What the Lower Middle Class Makes in Different US Cities

Across U.S. cities, middle-class earnings vary greatly. The national average is $30,001 to $58,020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but it can still be confusing to accurately figure out where you are in the middle-class chain. Even though your status is determined by the income you earn, your location can impact how the values work for you.

Economic circumstances have made the class dynamics even more complex. As a result of lifestyle inflation, U.S. workers need to expand their lifestyle with any rise in income, leaving them with less and less disposable income.

Here’s a look at what the lower middle class makes across different U.S. cities.

Arlington, Virginia

• Median household income: $137,387

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $91,591

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $152,652

San Francisco

• Median household income: $136,689

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $91,126

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $151,877

San Jose, California

• Median household income: $136,010

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $90,673

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $151,122

Irvine, California

• Median household income: $122,948

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $81,965

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $136,609

Seattle

• Median household income: $116,068

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $77,379

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $128,964

Gilbert, Arizona

• Median household income: $115,179

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $76,786

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $127,977

Plano, Texas

• Median household income: $105,679

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $70,453

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $117,421

Scottsdale, Arizona

• Median household income: $104,197

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $69,465

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $115,774

Washington, D.C.

• Median household income: $101,722

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $67,815

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $113,024

Chandler, Arizona

• Median household income: $99,374

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $66,249

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $110,416

San Diego

• Median household income: $98,657

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $65,771

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $109,619

Anchorage, Alaska

• Median household income: $95,731

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $63,821

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $106,368

Oakland, California

• Median household income: $94,389

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $62,926

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $104,877

Chesapeake, Virginia

• Median household income: $92,703

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $61,802

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $103,003

Jersey City, New Jersey

• Median household income: $91,151

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $60,767

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $101,279

Boston

• Median household income: $89,212

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $59,475

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $99,124

Anaheim, California

• Median household income: $88,538

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $59,025

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $98,376

Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Median household income: $87,544

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $58,363

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $97,271

Austin, Texas

• Median household income: $86,556

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $57,704

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $96,173

Portland, Oregon

• Median household income: $85,876

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $57,251

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $95,418

Denver

• Median household income: $85,853

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $57,235

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $95,392

Henderson, Nevada

• Median household income: $85,311

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $56,874

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $94,790

Riverside, California

• Median household income: $83,448

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $55,632

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $92,720

Urban Honolulu, Hawaii

• Median household income: $82,772

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $55,181

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $91,969

Tacoma, Washington

• Median household income: $78,085

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,723

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,872

Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Median household income: $79,026

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,684

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,807

Long Beach, California

• Median household income: $78,995

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,663

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,772

Sacramento, California

• Median household income: $78,954

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,636

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,727

Aurora, Colorado

• Median household income: $78,685

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,457

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,428

Raleigh, North Carolina

• Median household income: $78,631

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $52,421

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $87,368

Atlanta

• Median household income: $77,655

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $51,770

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $86,283

Irving, Texas

• Median household income: $76,686

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $51,124

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $85,207

New York

• Median household income: $76,607

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $51,071

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $85,119

Boise City, Idaho

• Median household income: $76,402

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $50,935

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $84,891

Minneapolis

• Median household income: $76,332

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $50,888

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $84,813

Los Angeles

• Median household income: $76,244

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $50,829

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $84,716

Madison, Wisconsin

• Median household income: $74,895

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,930

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $83,217

Durham, North Carolina

• Median household income: $74,710

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,807

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $83,011

Charlotte, North Carolina

• Median household income: $74,070

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,380

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $82,300

Bakersfield, California

• Median household income: $73,827

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,218

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $82,030

Mesa, Arizona

• Median household income: $73,766

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $49,177

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $81,962

Reno, Nevada

• Median household income: $73,073

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,715

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $81,192

Fort Worth, Texas

• Median household income: $72,726

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,484

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $80,807

Salt Lake City

• Median household income: $72,357

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,238

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $80,397

Phoenix

• Median household income: $72,092

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $48,061

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $80,102

Arlington, Texas

• Median household income: $71,736

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,824

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,707

Chicago

• Median household income: $71,673

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,782

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,637

Stockton, California

• Median household income: $71,612

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,741

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,569

Nashville, Tennessee

• Median household income: $71,328

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $47,552

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $79,253

St. Petersburg, Florida

• Median household income: $70,333

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,889

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $78,148

Omaha, Nebraska

• Median household income: $70,202

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,801

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $78,002

St. Paul, Minnesota

• Median household income: $69,919

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,613

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $77,688

Spring Valley, Nevada

• Median household income: $69,341

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $46,227

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $77,046

Pictured: Las Vegas

Huntsville, Alabama

• Median household income: $67,874

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $45,249

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $75,416

Lincoln, Nebraska

• Median household income: $67,846

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $45,231

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $75,384

Tampa, Florida

• Median household income: $66,802

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,535

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $74,224

Las Vegas

• Median household income: $66,356

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,237

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $73,729

Orlando, Florida

• Median household income: $66,292

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,195

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $73,658

Lexington, Kentucky

• Median household income: $66,087

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $44,058

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $73,430

Kansas City, Missouri

• Median household income: $65,256

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $43,504

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $72,507

Corpus Christi, Texas

• Median household income: $64,449

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,966

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,610

Oklahoma City

• Median household income: $64,251

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,834

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,390

Jacksonville, Florida

• Median household income: $64,138

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,759

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,264

Dallas

• Median household income: $63,985

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,657

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $71,094

Spokane, Washington

• Median household income: $63,316

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,211

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $70,351

Louisville, Kentucky

• Median household income: $63,114

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,076

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $70,127

Fresno, California

• Median household income: $63,001

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $42,001

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $70,001

Columbus, Ohio

• Median household income: $62,994

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $41,996

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $69,993

Des Moines, Iowa

• Median household income: $62,378

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $41,585

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $69,309

Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Median household income: $61,503

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $41,002

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $68,337

Norfolk, Virginia

• Median household income: $60,998

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,665

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $67,776

Wichita, Kansas

• Median household income: $60,712

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,475

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $67,458

Houston

• Median household income: $60,440

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,293

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $67,156

Pittsburgh

• Median household income: $60,187

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $40,125

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $66,874

Richmond, Virginia

• Median household income: $59,606

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,737

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $66,229

San Antonio

• Median household income: $59,593

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,729

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $66,214

Indianapolis

• Median household income: $59,110

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,407

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $65,678

Lubbock, Texas

• Median household income: $58,734

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,156

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $65,260

Little Rock, Arkansas

• Median household income: $58,697

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $39,131

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $65,219

Baltimore

• Median household income: $58,349

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $38,899

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $64,832

Fort Wayne, Indiana

• Median household income: $58,233

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $38,822

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $64,703

Philadelphia

• Median household income: $57,537

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $38,358

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $63,930

Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Median household income: $56,648

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $37,765

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $62,942

El Paso, Texas

• Median household income: $55,710

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $37,140

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $61,900

Greensboro, North Carolina

• Median household income: $55,051

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $36,701

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $61,168

Miami

• Median household income: $54,858

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $36,572

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $60,953

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

• Median household income: $54,416

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $36,277

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $60,462

St. Louis

• Median household income: $52,941

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $35,294

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $58,823

Tucson, Arizona

• Median household income: $52,049

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $34,699

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $57,832

New Orleans

• Median household income: $51,116

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $34,077

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $56,796

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Median household income: $50,155

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $33,437

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $55,728

Milwaukee

• Median household income: $49,733

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $33,155

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $55,259

Cincinnati

• Median household income: $49,191

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $32,794

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $54,657

Memphis, Tennessee

• Median household income: $48,090

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $32,060

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $53,433

Newark, New Jersey

• Median household income: $46,460

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $30,973

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $51,622

Buffalo, New York

• Median household income: $46,184

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $30,789

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $51,316

Toldeo, Ohio

• Median household income: $45,405

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $30,270

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $50,450

Rochester, New York

• Median household income: $44,156

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $29,437

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $49,062

Detroit

• Median household income: $37,761

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $25,174

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $41,957

Cleveland

• Median household income: $37,271

• Low end of lower-middle-class income: $24,847

• High end of lower-middle-class income: $41,412

Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates looked at the 100 biggest cities in terms of total households as sourced from the 2022 American Community Survey. GOBankingRates determined the lower-middle-class low and high limits for each city, under the assumption that middle-class income is two-thirds to double the income of a given area. All data was collected and is up to date as of June 25, 2024.

More From GOBankingRates

• 9 Things You Must Buy at Big Lots While on a Retirement Budget

• 10 Worst Cities To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years, According to Real Estate Agents

• 3 Things to Do This Week If You Have Debt

• 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What the Lower Middle Class Makes in Different US Cities