfortably making 40k a year?
A $40,000 a year salary can put you in the middle class in America. However, depending on where you live, your expenses, average spending, and how much debt you have accrued — a $40k salary can also put you in the lower-end of the middle class in today's world.
So if an employee earns $40,000 annually working 40 hours a week, they make about $19.23 an hour (40,000 divided by 2,080).
Zippia's data also shows that 56% of Americans believe that earning $100,000 per year would make them rich, but Zippia notes that a $100,000 salary is generally considered upper-middle class today, rather than rich, and can even be lower-middle class in some cities.
Between 35 to 44, the average net worth is $436,200, while between 45 to 54 that number increases to $833,200. Average net worth cracks the $1 million mark between 55 to 64, reaching $1,175,900. Average net worth again rises for those ages 65 to 74, to $1,217,700, before falling to $977,600 for someone over age 75.
The Modern Wealth Survey collected responses from 1,000 adults between the ages of 21 and 75. According to those surveyed, it would take an average net worth of approximately $2.2 million to be considered “wealthy” in 2022. In 2021, survey respondents indicated it would take a net worth of $1.9 million.
| Tax rate | Single | Head of household |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $9,950 | $0 to $14,200 |
| 12% | $9,951 to $40,525 | $14,201 to $54,200 |
| 22% | $40,526 to $86,375 | $54,201 to $86,350 |
| 24% | $86,376 to $164,925 | $86,351 to $164,900 |
No matter where you live, 80K is considered to be a pretty good salary for most people. This puts you in the higher middle-class range of people who are earning no matter where you live in the US. What is this?
| . | FAMILY SIZE | |
|---|---|---|
| STATE | 1 EARNER | 4 PEOPLE * |
| Arizona | $52,334 | $80,956 |
| Arkansas | $43,585 | $68,341 |
| California | $57,962 | $96,813 |
| Household Size | Very-Low Income | Moderate-Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11,550 or less | $19,301 - $30,850 |
| 2 | $13,200 or less | $22,051 - $35,250 |
| 3 | $14,900 or less | $24,801 - $39,650 |
| 4 | $16,550 or less | $27,551 - $44,100 |
The 2010 study found that money could only boost happiness up to a point — about $75,000 in annual earnings. Beyond that figure, the researchers concluded, money had little impact.
What are the 3 social classes?
Despite controversies over the theory of class, there is general agreement among social scientists on the characteristics of the principal social classes in modern societies. Sociologists generally posit three classes: upper, working (or lower), and middle.
Top 5% income
You'll start to see dramatic shifts in the top 5%, where the EPI found the average earners significantly increased to $343,000 in 2020, up from $324,000 the year before. While that's certainly a lot, there's a growing trend of even more cash flowing to — flooding even — those at the top of the heap.
How much does a 25 Dollar An Hour make? As of May 17, 2023, the average annual pay for a 25 Dollar An Hour in the United States is $43,651 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $20.99 an hour. This is the equivalent of $839/week or $3,637/month.
On a $70,000 income, you'll likely be able to afford a home that costs $280,000–380,000. The exact amount will depend on how much debt you have and where you live — as well as the type of home loan you get.
To purchase a $300K house, you may need to make between $50,000 and $74,500 a year. This is a rule of thumb, and the specific salary will vary depending on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, type of home loan, loan term, and mortgage rate.
What percentage of Americans make over 75K? Only 12.2% of Americans make in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. An additional 15.3% make between $100,000 and $149,000. The great percentage of Americans (16.5%) earn in the $50,000 to $74,999 range.
If you earn $75,000 per year, you can expect to receive $2,358 per month -- or about $28,300 annually -- from Social Security.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median weekly income (including overtime, commission and tips) for full-time workers (excluding those who are self-employed) in America was $1,041 as of the second quarter of 2022. If that rate persists for the entire year, that would equal $54,132 a year.
No, $30,000 is not a great salary for a single person, but it can be livable depending on the person's location and expenses. The average personal income in the United States is $63,214 per year, which is more than double the $30k mark.
In all three places, it takes an annual income of more than $60,000 for households to be considered middle class.
Can you live off 30 thousand a year?
So while it's comforting to know that it's possible to live on $30,000 a year, it's also a good idea to aim higher and save more when you're young, because you can't know for certain what the future will cost and you may want some flexibility.
The average income per individual in the US is $35,384 per year, but the median income in the US is $64,994, which is right around the 30-dollar-an-hour mark. Since 30 dollars an hour is above the average income per individual, it's a livable wage, but it depends on a few factors.
“Good” is relative. The median household income in 2021 was $70,784. That breaks down to $34 per hour. So $20 an hour is quite a bit below the median wage.
At this $20 hourly wage, you are close to double the minimum wage. Things should be easy to live off this $20 hourly salary. However, it is still below the median income of over $60,000 salary. That means it can still be a tough situation.
How much does a $20 An Hour make? As of May 18, 2023, the average annual pay for a $20 An Hour in the United States is $40,760 a year.
$17 an hour is how much a year? If you make $17 an hour, your yearly salary would be $35,360.
