This statistic shows the median household income in the United States from 1970 to 2020, by income tier. In 2020, the median household income for the middle class stood at 90,131 U.S. dollars, which was approximately a 50 percent increase from 1970. However, the median income of upper income households in the U.S. increased by almost 70 percent compared to 1970.

The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Using this measure, middle income is made up of households making between $43,350 and $130,000 annually.This map isolates 7 income brackets within the middle class income range, and maps the relative predominance of each income range across the country for census tracts, counties, and states. The brackets defined in the map, drawn from ACS Household Income Distribution data, are as follows:Households whose income in the past 12 months was $125,000 to $149,999Households whose income in the past 12 months was $100,000 to $124,999Households whose income in the past 12 months was $75,000 to $99,999Households whose income in the past 12 months was $60,000 to $74,999Households whose income in the past 12 months was $50,000 to $59,999Households whose income in the past 12 months was $45,000 to $49,999Households whose income in the past 12 months was $40,000 to $44,999Click on each feature reveals more detailed information in the pop-up regarding the current predominant income bracket and compares these figures to historical data. Information included in the pop-up:The total number of homes falling into the predominant Middle Class income bracketThe total number of homes compared to the 2010 - 2014 ACS Household Income Distribution Variables.The percent change in homes within the predominant income bracket between the current ACS, and 2010 - 2014 ACS and whether or not this change is considered statistically significant.This map uses the most current release of data from the American Community Survey (ACS) about household income ranges and cutoffs. Web Map originally owned by Summers Cleary

Graph and download economic data for Real Median Family Income in the United States (MEFAINUSA672N) from 1953 to 2023 about family, median, income, real, and USA.

In 2023, just over 50 percent of Americans had an annual household income that was less than 75,000 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023. Income and wealth in the United States After the economic recession in 2009, income inequality in the U.S. is more prominent across many metropolitan areas. The Northeast region is regarded as one of the wealthiest in the country. Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts were among the states with the highest median household income in 2020. In terms of income by race and ethnicity, the average income of Asian households was 94,903 U.S. dollars in 2020, while the median income for Black households was around half of that figure. What is the U.S. poverty threshold? The U.S. Census Bureau annually updates its list of poverty levels. Preliminary estimates show that the average poverty threshold for a family of four people was 26,500 U.S. dollars in 2021, which is around 100 U.S. dollars less than the previous year. There were an estimated 37.9 million people in poverty across the United States in 2021, which was around 11.6 percent of the population. Approximately 19.5 percent of those in poverty were Black, while 8.2 percent were white.

This statistic shows the median household income in the United States from 1990 to 2023 in 2023 U.S. dollars. The median household income was 80,610 U.S. dollars in 2023, an increase from the previous year. Household incomeThe median household income depicts the income of households, including the income of the householder and all other individuals aged 15 years or over living in the household. Income includes wages and salaries, unemployment insurance, disability payments, child support payments received, regular rental receipts, as well as any personal business, investment, or other kinds of income received routinely. The median household income in the United States varies from state to state. In 2020, the median household income was 86,725 U.S. dollars in Massachusetts, while the median household income in Mississippi was approximately 44,966 U.S. dollars at that time. Household income is also used to determine the poverty line in the United States. In 2021, about 11.6 percent of the U.S. population was living in poverty. The child poverty rate, which represents people under the age of 18 living in poverty, has been growing steadily over the first decade since the turn of the century, from 16.2 percent of the children living below the poverty line in year 2000 to 22 percent in 2010. In 2021, it had lowered to 15.3 percent. The state with the widest gap between the rich and the poor was New York, with a Gini coefficient score of 0.51 in 2019. The Gini coefficient is calculated by looking at average income rates. A score of zero would reflect perfect income equality and a score of one indicates a society where one person would have all the money and all other people have nothing.

Graph and download economic data for Real Median Personal Income in the United States (MEPAINUSA672N) from 1974 to 2023 about personal income, personal, median, income, real, and USA.

This table contains figures on the income of private households. The data can be broken down by income concept (primary income, gross income, disposable income, standardised income), income classes and various household background characteristics.

Data available from: 2011.

Status of the figures: The figures for 2011 to 2019 are final. The figures for 2020 are provisional.

Amendments as of 19 December 2021: Figures for 2019 are final and preliminary figures for 2020 have been added.

When are new figures coming? Final figures for 2020 and preliminary figures for 2021 will be available in autumn 2022.

By 2030, the middle-class population in Asia-Pacific is expected to increase from 1.38 billion people in 2015 to 3.49 billion people. In comparison, the middle-class population of sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase from 114 million in 2015 to 212 million in 2030.

