Middle class family packing bags in the car getting ready for a vacation holiday Who hasn’t taken a peak on Zillow to see how much their neighbors home is valued? Americans are status conscious. When we meet people at social engagements, the conversation usually turns to ‘what do you do for a living?’ The real reason for this is that they want to get an idea of how much they make, based upon their profession. There’s an inner desire to know where you fit in financially, relative to family, friends, and coworkers. To provide some color, the following will offer insights into what you need to earn to be considered in the middle class, with data from GOBankingRates, SmartAsset, FOX 5 New York, Zillow, Pew Research Center, Sacramento Bee, and other sources. It's not the best time to talk about salaries and compensation in this current economy. The middle class in the US is contending with high inflation and costly living expenses. The stock and bonds markets have been bouncing around due to chaos surrounding President Trump’s tariffs policies. We need to provide some color, context, and nuance. When talking about major cities, they are not a monolith. They’re broken down into smaller neighborhoods. For instance, picture two families living in New York City. One family resides in the posh upper east side. The other family lives in the Bronx. Same city, but completely different financial situations. In high-cost urban centers such as New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as affluent states like New Jersey. Americans who are in the middle class are smaller than they used to be. MORE FOR YOU Gmail Password Warning — You Have 7 Days To Act, Google Says ‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Friday, May 2 California Brewery Becomes King Of Hazy IPAs At World Beer Cup You’ll Need More Money To Stay In the Middle Class In 1971, 61% of Americans lived in middle-class households. By 2023, the share had fallen to 51%, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data. Additionally, Pew Research defines middle-class income as ranging from two-thirds to double the median household income. Achieving middle-class status in 2025 requires substantial incomes in New York City ($53,033–$159,114), New Jersey ($64,750–$194,252), Los Angeles ($61,028–$183,102), and San Francisco (estimated $84,000–$253,000), far exceeding national benchmarks. But to live comfortably, covering essentials, discretionary spending, and savings, a family of four needs $306,093 in NYC, $366,829 in San Francisco, and over $300,000 in other major California cities, according to a SmartAsset’s analysis. It’s not easy hanging onto the middle-class lifestyle. In these four regions, the income needed to maintain a middle-class lifestyle, covering necessities, travel, childcare, automobiles, going out to eat, college tuition, and putting aside savings. In this environment, with soaring housing costs, inflation, and tariff-driven price hikes, it can be a challenge getting by. This cohort worries about potential layoffs or losing their job to AI and automation. New York City, A Sky-High Threshold New York City’s cost of living, projected to be 76% above the national average in 2025, makes achieving middle-class status a steep climb. Housing costs, 236% higher than the U.S. average, are the primary driver, with average monthly rent at $4,469 and median home prices around $1,670,540. Food, healthcare, and transportation expenses also exceed national averages. For a household, the middle-class income range spans $53,033 to $159,114. A family of four needs at least $86,846 annually to maintain a middle-class lifestyle. Families need incomes closer to the upper bound to afford childcare, education, and housing in areas like Manhattan or Brooklyn, according to FOX 5 New York, A single person requires $138,570 to live comfortably. New Jersey, Suburban Affluence And High Costs New Jersey’s proximity to New York City, coupled with high property taxes and suburban living expenses, makes everything expensive. Households in New Jersey need to earn about between $64,750 and $194,252 in 2025 to be considered middle class, according to analyses using Pew Research’s formula and GOBankingRates. For larger families or those in high-cost areas, incomes often need to approach $150,000–$200,000 to maintain a middle-class lifestyle due to housing, real estate taxes and child care expenses. For a family of four, the range is around $69,089 to $207,267. In affluent areas such as Princeton or Westfield, families often need incomes near the upper bound to cover median home prices of $750,000 and property taxes averaging $9,000 annually. For example, Westfield, NJ taxes can range from $15,000–$20,000 per year for a one million dollar home, per Zillow. Los Angeles, Urban Sprawl and High Expenses Los Angeles presents a challenging landscape for middle-class families. The cost of living is 40–60% above the national average. Median home prices range from $829,260 to $978,157, while rents average $3,000–$3,500/month for a 2-bedroom, per Rocket Homes. The middle-class income range for a household in 2025 is $74,750 to $224,250. A family of four needs $170,306 annually to live comfortably, up from $159,612 in 2023. San Francisco, The Pinnacle of Cost San Francisco’s Bay Area, with a cost of living 79% above the national average, demands the highest middle-class incomes among these regions. Housing costs, 300% above the national average, include median home prices of $1,950,000 and rents averaging $4,800 monthly. Households require $90,159 to $270,477 in 2025 to be middle class. A family of four needs $183,887 annually for a comfortable lifestyle, up from $172,340 in 2023. Families often rent or live in outer areas like Oakland. Dual incomes are often essential, particularly in San Francisco. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades