• Earnings vary widely across the US, and what constitutes the middle class does too.
• Massachusetts has the highest median household income in the US, while Mississippi has the lowest.
• The middle class is considered to earn between two-thirds and double the median income.

You've been hearing about the K-shaped economy and the shrinking middle class, but what does it actually mean to be in the middle class at all in the US today?

For many, the label can describe a suburban, non-excessive way of life, but the actual income it implies can span a wide range.

A recent SmartAsset study calculated the income needed to be considered middle class in every US state.

The study used the US Census Bureau's 2024 one-year American Community Survey median household income estimates for all 50 states. It applied a variation of the Pew Research Center's definition of middle class — households that earn between two-thirds and double the median income — to identify a middle-class salary range.

Rankings were then determined by comparing the upper limit of middle-class income among states and ranking those earnings from highest to lowest.

In five states, households earning over $200,000 can still be considered middle class, while in seven, you can be counted in the category even with household incomes of under $45,000.

In Massachusetts, the highest-ranked state, a household can earn up to $209,656 and still be considered middle class, while in Mississippi, the lowest-ranked, earning more than $118,254 puts you above the threshold.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the second-lowest, a household earning $40,532 can be considered middle class, while in New Jersey, the second-highest, it takes an annual income of $69,529 to do so.

See how much money you really need to earn to be in the middle class in every US state.

Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318

Median household income: $66,659

Rank: 44 out of 50

Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330

Median household income: $95,665

Rank: 11

Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972

Median household income: $81,486

Rank: 20

Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212

Median household income: $62,106

Rank: 47

Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298

Median household income: $100,149

Rank: 5

Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226

Median household income: $97,113

Rank: 8

Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098

Median household income: $96,049

Rank: 10

Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068

Median household income: $87,534

Rank: 13

Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470

Median household income: $77,735

Rank: 26

Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982

Median household income: $79,991

Rank: 23

Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490

Median household income: $100,745

Rank: 4

Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332

Median household income: $81,166

Rank: 21

Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422

Median household income: $83,211

Rank: 18

Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918

Median household income: $71,959

Rank: 41

Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002

Median household income: $75,501

Rank: 34

Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028

Median household income: $75,514

Rank: 33

Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052

Median household income: $64,526

Rank: 46

Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972

Median household income: $60,986

Rank: 48

Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884

Median household income: $76,442

Rank: 30

Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810

Median household income: $102,905

Rank: 3

Middle-class range: $69,885 to $209,656

Median household income: $104,828

Rank: 1 (the highest middle-class ceiling in the US)

Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778

Median household income: $72,389

Rank: 37

Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234

Median household income: $87,117

Rank: 14

Middle-class range: $39,418 to $118,254

Median household income: $59,127

Rank: 50 (the lowest middle-class ceiling in the US)

Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178

Median household income: $71,589

Rank: 42

Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680

Median household income: $75,340

Rank: 35

Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752

Median household income: $76,376

Rank: 31

Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268

Median household income: $81,134

Rank: 22

Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564

Median household income: $99,782

Rank: 6

Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588

Median household income: $104,294

Rank: 2

Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632

Median household income: $67,816

Rank: 43

Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640

Median household income: $85,820

Rank: 15

Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916

Median household income: $73,958

Rank: 36

Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742

Median household income: $77,871

Rank: 25

Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424

Median household income: $72,212

Rank: 39

Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296

Median household income: $66,148

Rank: 45

Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440

Median household income: $85,220

Rank: 16

Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090

Median household income: $77,545

Rank: 27

Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008

Median household income: $83,504

Rank: 17

Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700

Median household income: $72,350

Rank: 38

Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762

Median household income: $76,881

Rank: 29

Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994

Median household income: $71,997

Rank: 40

Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442

Median household income: $79,721

Rank: 24

Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316

Median household income: $96,658

Rank: 9

Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460

Median household income: $82,730

Rank: 19

Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180

Median household income: $92,090

Rank: 12

Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778

Median household income: $99,389

Rank: 7

Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596

Median household income: $60,798

Rank: 49

Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976

Median household income: $77,488

Rank: 28

Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064

Median household income: $75,532

Rank: 32