$150K Income Is 'Lower Middle Class' In These CA Cities (2024)

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$150K Income Is 'Lower Middle Class' In These CA Cities? ›

San Jose, California

The report, which looked at the cost of living compared to salaries in different cities across the U.S. revealed that in certain U.S. cities, making $150,000 or less can be considered "lower-middle class."

$150K Income Is 'Lower Middle Class' In These CA Cities | Across California, CA Patch.

These middle income residents need to make at least $81,623 in San Francisco, $84,673 in San Jose and $104,499 in Fremont. Seattle residents similarly need to make at least $74,223. You're middle class even if you make $310,000 in this California city.

An annual income of $150,000 is only enough to qualify as “lower middle class.”

How much does a 150K make in Los Angeles, California? As of Apr 3, 2024, the average hourly pay for a 150K in Los Angeles is $15.87 an hour.

However, new research from GOBankingRates shows that in some major U.S. cities, an annual income of $150,000 is only enough to qualify as “lower middle class.” This is especially pronounced in two Northern California cities and Arlington, Virginia.

The cities that ranked with the highest incomes considered "lower middle class" include, in descending order: Arlington, Virginia; San Francisco; San Jose, California; Irvine, California; Seattle; Gilbert, Arizona; Plano, Texas; Scottsdale, Arizona; Washington, D.C.; and Chandler, Arizona.

The study defines "middle class" as earning between $47,000 to $141,000 a year. However, it says family size and location also determines the status. According to the report, "middle class" in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim is $165,000 for a family of three.

Three out of the top five cities with the highest income thresholds for the middle class are located in the Bay Area. These middle income residents need to make at least $81,623 in San Francisco, $84,673 in San Jose and $104,499 in Fremont.

What is the middle class income in Oakland CA? ›

In California's Bay Area of San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, families making between $77,000 and $232,000 are considered middle class. For California's Inland Empire region of Riverside, San Bernardino and Ontario, the range falls between $51,000 and $154,000.

A middle-class income in Denver is anywhere from $54,700 to $163,000. Anything beyond $163,000 would be considered upper class.

Here, a single person needs $110,781 annually or $53.26 in hourly wages to be comfortable, according to the data. For a family of two working adults with two children, a salary of $276,557 is needed. Anaheim and Long Beach also made the list, tying for #14.

According to the updated guidelines, a single person earning less than $122,500 in San Francisco County and $126,900 in Santa Clara County (San Jose) is now considered to have low income.

Single resident households in Sacramento earning less than $60,050 annually are considered low income residents, according to the 2023 State Income Limits report posted in June.

Lower middle class: This is defined as individuals in the 20th to 40th percentile of household income. Earnings among this group are between $28,008 and $55,000. Middle class: The middle class is officially those whose earnings put them in the 40th to 60th percentile of household income.

A $150,000 annual salary qualifies as a “lower middle class” income in LA and the Bay Area, according to a recent analysis from GOBankingRates. U.S. Census data reported that the median household income was just under $75,000 in 2022.

While the exact threshold fluctuates based on factors such as local cost of living and inflation, those in the upper middle class typically have an estimated household income of $150,000 to $250,000. This income level is much higher than what the average American makes.

The Bottom Line. For 2024, the upper middle class in the U.S. generally includes households with incomes ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. However, this range can vary based on location, family size and economic conditions.