POLITICS
How much money do you need to make to be considered middle class in your state?
A significant number of individuals in the United States consider themselves to belong to the middle class, unaware of their true status as workers.
Understanding what the middle class is crucial before it can be pinned down what people have to earn to be included in it.
In the 19th century, prominent sociologists like Karl Marx and Max Weber provided influential analyses of class structures, with Weber specifically highlighting the emergence of a “middle class” as a distinct social group. For marxists, the middle class is a part of the bourgeoisie, composed of affluent individuals who own and control the means of production, though this evolved into an idea of the petite bourgeoisie. These were people who had moved out of serfdom though had not reach the stata of the bourgeoisie.
The emergence of consumerism is important in this discussion, albeit seperate from understanding of class. Consuming now defines the middle class, shaping our society by being the aim of the procurement of money as well as keeping economies ticking over.
Many people believe themselves to be in the middle class even if they are not. A 2015 Pew Research Center servey suggested 89% of Americans believe themselves to be in the middle class. Further research argues the true figure is actually around 50%, down from 61% 50 years ago. Few want to admit they are actually working class and constant consumption provides the smokescreen to allow workers to feel they are not living paycheck to paychek.
The money your family needs to earn to be middle class in your state
GOBankingRates has used data from the 2019 census assuming that middle class is earnings between 67% and 200% of the national median income which was $68,703. This is following the methodology of the Pew Research Center.
Alabama: $54,111 to $161,524
Alaska: $69,727 to $208,140
Arizona: $55,092 to $164,454
Arkansas: $47,895 to $142,970
California: $66,091 to $197,288
Colorado: $71,100 to $212,240
Connecticut: $83,808 to $250,174
Delaware: $69,613 to $207,800
Florida: $54,322 to $162,154
Georgia: $56,850 to $169,702
Hawaii: $72,694 to $216,996
Idaho: $53,479 to $159,640
Illinois: $68,452 to $204,334
Indiana: $58,007 to $173,156
Iowa: $63,128 to $188,442
Kansas: $60,490 to $180,568
Kentucky: $53,873 to $160,814
Louisiana: $54,792 to $163,558
Maine: $62,685 to $187,120
Maryland: $83,621 to $249,614
Massachusetts: $87,939 to $262,504
Michigan: $62,640 to $186,984
Minnesota: $75,671 to $225,884
Mississippi: $46,144 to $137,742
Missouri: $59,308 to $177,038
Montana: $58,586 to $174,884
Nebraska: $62,752 to $187,320
Nevada: $55,281 to $165,018
New Hampshire: $80,950 to $241,642
New Jersey: $86,287 to $257,572
New Mexico: $45,526 to $135,898
New York: $70,331 to $209,944
North Carolina: $56,648 to $169,098
North Dakota: $69,738 to $208,174
Ohio: $61,094 to $182,370
Oklahoma: $51,015 to $152,284
Oregon: $63,013 to $188,100
Pennsylvania: $67,667 to $201,990
Rhode Island: $72,251 to $215,674
South Carolina: $54,252 to $161,946
South Dakota: $59,443 to $177,442
Tennessee: $54,118 to $161,546
Texas: $57,212 to $170,782
Utah: $60,663 to $181,084
Vermont: $66,453 to $198,368
Virginia: $73,000 to $217,910
Washington: $71,747 to $214,170
West Virginia: $51,654 to $154,192
Wisconsin: $66,791 to $199,376
Wyoming: $64,195.38 to $191,628
All these income ranges are based upon a four-person family.