Most Americans will make it to some rung of the middle class. Here’s how much you need to get to the next tier these days.

The middle class is a very big group. At the top is the upper-middle class, and determining if you fit into this category can be confusing. Discover More: How Much Money Is Needed To Be ...

In some U.S. states, you’ll need to earn a household income of more than $150,000 to be considered upper-middle class.

Even if you’re squeaking into the upper class (the 80-90% range), you’re looking at about $793,000. Moving down to the middle class, things get a bit more varied.

Discover the surprising salary it took to be upper middle class in 1985—and how it compares to today’s income standards.

The upper class, however, spends much more than the average retiree. A 2022 study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute showed that 3% of retirees spent more than $7,000 per month.

From luxury investments to passive income, here are 5 smart ways upper-class retirees are growing and spending their wealth in 2025.

Upper class retirees age 75 averaged over $3K/month in Social Security in 2024. Benefits boost retirement income, and depend on lifetime earnings & claiming age.

Discover the surprising salary it took to be upper middle class in 1985—and how it compares to today’s income standards.