Exactly how much is $18 an hour per year? If you're working full time, $18 an hour equals $37,440 per year. To get this number, multiply your hours per week — 40 for full time — by the number of weeks per year — 52.
Some workers begin earning six figures in their twenties and thirties. Economists nickname them HENRYs, for “high earners, not rich yet.” But for most people, their “peak earning years” are from age 35 to 54. The majority of people who make six figures will do so in their 30s.
Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35. That's a whopping 500% increase in the share of people making $100k or more. 21% of 66-year-olds make $100k per year or more.
How Many People Make 6-Figure Salaries in the US? A minority of Americans make over $100,000 a year. According to Zippia, roughly 33.6% of Americans make six figures annually.
How much money does the average person have in their bank account?
Average Savings of Americans Over Time
The average American household had transaction accounts worth $41,600 in 2019. This is 2.3% lower than the average recorded in 2016. In terms of median values, the 2019 figure of $5,300 is 10.65% higher than the 2016 median balance of $4,790.
Your 30s: Your First Net Worth Goal
By this age, it's ideal to have saved approximately half your annual salary in your retirement account. For example, if you spent your twenties making $60,000 annually, you'll want to have about $30,000 saved by the time you hit 30.
3-6 Months of Expenses
A good range to have saved by 25 is usually between three to six months of living expenses, explains Sean K. August, CEO of The August Wealth Management Group. Putting away this cash can help prepare you for unforeseen circumstances, such as loss of income.
A common rule of thumb for determining what your net worth should be at any given age is to divide your age by 10, then multiple that by your gross annual income. So if you're 40 years old making $100,000 a year then you should have a net worth of $400,000.
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).
In a survey conducted in 2019, 86% of Americans said that they were either broke or had been in the past. According to 28% of millennials, overspending on food led them to that point. In general, people considered having only $878 available either in cash or a bank account to mean they were bankrupt.
Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range.
The upper middle class are able to get high paying jobs because they have the highest level of education, and they tend to have a skill set that other people do not have. They tend to occupy white-collar jobs, have university degrees, have comfortable houses with mortgages, go on holiday yearly, and drive nice cars.
- Create a 'Goal-Focused Financial Plan' “Creating a goal-focused financial plan is the first step to achieving success and escaping the middle class. ...
- Get on Budget. ...
- Establish an Emergency Fund. ...
- Consider a Side Hustle. ...
- Invest In Yourself and Your Future. ...
- Pay Off Debt.
My best estimate is between 2 and 3 million dollars. This is based on $42,000.00 per year take home pay over 50 years of work life or around 2.3 million. Everything changes with questions like retirement income changes and length of time to reach an average gross salary of around $60,000.00.
Is 60k a year middle class for a single person?
But that range does vary by the size of the household. A three-person household must have earned $51,962 to $155,902 to be considered middle-class while a family of four must earn about $60,000 to $180,000.
The typical American household spends $5,111 per month, on average. The largest expense for most Americans is housing. At $1,050 per month, the cost of having a roof over our heads accounts for 21% of a household's monthly budget. Percentage of income is based on after-tax income.
Here's an explanation for how we make money . If you're earning $75,000 each year, you're doing a bit better than half the country. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2021 stood at $70,784, so that extra $4,216 puts you in the upper 50 percent of earners.
Nearly one-third of American households, 29%, live in "lower class" households, the Pew Research Center finds in a 2018 report. The median income of that group was $25,624 in 2016. Pew defines the lower class as adults whose annual household income is less than two-thirds the national median.
There is no official financial standard for what constitutes middle class. For most it's more about a standard of living—including owning a home, being able to afford to pay for a college education for your kids, and having enough disposable income to take a family vacation.
Semi-professionals and craftsmen with a roughly average standard of living. Most have some college education and are white-collar. Lower middle class (32%) Semi-professionals and craftsmen with some work autonomy; household incomes commonly range from $35,000 to $75,000. Typically, some college education.
Overall, Americans need an average post-tax income of $68,499 to live comfortably in the U.S., according to recent data from SmartAsset.
| Annual Household Income | % of Americans Earning More |
|---|---|
| $55,000 to $59,999 | 41.76% |
| $60,000 to $64,999 | 38.04% |
| $65,000 to $69,999 | 35.03% |
| $70,000 to $74,999 | 31.85% |
If a worker works 52 weeks a year, this equates to a national annual salary of $51,168, up 5.1 per cent from the previous year. Any sum beyond that should be regarded as a good salary; however, this is not always the case.
According to 2021 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is the most recent available, the average spending on food at home is $5,259 annually, or about $438 per month for U.S. households.
How much should a single person spend on groceries?
Monthly Grocery Budget
The average cost of food per month for one person ranges from $150 to $300, depending on age. However, these national averages vary based on where you live and the quality of your food purchases.
50% of your net income should go towards living expenses and essentials (Needs), 20% of your net income should go towards debt reduction and savings (Debt Reduction and Savings), and 30% of your net income should go towards discretionary spending (Wants).