Income For Every US State For the Middle Class (2025)

To be considered middle class in the U.S. in 2025, a household must earn between two-thirds and double the median income in its state.

That translates to anywhere from about $36,000 in Mississippi to nearly $200,000 in Massachusetts and New Jersey, according to SmartAsset’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2023 income data (reported February 2025).

While a six-figure salary once felt wealthy, in most states today, it only places you firmly in the middle class.

Rising housing, food, and living costs since 2020 have eroded the buying power of American households, meaning even families earning $120,000 often feel financial pressure.

State-by-State Comparison

Wide Gaps Between States

The most obvious takeaway from the SmartAsset data is the dramatic range in what counts as “middle class” across the U.S. A family in Massachusetts needs at least $66,565 to qualify, while in Mississippi, the floor is just $36,132 – a gap of more than $30,000.

This spread reflects both wage structures and cost-of-living pressures.

High-income states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California are home to industries such as technology, biotech, finance, and government contracting, which drive salaries upward. But higher wages also come with far higher expenses, especially in housing markets where supply is tight.

By contrast, rural or less industrialized states like Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas have much lower average wages, but also cheaper housing, food, and healthcare, which keep their middle-class thresholds more modest.

Inflation’s Lingering Impact

The pandemic and its aftermath have reshaped household finances. From January 2020 to December 2024, the U.S. saw:

Even though inflation slowed to ~3% in 2024–2025 (close to the Fed’s 2% target), the cumulative effect has been devastating. According to a 2024 National True Cost of Living Coalition survey, nearly two-thirds of middle-class Americans said they were struggling financially and didn’t expect things to improve.

This means a household making $100,000 today has the same purchasing power as about $80,000 in 2020. So while more households report six-figure salaries, their standard of living has not risen at the same pace.

Where Six Figures Still Doesn’t Go Far

One of the most surprising realities is that in many states, six figures no longer guarantees comfort. In places like Massachusetts, California, New York, and Hawaii, households earning $120,000–$140,000 are technically middle class but may still face financial strain.

Compare that to Arkansas or Mississippi, where a six-figure household income often places families near the top of the middle class range, with median home prices under $200,000 and far lower day-to-day expenses.

In effect, a household with the same salary can feel financially stretched in one state but relatively comfortable in another.

National Context

At the national level, the median U.S. household income is around $75,000 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023). That means, under Pew’s the middle class nationally = $50,000–$150,000 (two-thirds to double).

But the range shifts dramatically depending on state-specific medians.

For example, in Maryland, a household can make nearly $200,000 and still be considered middle class. In Mississippi, making $110,000 puts you at the very top of the middle class range.

This national overview highlights the geographic inequality of middle-class life. Living standards are increasingly determined by local housing markets, job concentrations, and inflation pressures rather than just salary figures.

Methodology

This article is based on SmartAsset’s analysis of 2023 U.S. Census Bureau household income data, published in February 2025. The definition of “middle class” follows the Pew Research Center standard: households earning between two-thirds and double the state’s median income.

All 50 states were included, with median household income figures used as the baseline. Inflation and cost-of-living insights were drawn from the Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2020–2024.

Housing, rent, and childcare cost comparisons used data from Zillow, Apartment List, and the Economic Policy Institute. Contextual analysis was added to highlight geographic and economic differences in how middle-class life is experienced across states.

Bottom Line

Being middle class in the U.S. in 2025 is no longer just about how much you earn, but how far your money goes in the place you call home. The numbers show that a salary of $100,000 in Mississippi can feel upper-middle class, while that same income in Massachusetts or California barely covers the basics once housing, childcare, and taxes are factored in.

The pandemic years left a lasting mark: even though inflation has slowed, cumulative cost increases mean families are paying more for food, housing, and healthcare than at any point in recent history. This has reshaped what “middle class” really means, pushing many six-figure households into the uncomfortable position of feeling financially insecure.

At a national level, the middle class remains defined as $50,000 to $150,000 in household income, but the reality is that the middle-class experience in Boston, San Francisco, or New York City looks vastly different from that in Little Rock, Jackson, or Charleston.