Mapped: The Income a Family Needs to Be Middle Class, by State

The Income a Family Needs to Be Middle Class, by U.S. State

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Across the United States, what qualifies as “middle class” varies widely depending on where you live. This map breaks down the median household income for each U.S. state, revealing sharp contrasts in earning power. It provides a snapshot of where families may feel more or less financially secure based on local income benchmarks.

The data for this visualization comes from SmartAsset.

Editor’s note: This map uses median household income as a simple indicator of the middle class in each state. True middle class status typically spans a range of incomes.

Top Earners Cluster in the Northeast

Maryland, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts lead the nation with household incomes at or above $90,000. High concentrations of federal jobs, tech firms, and elite educational institutions contribute to these numbers. According to Pew Research Center, these regions also report strong access to health care and education, reinforcing higher cost-of-living dynamics.

Rank	State	Median Household Income
1	District Of Columbia	90K
2	Maryland	90K
3	Massachusetts	90K
4	New Jersey	89K
5	New Hampshire	88K
6	California	85K
7	Hawaii	85K
8	Connecticut	84K
9	Washington	84K
10	Colorado	82K
11	Virginia	81K
12	Utah	79K
13	Alaska	78K
14	Minnesota	78K
15	New York	74K
16	Rhode Island	74K
17	Illinois	72K
18	Oregon	72K
19	Vermont	72K
20	Delaware	71K
21	Arizona	69K
22	Pennsylvania	69K
23	Georgia	67K
24	Nebraska	67K
25	North Dakota	67K
26	Texas	67K
27	Wisconsin	67K
28	Idaho	66K
29	Iowa	66K
30	Nevada	66K
31	South Dakota	66K
32	Maine	65K
33	Wyoming	65K
34	Kansas	64K
35	Florida	63K
36	Indiana	63K
37	Michigan	63K
38	Montana	63K
39	Missouri	62K
40	North Carolina	62K
41	Ohio	62K
42	Tennessee	60K
43	South Carolina	59K
44	Kentucky	56K
45	Oklahoma	56K
46	Alabama	54K
47	New Mexico	54K
48	Arkansas	53K
49	Louisiana	52K
50	West Virginia	51K
51	Mississippi	49K

The South Continues to Lag Behind

Southern states like Mississippi, and Alabama have the lowest median household incomes, under $54,000. Economic mobility in these regions is often hindered by lower investment in public infrastructure and education. As Brookings notes, many Southern states also experience higher poverty rates and limited access to high-paying industries.

States with Growing Incomes

Several states in the West and Midwest—including Oregon, and Utah—are emerging with stronger income levels, typically in the $70,000-$80,000 range.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out U.S. Workers Earning Under $17/Hour by State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.