Worldwide wealth

While the middle-class has been on the rise, there is still a huge disparity in global wealth and income. The United States had the highest number of individuals belonging to the top one percent of wealth holders, and the value of global wealth is only expected to increase over the coming years. Around 57 percent of the world’s population had assets valued at less than 10,000 U.S. dollars; while less than one percent had assets of more than million U.S. dollars. Asia had the highest percentage of investable assets in the world in 2018, whereas Oceania had the highest percent of non-investable assets.

The middle-class

The middle class is the group of people whose income falls in the middle of the scale. China accounted for over half of the global population for middle-class wealth in 2017. In the United States, the debate about the middle class “disappearing” has been a popular topic due to the increase in wealth to the top billionaires in the nation. Due to this, there have been arguments to increase taxes on the rich to help support the middle-class.

In 2023, the real median household income for householders aged 15 to 24 was at 54,930 U.S. dollars. The highest median household income was found amongst those aged between 45 and 54. Household median income for the United States since 1990 can be accessed here.

GDP per capita (constant 2015 US$) in Low & middle income was reported at 5265 USD in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Low & middle income - GDP per capita (constant 2000 US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on April of 2025.

In 2023, about 26.9 percent of Asian private households in the U.S. had an annual income of 200,000 U.S. dollars and more. Comparatively, around 13.9 percent of Black households had an annual income under 15,000 U.S. dollars.

This table contains figures on the income of persons in private households. The data can be broken down by income concept (personal primary income, personal gross income, personal income), income classes and various background characteristics of the person. Data available from: 2011. Status of the figures: The figures for 2011 to 2020 are final. The figures for 2021 are provisional. Changes as of November 15, 2022: Figures for 2020 are final and provisional figures for 2021 have been added. When will new numbers come out? Final figures for 2021 and provisional figures for 2022 will be available in the autumn of 2023.

This table includes figures on the average increase of rent broken down by income class. A distinction is made here between rental of regulated dwellings by social and other landlords and liberalised rental.

Data available from: 2015.

Status of the figures: The figures in this table are definitive.

Changes as of 20 May 2025: The figures broken down by income class have been removed from this table for the categories of liberalised rents and total. These figures are not applicable and were previously published in error. Landlords can only request income data for regulated rents, which form the basis for this table.

Changes as of 4 September 2024: The figures of 2024 have been published.

Changes as of 8 September 2023: The category 'middle income' has been added to the table.

When will new figures be published? New figures of 2025 will become available in September 2025.

United States - of Female to Male Tertiary School Enrollment for Upper Middle Income Countries was 1.16655 Ratio in January of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - of Female to Male Tertiary School Enrollment for Upper Middle Income Countries reached a record high of 1.17815 in January of 2021 and a record low of 0.88162 in January of 1988. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - of Female to Male Tertiary School Enrollment for Upper Middle Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Payroll and income tax, Benefits: Germany, Years, Type of grants,Grund-/Splitting chart, Size classes of income

Income statistics by economic family type and income source, annual.

Disposable Income per Capita: Middle Income data was reported at 33,925.000 RMB in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 32,195.000 RMB for 2023. Disposable Income per Capita: Middle Income data is updated yearly, averaging 24,111.810 RMB from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2024, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33,925.000 RMB in 2024 and a record low of 15,697.999 RMB in 2013. Disposable Income per Capita: Middle Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table CN.HD: Income by Income Level.

Number of operators per farm by income classes in the year prior to the census and by age from the Socioeconomic overview of the farm population.

In the financial year 2021, a majority of Indian households fell under the aspirers category, earning between 125,000 and 500,000 Indian rupees a year. On the other hand, about three percent of households that same year, accounted for the rich, earning over 3 million rupees annually. The middle class more than doubled that year compared to 14 percent in financial year 2005.

Middle-class income group and the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic specifically during the lockdown in March 2020, loss of incomes hit the entire household income spectrum. However, research showed the severest affected groups were the upper middle- and middle-class income brackets. In addition, unemployment rates were rampant nationwide that further lead to a dismally low GDP. Despite job recoveries over the last few months, improvement in incomes were insignificant.

Economic inequality

While India maybe one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is also one of the most vulnerable and severely afflicted economies in terms of economic inequality. The vast discrepancy between the rich and poor has been prominent since the last three decades. The rich continue to grow richer at a faster pace while the impoverished struggle more than ever before to earn a minimum wage. The widening gaps in the economic structure affect women and children the most. This is a call for reinforcement in in the country’s social structure that emphasizes access to quality education and universal healthcare services.