You can earn $150,000 a year and still be considered middle class in 23 U.S. states

In the 1990s, earning six figures was a clear marker of upper-class wealth. Today, it's often just enough to be considered middle class.

In fact, the upper bound of what qualifies as middle class now exceeds $100,000 in every U.S. state, according to a SmartAsset analysis of 2023 income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report uses Pew Research's definition of middle class: households earning between two-thirds and double the median income in their state.

That means even a $150,000 salary — once a clear marker of affluence — still lands within the middle-class range in nearly half the country.

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Higher costs are eating into bigger paychecks

Wages have risen in recent years, but much of that growth has been offset by higher costs for essentials like housing, food and transportation. Since early 2020, home prices have jumped 52%, food costs are up 30% and overall inflation has climbed 25%, according to consumer price index data.

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That helps explain why many six-figure earners say they feel stretched. Two-thirds of middle-class Americans said they were struggling in a 2024 survey from the National True Cost of Living Coalition, and most didn't expect their situation to improve.

To give a sense of how far $150,000 goes, here's a look at the 23 states where that salary still falls within the middle-class range, listed in alphabetical order:

Alaska

Low end of middle class: $57,748
High end of middle class: $173,262
Median household income: $86,631

Arizona

Low end of middle class: $51,538
High end of middle class: $154,630
Median household income: $77,315

California

Low end of middle class: $63,674
High end of middle class: $191,042
Median household income: $95,521

Colorado

Low end of middle class: $61,934
High end of middle class: $185,822
Median household income: $92,911

Connecticut

Low end of middle class: $61,104
High end of middle class: $183,330
Median household income: $91,665

Delaware

Low end of middle class: $54,235
High end of middle class: $162,722
Median household income: $81,361

Hawaii

Low end of middle class: $63,542
High end of middle class: $190,644
Median household income: $95,322

Illinois

Low end of middle class: $53,532
High end of middle class: $160,612
Median household income: $80,306

Maryland

Low end of middle class: $65,779
High end of middle class: $197,356
Median household income: $98,678

Massachusetts

Low end of middle class: $66,565
High end of middle class: $199,716
Median household income: $99,858

Minnesota

Low end of middle class: $56,718
High end of middle class: $170,172
Median household income: $85,086

Nevada

Low end of middle class: $50,904
High end of middle class: $152,728
Median household income: $76,364

New Hampshire

Low end of middle class: $64,552
High end of middle class: $193,676
Median household income: $96,838

New Jersey

Low end of middle class: $66,514
High end of middle class: $199,562
Median household income: $99,781

New York

Low end of middle class: $54,725
High end of middle class: $164,190
Median household income: $82,095

North Dakota

Low end of middle class: $51,012
High end of middle class: $153,050
Median household income: $76,525

Oregon

Low end of middle class: $53,435
High end of middle class: $160,320
Median household income: $80,160

Rhode Island

Low end of middle class: $56,642
High end of middle class: $169,944
Median household income: $84,972

Texas

Low end of middle class: $50,515
High end of middle class: $151,560
Median household income: $75,780

Utah

Low end of middle class: $62,274
High end of middle class: $186,842
Median household income: $93,421

Vermont

Low end of middle class: $54,135
High end of middle class: $162,422
Median household income: $81,211

Virginia

Low end of middle class: $59,948
High end of middle class: $179,862
Median household income: $89,931

Washington

Low end of middle class: $63,064
High end of middle class: $189,210
Median household income: $94,605

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