Do you know what it means to be “middle class?” The amount of money required to achieve this level of wealth may be greater than you anticipate.
With an income of two-thirds to two-thirds of U.S. median household income, the Pew Research Center defines a middle class or middle-income households as those who fall within this range.
Because the costs and average incomes of living vary so greatly across the country, the income required to be “middle class” in one state may be significantly more or lower than the income required to be “middle class” in another.
For the 2019 American Community Survey, GOBankingRates used Pew’s definition of the middle class to calculate how much two-, three-, and four-person families in each state need to earn to fall into this category.
Alabama
The median income for a two-person family in Alabama ranges from $38,582 to $115,170.
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $44,351 to $132,392
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is between $54,111 and $161,524.
Alaska
The median household income in Alaska for a two-person family is between $57,776 and $172,466.
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $62,818 to $187,516.
The income range for a family of four in the middle class is $69,727 to $208,140.
Arizona
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household in Arizona is $44,015 to $131,388.
Family income ranges from $48,098 to $140,000 for a three-person household.
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $55,092 to $164,454.
Arkansas
Between $36,376 to $108,586 is the middle-class income range for a two-person household in Arkansas.
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $41,271 to $123,198
The median family income for a four-person household is between $47,895 and $142,970.
California
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household in California is $52,681 to $157,258.
An average family of three makes between $57,796 and $172,524 each year
Between $66,091 and $197,288 for a four-person middle-class family.
Colorado
Range of middle-class income in Colorado for a two-person family: $54,159 to $161,668
The middle-class income range for a household of three is $60,635 to $181,000
An average four-person family’s income ranges from $71,100 to $212,240 in the middle class
Connecticut
Between $58,508 and $174,652 is the middle-class income range for a two-person family in Connecticut.
$68,170 to $203,492 is the middle-class range for a three-person family.
The middle-class salary range for a family of four is $83,808 to $250,174.
Delaware
The median income for a two-person middle-class family is between $49,705 and $148,374.
Between $57,849 and $172,684 for a three-person middle-class family.
A middle-class family with four members earns between $69,613 and $207,800 annually.
Florida
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $41,696 to $124,466.
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $45,512 – $135,858
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $54,322 to $162,154.
Georgia
Between $42,773 and $127,680, a Georgia two-person family’s middle-class income ranges.
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $48,298 to $144,172.
Between $56,850 to $169,702 is the middle-class salary range for a four-person household.
Hawaii
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household in Hawaii is $53,522 to $159,766.
From $64,447 to $192,378 annually for a three-person middle-class household
Budget for a middle-class family of four: $72,694-$216,996
Idaho
The middle-class income range for a two-person household in Idaho is $41,527 to $123,960.
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $45,395 – $135,508
Income for a middle-class family of four ranges from $53,479 to $159,640.
Illinois
Illinois’s middle-class two-person family income ranges from $48,972 to $146,186.
From $56,939 to $169,968 per year for a three-person middle-class household
A middle-class family with four members earns between $68,452 and $204,334 annually.
Indiana
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $42,360 to $126,448.
between $50,000 and $150,000 for a three-person household.
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $58,007 to $173,156.
Iowa
Iowa’s middle-class two-person family income ranges from $46,347 to $138,350.
From $52,985 to $158,164 per year for a middle-class family of three people
From $63,128 to $188,442 per year for a four-person middle-class family.
Kansas
The middle-class income range for a two-person household in Kansas is $45,939 to $137,130.
From $52,285 to $156,076 for a three-person middle-class household
Family income ranges from $60,490 to $180,568 for a four-person household.
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Kentucky
Average annual household income for a two-person middle-class family: $37,627–$112,318
From $44,132 to $131,736 for a three-person middle-class household
Between $53,873 to $160,814 is the middle-class income range for a four-person family.
Louisiana
$37,312 to $111,378 per year for a two-person household of middle-class means
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $43,139 – $128,774
Between $54,792 to $163,558 is the middle-class salary range for a four-person family.
Maine
Family income range: $43,831 to $130,840 for a 2-person household
Middle-class salary for a three-person family: $53,410 to $159,434
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $62,685 to $187,120.
Maryland
60,487 to $180,558: the middle-class income range for a two-person family
70,551 to $210,600 per year for a middle-class family of three
$83,621 to $249,614 for a 4-person middle-class household
Massachusetts
$57,063 to $170,338 for a two-person middle-class household
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $71,220 to $212,596
87,939 – 262,504 dollars per year for a middle-class family of four
Michigan
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $42,701 to $127,466.
Average annual household income for a three-person middle-class family: $51,221-$152,898
Between $62,640 and $186,984 for a four-person middle-class family.
Minnesota
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $52,135 to $155,628.
$33,777 to $190,380 for a three-person middle-class household
Between $75,671 and $225,884 for a four-person middle-class household.
Mississippi
Between $34,818 and $103,934 for a two-person middle-class family.
$38,130 to $113,820 per year for a three-person family from the middle class
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $46,144 to $137,742.
Missouri
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $41,764 to $124,668.
There is a $48,967-$146,170 middle-class salary range for a family of three.
59,308 to $177,038 per year for a four-person middle-class household
Montana
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is between $43,244 and $129,086.
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $50,063 to $149,442.
The median family income for a four-person household is between $58,586 and $174,884.
Nebraska
$47,635 to $142,194 for a two-person middle-class household
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $53,725 to $160,374.
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $62,752 to $187,320.
Nevada
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $44,128 to $131,726.
Middle-class income for a three-person family: $48,075 – $143,508
$59,281 to $165,018 for a middle-class family of four
New Hampshire
Middle-class families with two members may expect to earn between $54,027 and $161,274.
67,094 to $200,280 for a three-person middle-class family:
80,00 to 241,642 dollars for a 4-person middle-class household
New Jersey
Two-person middle-class families can expect to earn between $56,409 and $168,384 each year.
$70,741 to $211,166 for a 3-person middle-class household
A middle-class family with four members makes between $86,287 and $257,572 each year.
New Mexico
$39,203 to $117,024 for a two-person middle-class household
3 members of a middle-class family earn between $39,809 and $118,834 annually.
$45,526 to $135,898 for a four-person middle-class household
New York
From $48,674 to $145,296 per year for a two-person household in middle-class New York.
$57,889 to $172,802 for a three-person middle-class household
$70.331 to $209,944 for a four-person middle-class household
North Carolina
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $41,704 to $124,490.
3-person middle class family income range: $46,987 to $140,260 dollars a year
The median annual household income for a four-person middle-class family is $56,648.
North Dakota
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $51,942 to $155,050.
Family income ranges from $58,328 to $174,114 for a three-person household.
$69,738 to $208,174 is the middle-class income range for a four-person family.
Ohio
The middle-class salary range for a two-person family is $42,765 to $127,658.
The middle-class salary range for a household of three is $50,684 to $151,296.
Between $61,094 and $182,370 for a four-person middle-class family.
Oklahoma
$40,754 to $121,654 is the middle-class range for a two-person family.
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $44,458 to $132,710.
A middle-class family with four members earns between $51,015 and $152,284 annually.
Oregon
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household in Oregon is $46,467 to $138,708.
$33,830 to $160,686 for a three-person middle-class family
Middle-class salary for a four-person family: $63,013-$188,100.
Pennsylvania
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $45,202 to $134,932.
Family income range: $56,004 to $167,176 for a 3-person household
67,667–201,990 dollars for a middle-class family of four.
RIVER ISLAND
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $50,797 to $151,632.
Family income ranges from $58,581 to $174,870 for a three-person household
An average four-person household’s annual income ranges from $72,251 to $215,674.
South Carolina
Between $40,983 and $122,338 for a two-person middle-class household
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $44,612 to $133,170.
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $54,252 to $161,946.
South Dakota
The range of a middle-class family’s annual income from $45,763 to $136,606
From $51,908 to $154,948, the middle-class income of a three-person household falls within this range
59,443 – $177,442 per year for a middle-class family of four
Tennessee
$40,158 to $119,874 per year for a two-person family in the middle class
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $45,967 to $137,216
The median family income for a four-person household is between $54,118 and $161,546.
Texas
The following is the median income for a two-person household in Texas: $44,975 – $134,254
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $49,410 to $147,494.
Between $57,212 to $170,782 is the middle-class income range for a family of four.
Utah
Between $46,548 to $138,950 annually for a two-person middle-class family in Utah
Between $54,061 to $161,376 is the middle-class income range for a family of three.
Budget for a middle-class family of four: $60,663 – $181,084
Vermont
A family of two making between $48,509 and $144,804 a year is considered middle-class.
3 members of a modestly compensated family: $56,703-$169,262
$66,453 to $198,368 is the middle-class income range for a 4-person family.
Virginia
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is $53,226 to $158,886.
Family income ranges from $61,968 to $184,980 for a three-person household.
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $73,000 to $217,910.
Washington
Between $53,747 to $160,438 per year for a Washington two-person family of two
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $61,211 to $182,720.
The middle-class salary range for a four-person household is $71,747 to $214,170
West Virginia.
The middle-class salary range for a two-person household is between $35,377 and $105,602.
The middle-class salary range for a household of three is $43,122 to $128,722.
A middle-class family with four members earns between $51,654 and $154,192 per year.
Wisconsin
The median annual income for a two-person household is $44,306.
Between $46,216 and $137,958 for a two-person middle-class family.
The middle-class salary range for a three-person household is $55,882 to $166,812
Between $66,791 to $199,376 is the middle-class income range for a household of four.
Wyoming
Wyoming’s middle-class two-person family income ranges from $49,018 to $146,322 annually.
Between $54,955 and $164,046 for a three-person middle-class family.
Between $64,195.38 and $191,628 for a four-person middle-class family.