Here’s How Much You Must Earn in Each State To Be Considered Middle Class
“America’s middle class shrinking” is a common phrase Americans hear. But it is true?
According to Pew Research Center, the number of people 18 years and older in middle-class households shrunk by 11% between 1971 and 2021.
Just how much money must residents in each state earn to be considered middle class?
Defining the Middle Class
Zippia published a study in 2023 determining the amount of money it takes to be middle class in each state. They based their rankings on approximately how much money residents need to be able to pay their bills while still having some cash left over.
The Nitty Gritty
Mortgage data from the US Census, student loan payment information from Truebill, and car loan payment data from Autoline all went into determining how much money Americans pay towards their bills each month. The following is the ranking Zippia came up with, starting with the states that have the lowest middle-class income numbers.
1: Arkansas
Arkansas has the lowest threshold for its residents to be in the middle class, with a household income of only $40,928 per year. The monthly mortgage needed for an average home in the Natural State is only $722 per month, and average student loans cost $201 each month.
2: West Virginia
$41,649 is what it takes to be middle class in West Virginia. Monthly student loans averaging only $199 per household help keep residents of the Mountain State from having to earn lots more money to maintain a middle-class lifestyle. The mortgage for an average house is $730.
3: Mississippi
Mississippians only need to make $190 more than West Virginians to be considered middle class ($41,839). Monthly mortgages for an average home and car payments in the Magnolia State are $734 and $323, respectively.
4: Indiana
Indiana residents making at least $43,310 can call themselves part of the middle class, according to Zippia’s study. Despite a relatively higher $773 average monthly mortgage, $199 in average monthly student loan payments help lower living costs in the Hoosier State.
5: Kentucky
The Bluegrass State ranks in the top five of the lowest household incomes needed to be considered middle class in the US. An annual income of $43,747 allows the average Kentuckian to pay their monthly $324 car payment, $199 student loans, and $789 mortgage.
6: Ohio
Ohioans who bring home $43,949 or more annually fall within the middle class. The Buckeye State offers average monthly mortgage payments slightly below Kentucky, and monthly car and student loan payments just above it.
7: Iowa
A mere $48 income increase from Ohio lands Iowans in middle-class territory ($43,997 in annual income). Average monthly student loan payments in the Hawkeye State are the highest so far on this list, at $205.
8: Oklahoma
Oklahomans earning $44,008 in annual household income fall into the middle class, according to Zippia’s data. Although average monthly car payments are a hefty $365, the monthly mortgage payment for an average home is a mere $760.
9: Alabama
Middle-class life in Alabama requires making over $1,500 more ($45,559) than in Oklahoma. The Yellowhammer State has average monthly mortgages and student loan payments of $796 and $204, respectively.
10: Kansas
Zippia determined that $46,485 is what it takes to be middle class in Kansas. Although average monthly car and student loan payments hover near several other states discussed so far, the average monthly mortgage in the Sunflower State is significantly higher ($850).
11: Missouri
Missouri households banking $46,649 or more per year fall into the middle class. Average monthly student loan and car payments in the Show Me State are $208 and $338, respectively. The mortgage on an average home is $853.
12: Nebraska
It doesn’t take much of an income bump to be middle class in Nebraska, at $46,906 in annual income. An average monthly student loan payment of $199 helps the Cornhusker State to rank well on this list, although $886 in average monthly mortgage payments stands out as higher-than-average thus far.
13: Michigan
$47,044 is the magic number for the average middle-class life in Michigan. The average monthly car, student loan, and mortgage payments in the Wolverine State are $332, $206, and $873, respectively.
14: South Dakota
An average middle-class income jumps up to $48,258 in South Dakota. The Mount Rushmore State has a relatively high mortgage of $946, but its $192 and $310 in average monthly student loan and car payment costs, respectively, help keep South Dakota well below the national average for middle-class income.
15: New Mexico
New Mexicans must earn $48,602 annually to be considered part of the middle class. An average monthly mortgage payment of $928 and car payments of $316 prevent it from ranking better.
16: South Carolina
According to Zippia’s data, middle-class South Carolinians make at least $49,110 per year. The average monthly mortgage in the Palmetto State is $963, and residents pay an average of $201 towards monthly student loans.
17: Louisiana
Louisiana is the last state on this list where residents can earn in the $40,000s to be considered part of the middle class ($49,587). Monthly average mortgages are relatively low in Louisiana at $901. However, average monthly car payments are the highest in the nation, at $394.
18: Wisconsin
The Badger State is the first state to break into the $50,000s. Zippia considers Wisconsinites with a household income of at least $50,062 annually to be part of the middle class. A $970 monthly mortgage and $205 in monthly student loan payments are driving factors.
19: Tennessee
Households with an income of $50,629 or more fall within the middle class in Tennessee. Average monthly car payments are $331, and average mortgages are $986.
20: North Carolina
$51,144 is what it takes to be middle class in North Carolina, according to Zippia. The Tar Heel State is the first state on this list to surpass $1,000 in average monthly mortgage payments ($1,015). North Carolinians pay an average of $199 in student loans and $320 in monthly car payments.
21: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania dances with North Carolina’s numbers, being slightly above or below it in the average monthly car, student loan, and mortgage payment categories. Overall, it takes an average of $51,346 to live a middle-class life in the Keystone State.
22: Maine
Mainers with an income of at least $51,608 annually fall within the middle class. The average monthly mortgage payment in Maine is $1,016, and the average student loan payment is $210.
23: North Dakota
With $52,935 in income, the average North Dakotan can identify as part of the middle class. North Dakota ties with Alaska as having the lowest average monthly car payment ($300), but it has the highest average monthly mortgage on this list so far ($1,075).
24: Illinois
An income of $53,961 lands the average Illinoisan in the middle class. Illinois residents pay one of the highest average student loan monthly payments in the nation ($217). Average monthly mortgages are $1,059.
25: Georgia
$54,213 is what the average Georgia household needs to make to classify as middle class, per Zippia’s study. Georgians fork over high average monthly car payments of $374, and average mortgages are $1,052 per month.
26: Wyoming
Wyomingites need to earn a minimum average of $54,849 to be in the middle class. Although their average monthly student loan payment of $176 is the lowest in the nation, a monthly mortgage of $1,152 prevents them from ranking more favorably on this list.
27: Vermont
The Green Mountain State provides a middle-class lifestyle to its residents who make an average of $55,371 or more. While Vermont’s average monthly mortgage is $7 lower than Wyoming’s ($1,145), Vermonters have significantly higher average student loan payments ($201).
28: Texas
Everything isn’t bigger in Texas in terms of the amount of annual income needed to be part of the middle class ($55,605), something that its residents are surely happy about. That said, average monthly car payments are larger than average, at $375. The mortgage for an average home is $1,089 per month.
29: Florida
It takes over $3,000 more income to be part of the middle class in Florida ($58,833) than in Texas. The reason? $1,236 is the monthly mortgage payment for an average home in the Sunshine State. Florida ranks significantly cheaper than Texas for average monthly student loan payments ($196) and car payments ($333).
30: Idaho
Idaho ranks closely with Florida, with $58,866 being the income required to be part of the middle class, according to Zippia. The Gem State has an average monthly mortgage higher than Florida’s ($1,262) and lower monthly car and student loan payments ($327 and $177, respectively).
31: Minnesota
$58,903 is what it takes to be in the middle class in Minnesota. Residents in the North Star State have relatively high average monthly student loan payments of $215 and a slightly lower mortgage than the two states before it ($1,220).
32: Montana
Montana is the last state where the average household can consider itself middle class with income in the $50,000s. Zippia determined that $59,496 is what it takes for Montanans to pay their average monthly $1,295 mortgage, $201 student loans, and $289 car payments while still having spare money after other living expenses. Montanans pay the lowest average monthly car payment in the US.
33: Delaware
Delaware residents must break $60k to be part of the average middle class in their state; $60,015, to be exact. Average monthly mortgages in the First State are $1,268, and average monthly student loans are $212.
34: Arizona
It takes nearly $1,700 more in income to be middle class in Arizona ($61,699) compared to Delaware. Residents in the Grand Canyon State pay an average of $1,297 in monthly mortgage but a relatively low $200 in monthly student loan payments.
35: Rhode Island
An average of $62,691 provides a middle-class lifestyle for Rhode Islanders. Residents pay $1,330 in average monthly mortgage payments, the highest up to this point. Monthly average car payments are also on the high side, at $333.
36: New Hampshire
New Hampshire residents need to earn a couple hundred more dollars per year than Rhode Islanders to gain middle-class status ($62,890). The Granite State’s average monthly mortgage is $1,373, and residents pay an average of $301 in monthly car payments.
37: Connecticut
On average, households with an income of at least $63,375 are middle class in Connecticut. Student loan payments are high in the Nutmeg State, averaging $225 per month. The mortgage for an average home is $1,347.
38: Alaska
Based on Zippia’s findings, Alaskans need to make $63,873 per year to be middle-class. Residents in The Last Frontier pay the highest average monthly mortgage up to this point ($1,409). That said, their $300 average monthly car loan payment is one of the lowest in the nation.
39: Virginia
Virginians must make over $3,000 more than Alaskans to be considered middle-class ($67,197). Average monthly mortgages are $1,480, and monthly student loans average $216.
40: Nevada
Residents in the Silver State might feel like they need to own a fair amount of silver to afford the $70,752 annual income it takes to be part of Nevada’s middle class. Average monthly car payments are the second-highest in the US ($387), and the mortgage for an average home is $1,545 per month.
41: Utah
An income of $71,034 classifies Utahans as middle-class. Utah residents pay $1,595 in monthly mortgage for an average home and a relatively low $202 in average monthly student loans.
42: Maryland
It takes an annual income of $71,844 to be middle class in Maryland. The mortgage on an average home is $1,609 in the Free State, and residents pay an average of $330 in monthly car payments.
43: New Jersey
On average, New Jersey residents making at least $74,485 are classified as middle class. Residents pay a hefty average monthly mortgage price tag of $1,679 for an average home while paying back $226 per month on average in student loans, the second-highest in the US.
44: Oregon
Residents in the Beaver State with a household income averaging $74,865 are considered middle class. $1,726 is the monthly mortgage for an average home in Oregon. In contrast, the average monthly car payment is only $305.
45: New York
$75,403 is the average income residents in New York State must make in order to be part of the middle class. Although mortgages for an average home run lower in New York than in Oregon ($1,706 per month), average monthly car and student loan payments are higher ($333 and $223, respectively).
46: Washington
Washington residents need to make more than $5,000 in household income than New York to be in the middle class ($81,203). A mortgage on an average home in the Evergreen State is $1,888, and average monthly car payments are $336.
47: Colorado
Colorado has similar statistics as Washington for its residents to be part of the middle class, with an annual household income of $81,602. Coloradans pay $16 more in mortgage for an average home and $208 in average monthly student loans.
48: Massachusetts
The Bay State isn’t a cheap place to live, with Zippia determining it takes $85,567 for residents to have a middle-class income. It’s easy to see why, with the mortgage for an average home running at $2,010. Massachusetts residents also pay the highest average in monthly student loans, at $229.
49: California
The Golden State leaps above Massachusetts, with Californians needing to make $111,206 to claim middle-class status. Residents pay an average of $2,757 per month for a mortgage on an average home and $358 in average monthly car payments.
50: Hawaii
Hawaii is the state where Americans need to have the highest income to be part of the middle class, at $122,695 in annual income. The mortgage for an average home in the Aloha State is a whopping $3,171. On the bright side, residents pay an average of $200 in monthly student loans.
Not Me
If you shook your head looking at what constitutes a middle-class household income for your state, geography and personal accountability could have something to do with it. For example, a New York City household may have trouble feeling like being in the middle class with $75,403 of annual income, whereas an Upstate New York household may live comfortably. Similarly, the amount of debt a household accrues and personal spending habits impact whether an average middle-class income feels tight or comfortable.
Shrinking in Both Directions
According to the Pew Research Center, the middle class is shrinking due to formerly middle-class Americans moving into both the upper-income and lower-income brackets. Twenty-one percent of Americans composed the upper-income bracket in 2021 compared to 14% in 1971. In contrast, 29% of Americans were in the lower income category in 2021 compared to 25% in 1971.
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