Here's how much you need to earn to be middle class in every US state, ranked

• Household incomes can vary widely across the US — and what counts as middle class does as well.
• Massachusetts has the highest median household income in the US, while Mississippi has the lowest.
• Households earning between two-thirds and double the median income are considered middle-class.

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 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 of lifestyles.

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. 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.

50. Mississippi

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

Median household income: $59,127

Mississippi has the lowest middle-class income ceiling in the US.

49. West Virginia

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

Median household income: $60,798

48. Louisiana

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

Median household income: $60,986

47. Arkansas

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

Median household income: $62,106

46. Kentucky

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

Median household income: $64,526

45. Oklahoma

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

Median household income: $66,148

44. Alabama

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

Median household income: $66,659

43. New Mexico

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

Median household income: $67,816

42. Missouri

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

Median household income: $71,589

41. Indiana

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

Median household income: $71,959

40. Tennessee

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

Median household income: $71,997

39. Ohio

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

Median household income: $72,212

38. South Carolina

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

Median household income: $72,350

37. Michigan

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

Median household income: $72,389

36. North Carolina

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

Median household income: $73,958

35. Montana

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

Median household income: $75,340

34. Iowa

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

Median household income: $75,501

33. Kansas

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

Median household income: $75,514

32. Wyoming

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

Median household income: $75,532

31. Nebraska

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

Median household income: $76,376

30. Maine

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

Median household income: $76,442

29. South Dakota

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

Median household income: $76,881

28. Wisconsin

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

Median household income: $77,488

27. Pennsylvania

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

Median household income: $77,545

26. Florida

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

Median household income: $77,735

25. North Dakota

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

Median household income: $77,871

24. Texas

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

Median household income: $79,721

23. Georgia

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

Median household income: $79,991

22. Nevada

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

Median household income: $81,134

21. Idaho

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

Median household income: $81,166

20. Arizona

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

Median household income: $81,486

19. Vermont

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

Median household income: $82,730

18. Illinois

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

Median household income: $83,211

17. Rhode Island

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

Median household income: $83,504

16. Oregon

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

Median household income: $85,220

15. New York

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

Median household income: $85,820

14. Minnesota

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

Median household income: $87,117

13. Delaware

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

Median household income: $87,534

12. Virginia

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

Median household income: $92,090

11. Alaska

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

Median household income: $95,665

10. Connecticut

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

Median household income: $96,049

9. Utah

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

Median household income: $96,658

8. Colorado

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

Median household income: $97,113

7. Washington

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

Median household income: $99,389

6. New Hampshire

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

Median household income: $99,782

5. California

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

Median household income: $100,149

4. Hawaii

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

Median household income: $100,745

3. Maryland

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

Median household income: $102,905

2. New Jersey

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

Median household income: $104,294

1. Massachusetts

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

Median household income: $104,828

Massachusetts has the highest middle-class income ceiling in the US.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in June 2026 and most recently updated in November 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider