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Middle-class cutoff hinges on income, but savings power varies widely
Using federal benchmarks, median full-time weekly pay of $1,204 implies a $62,608 annual wage, with lower-income below $41,321 and upper-class above $125,216.
Yahoo Finance, citing Pew Research Center, says the definition of the middle class is based on income relative to the national median, with the group falling between two-thirds and double the median level.
The outlet also points to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, which it says showed median weekly earnings for full-time workers of $1,204 as of February 2026, translating to a $62,608 median annual wage assuming a 52-week work year. It adds that, under the same framework, workers earning under $41,321 are categorized as lower-income, while those earning above $125,216 are categorized as upper class.
Yahoo Finance cautions that regional cost of living differences can affect disposable income and savings power, even if someone’s earnings place them in the middle-income range.
To illustrate that gap, it cites Fidelity figures showing average 401(k) balances of $260,300 and IRA balances of $286,700 for boomers in mid 2026, compared with Gen X averages of $215,600 for 401(k)s and $118,700 for IRAs. It frames retirement account balances and the ability to save as signals that some households may be climbing beyond the middle class.