The definition of middle-class income varies dramatically depending on where you live in America. According to the Pew Research Center, middle-class income ranges from two-thirds to double the median household income in your state, creating a range rather than a single number.
For 2025, the national median household income is projected to be $74,225, based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau data (American Community Survey, analyzed by SmartAsset), which places the national middle-class range between $49,483 and $148,450.
However, state-by-state variations reveal a more complex picture. A household earning $60,000 might be solidly middle class in Mississippi but struggling in Massachusetts. Understanding these regional differences helps you gauge your financial standing and determine what income levels constitute middle-class stability in your specific location.
These figures represent household income, not individual earnings, and can vary significantly depending on family size and whether you live in an urban or rural area.
1. Middle-Class Income by State: Complete Rankings
- Alabama has a median household income of $62,212, with a middle-class range from $41,475 to $124,424.
- Alaska shows a median of $86,631 with a middle-class range from $57,754 to $173,262.
- Arizona has a median income of $ 72,602, with a middle-class range from $48,401 to $145,204.
- Arkansas shows a median of $56,335 with a middle-class range from $37,557 to $112,670.
- California has a median household income of $91,905, with a middle-class range of $61,270 to $183,810.
- Colorado shows a median of $87,598 with a middle-class range from $58,399 to $175,196.
- Connecticut has a median household income of $90,213, with a middle-class range of $60,142 to $180,426.
- Delaware shows a median of $79,325 with a middle-class range from $52,883 to $158,650.
- Florida has a median household income of $67,917, with a middle-class range of $45,278 to $135,834.
- Georgia shows a median of $71,355 with a middle-class range from $47,570 to $142,710.
- Hawaii has a median household income of $94,814, with a middle-class range of $63,209 to $189,628.
- Idaho shows a median of $70,214 with a middle-class range from $46,809 to $140,428.
- Illinois has a median household income of $80,482, with a middle-class range of $53,655 to $160,964.
- Indiana shows a median of $67,173 with a middle-class range from $44,782 to $134,346.
- Iowa has a median household income of $70,571, with a middle-class range of $47,047 to $141,142.
- Kansas shows a median of $69,747 with a middle-class range from $46,498 to $139,494.
- Kentucky has a median household income of $60,183, with a middle-class range of $40,122 to $120,366.
- Louisiana has a median income of $57,852, with a middle-class range of $38,568 to $115,704.
- Maine has a median household income of $68,602, with a middle-class range of $45,735 to $137,204.
- Maryland shows a median of $98,461 with a middle-class range from $65,641 to $196,922.
- Massachusetts has a median household income of $99,858, with a middle-class range of $66,572 to $199,716.
- Michigan shows a median of $68,505 with a middle-class range from $45,670 to $137,010.
- Minnesota has a median household income of $84,313, with a middle-class range of $56,209 to $168,626.
- Mississippi has a median income of $54,198, with a middle-class range of $36,132 to $108,396.
- Missouri has a median household income of $65,920, with a middle-class range of $43,947 to $131,840.
- Montana has a median income of $66,341, with a middle-class range of $44,227 to $132,682.
- Nebraska has a median household income of $71,772, with a middle-class range of $47,848 to $143,544.
- Nevada shows a median of $71,646 with a middle-class range from $47,764 to $143,292.
- New Hampshire has a median household income of $90,845, with a middle-class range of $60,563 to $181,690.
- New Jersey has a median income of $97,346, with a middle-class range of $64,897 to $194,692.
- New Mexico has a median household income of $58,722, with a middle-class range of $39,148 to $117,444.
- New York shows a median of $81,386 with a middle-class range from $54,257 to $162,772.
- North Carolina has a median household income of $66,186, with a middle-class range of $44,124 to $132,372.
- North Dakota has a median income of $73,959, with a middle-class range of $49,306 to $147,918.
- Ohio has a median household income of $66,990, with a middle-class range of $44,660 to $133,980.
- Oklahoma has a median income of $61,364, with a middle-class range of $40,909 to $122,728.
- Oregon has a median household income of $76,632, with a middle-class range of $51,088 to $153,264.
- Pennsylvania shows a median of $70,479 with a middle-class range from $46,986 to $140,958.
- Rhode Island has a median household income of $81,370, with a middle-class range of $54,247 to $162,740.
- South Carolina has a median income of $64,115, with a middle-class range of $42,743 to $128,230.
- South Dakota has a median household income of $69,457, with a middle-class range of $46,305 to $138,914.
- Tennessee shows a median of $64,035 with a middle-class range from $42,690 to $128,070.
- Texas has a median household income of $73,035, with a middle-class range of $48,690 to $146,070.
- Utah shows a median of $86,833 with a middle-class range from $57,889 to $173,666.
- Vermont has a median household income of $74,014, with a middle-class range of $49,343 to $148,028.
- Virginia shows a median of $87,249 with a middle-class range from $58,166 to $174,498.
- Washington has a median household income of $90,325, with a middle-class range of $60,217 to $180,650.
- West Virginia has a median income of $55,217, with a middle-class range of $36,811 to $110,434.
- Wisconsin has a median household income of $72,602, with a middle-class range of $48,401 to $145,204.
- Wyoming has a median income of $72,495, with a middle-class range of $48,330 to $144,990.
2. Regional Patterns and Economic Drivers
The highest median household incomes are clustered in the Northeast and West Coast, with Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey leading at $99,858, $98,461, and $97,346, respectively.
These states benefit from concentrated tech industries, financial services, and high-paying government positions that drive up typical earnings. Hawaii, California, and Washington also show elevated medians above $90,000, reflecting both strong economies and high costs of living that require higher incomes to maintain middle-class lifestyles.
The lowest medians appear primarily in the South and Appalachian regions. Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana show medians below $58,000, reflecting lower overall wages and different economic structures compared to coastal metropolitan areas. These states have historically relied on industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and resource extraction, which typically offer lower compensation than the technology or financial services sectors.
The geographic income disparity reveals more than just raw earning power. These ranges adjust for local costs of living, meaning an income in the middle of the range in a low-cost state buys considerably more than the same amount in a high-cost state.
A household earning $72,000 in Mississippi enjoys greater purchasing power for housing, food, and services than a household earning $130,000 in Massachusetts, even though the Massachusetts household falls in a higher absolute income bracket.
Conclusion
Understanding middle-class income by state reveals the financial landscape across America in 2025. The $45,660 gap between the highest and lowest state medians illustrates the significant impact of geography on what constitutes the “middle class” financially.
Whether you’re evaluating your own financial position, considering a relocation, or simply trying to understand regional economic differences, these state-specific figures provide a clearer picture than national averages alone can offer.
The data demonstrates that middle-class status isn’t just about earning a specific dollar amount—it’s about how that income relates to the economic realities of where you live. For personalized calculations based on your particular household situation, this tool from Pew Research can help you determine precisely where you fall within your state’s middle-class range.