What is the definition of middle class?

[The-Noid]

I see this mentioned here a lot. What is the interpretation of "middle class?"

 

[Doppel]

Question asked a million times, nobody has a clear definition. I'm gonna say you're middle with a household income of $40k-150k, upper middle class $150k+, even if that does put you in top 5% of earners.

 

[Infohawk]

I agree with Doppel basically although I might shift that up some (or maybe just for large urban areas).

Upper-class is someone non-retired who could live very well off off of investment income (regardless of whether they work).

 

[MovingTarget]

How about the middle three quintiles of the income distribution? That would be a relatively unbiased metric. My personal definition is no good as it is dependant largely on my pov.

 

[Matthiasa]

If by middle class you mean middle income earners any household that makes between the 33 and 66 percentile.

If taken over the world as a whole basically no one in the US.

 

[fskimospy]

People tend to consider whatever they happen to be to be middle class. I've talked to people making less than $20k a year who think they are middle class. Similarly, we've had people on here talk about how people in the top 2% of all income earners are middle class.

There seems to be some sort of positive association with the term that everyone wants to have.

 

[The-Noid]

People tend to consider whatever they happen to be to be middle class. I've talked to people making less than $20k a year who think they are middle class. Similarly, we've had people on here talk about how people in the top 2% of all income earners are middle class.

There seems to be some sort of positive association with the term that everyone wants to have.

I think the problem is the huge disparity between the first percentile of income earnings as well. The percentiles are fairly close until you get to the last 1% it seems.

The difference between the 2nd percentile and the .1% seems to be as big as the difference between the 80th percentile and the 2nd percentile.
I was speaking with a surgeon today (my neighbor who has a 997 Turbo and an Escalade, what many would obviously not consider middle class and is based on the tables a 1%er) who referred to himself as middle class because he worked. His claim was middle class work, while upper class get to enjoy life.

 

[Infohawk]

People tend to consider whatever they happen to be to be middle class. I've talked to people making less than $20k a year who think they are middle class. Similarly, we've had people on here talk about how people in the top 2% of all income earners are middle class.

There seems to be some sort of positive association with the term that everyone wants to have.

It's true that people want to say that they're part of the middle-class. At the same time, the middle-class is very large in the US. That's what's great about it. (And is being threatened recently.)

What's top 2%? Honestly I don't see two yuppies making $200,000 combined as being "upper class." That's what we have the terms "upper middle" and "lower middle" for. Middle class means you have to work for a living. Just because a couple makes make $200,000 a year doesn't mean they can stop working.

I doubt most Americans have never met a truly upper-class person.

 

[Infohawk]

I was speaking with a surgeon today who referred to himself as middle class because he worked. His claim was middle class work, while upper class get to enjoy life.

How did that topic come up? How do you really expect an upper class person to admit, "yeah I'm upper class." That would make him or her a douche.

I think he's probably upper-middle class if he does HAVE to work. But if he's like most surgeons he's still making a nice amount of change that allows him to have a second home, golf at nice places, etc...

And keep in mind a lot of upper class people still do something. I think even in those circles its largely unacceptable to not work or develop yourself somehow. The difference is they don't have to.

 

[The-Noid]

How did that topic come up? How do you really expect an upper class person to admit, "yeah I'm upper class." That would make him or her a douche.

I think he's probably upper-middle class if he does HAVE to work. But if he's like most surgeons he's still making a nice amount of change that allows him to have a second home, golf at nice places, etc...

And keep in mind a lot of upper class people still do something. I think even in those circles its largely unacceptable to not work or develop yourself somehow. The difference is they don't have to.

He's a 1%er, I know his income.

 

[Infohawk]

He's a 1%er, I know his income.

What's his income? Honestly even up to a $1,000,000 a year it doesn't necessarily strike me that someone is "upper class." Yes it's a ton of money but class has a lot of other factors besides money (although it's the biggest factor in America).

I think the word "rich" is best used for people who make tons of money but still had to work in their lives.

 

[The-Noid]

What's his income? Honestly even up to a $1,000,000 a year it doesn't necessarily strike me that someone is "upper class." Yes it's a ton of money but class has a lot of other factors besides money (although it's the biggest factor in America).

I think the word "rich" is best used for people who make tons of money but still had to work in their lives.

Perfect then his definition is the same as the common one. That is what I was trying to ascertain.

He makes around $700k per annum all toll.

 

[Griffinhart]

It's true that people want to say that they're part of the middle-class. At the same time, the middle-class is very large in the US. That's what's great about it. (And is being threatened recently.)

What's top 2%? Honestly I don't see two yuppies making $200,000 combined as being "upper class." That's what we have the terms "upper middle" and "lower middle" for. Middle class means you have to work for a living. Just because a couple makes make $200,000 a year doesn't mean they can stop working.

I doubt most Americans have never met a truly upper-class person.

The top 50% of earners break down like this.
Top 1%: $380,354
Top 5%: $159,619
Top 10%: $113,799
Top 25%: $67,280
Top 50%: >$33,048

Upper middle class is generally limited to a bit over 100K for the household according to wikipedia, while upperclass generally starts when you are in the 1% range. So, your yuppie couple example would need to console themselves with the 1mil they earn every 5 years since they aren't really considered middle class, nor upper class.

 

[bfdd]

Pretty sure everyone in the USA is the 1%. This shit is all relative that's why there's no clear definition. It's whatever whomever is bitching wants it to mean so they can libel or slander their opposition.

 

[Craig234]

There are people who tend not to make enough to support themselves - 'lower class', poverty. Many if not most have a negative net worth.

Most people 'earn a living' with employment - 'earned income'. This varies quite a bit. Doctors generally are still 'middle class'.

When a person starts to have enough wealth that their wealth can work for them to gain their income, that is one line for 'upper class'.

The employment line isn't hard; a rock singer who makes millions a year is working for a living but clearly upper class. There isn't a hard number - how could there be.

Most people are in the 'work for a living' or are in a family with that income. The interests of these 'working people' are largely what's meant by 'middle class'.

The over $250K a year is often used as a breakpoint.

But for a better picture how wealth is distributed, I'd suggest taking a look at the following web site:

www.lcurve.org

 

[MotF Bane]

I'd say income $50k to $200k, plus or minus 20% depending on location, i.e. minus 20% in Wyoming, plus 20% in SF.

 

[MovingTarget]

I'd say income $50k to $200k, plus or minus 20% depending on location, i.e. minus 20% in Wyoming, plus 20% in SF.

I'd say thats reasonable, based on my own pov.

 

[Slew Foot]

If you have to work to pay your bills, then youre working class. If you can live off your investments, then youre upper class.

 

[boochi]

35k-100k

 

[Binarycow]

Economically speaking, it starts around mid 20s for what's called the lower-middle class all the way to the upper-middle class in the millions range. No matter how much you make a year, as long as you have to work to make a living you're still part of the middle class. Upper-class does not have to work in the traditional sense to make a living.

 

[QuantumPion]

Welfare class: perpetually unemployed, dependent on government for basic living needs
Lower class: low educated, low skill wage earners
Middle Class: high educated, skilled wage earners and salaried employees
Upper Class: highly educated processionals and small business owners
Investor Class: large wealth holdings, income mainly derived from investments

 

[BoberFett]

Middle class: Anyone who makes my income or less.
Upper class: Anyone who makes more than me and needs to pay higher taxes