Average Middle Class Income by State in 2025

The definition of middle class income varies greatly depending on where you live in America. According to the Pew Research Center, middle-class income ranges from two-thirds to double the median household income in your state, creating a range rather than a single number.

For 2025, the national median household income is projected to be $74,225, based on the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey, analyzed by SmartAsset), which places the national middle class range between $49,483 and $148,450.

However, variations from state to state reveal a more complex picture. A household earning $60,000 might be middle class in Mississippi but struggling in Massachusetts. Understanding these regional differences helps you assess your financial situation and determine what income levels constitute middle-class stability in your specific region.

These numbers represent household income, not individual earnings, and can vary significantly depending on family size and whether you live in an urban or rural area.

1. Middle Class Income by State: Complete Ranking

• Alabama has a median household income of $62,212, with a middle-class range between $41,475 and $124,424.
• Alaska has a median of $86,631 with a middle-class range of $57,754 to $173,262.
• Arizona has a median income of $72,602, with a middle class range between $48,401 and $145,204.
• Arkansas has a median of $56,335 with a middle-class range of $37,557 to $112,670.
• California has a median household income of $91,905, with a middle class range of $61,270 to $183,810.
• Colorado has a median of $87,598 with a middle-class range of $58,399 to $175,196.
• Connecticut has a median household income of $90,213, with a middle class range of $60,142 to $180,426.
• Delaware has a median of $79,325 with a middle-class range of $52,883 to $158,650.
• Florida has a median household income of $67,917, with a middle class range of $45,278 to $135,834.
• Georgia has a median of $71,355 with a middle-class range of $47,570 to $142,710.
• Hawaii has a median household income of $94,814, with a middle class range of $63,209 to $189,628.
• Idaho has a median of $70,214 with a middle-class range of $46,809 to $140,428.
• Illinois has a median household income of $80,482, with a middle class range of $53,655 to $160,964.
• Indiana has a median of $67,173 with a middle-class range of $44,782 to $134,346.
• Iowa has a median household income of $70,571, with a middle class range of $47,047 to $141,142.
• Kansas has a median of $69,747 with a middle-class range of $46,498 to $139,494.
• Kentucky has a median household income of $60,183, with a middle class range of $40,122 to $120,366.
• Louisiana has a median income of $57,852, with a middle class range of $38,568 to $115,704.
• Maine has a median household income of $68,602, with a middle class range of $45,735 to $137,204.
• Maryland has a median of $98,461 with a middle-class range of $65,641 to $196,922.
• Massachusetts has a median household income of $99,858, with a middle class range of $66,572 to $199,716.
• Michigan has a median of $68,505 with a middle-class range of $45,670 to $137,010.
• Minnesota has a median household income of $84,313, with a middle class range of $56,209 to $168,626.
• Mississippi has a median income of $54,198, with a middle class range of $36,132 to $108,396.
• Missouri has a median household income of $65,920, with a middle class range of $43,947 to $131,840.
• Montana has a median income of $66,341, with a middle class range of $44,227 to $132,682.
• Nebraska has a median household income of $71,772, with a middle class range of $47,848 to $143,544.
• Nevada has a median of $71,646 with a middle-class range of $47,764 to $143,292.
• New Hampshire has a median household income of $90,845, with a middle class range of $60,563 to $181,690.
• New Jersey has a median income of $97,346, with a middle class range of $64,897 to $194,692.
• New Mexico has a median household income of $58,722, with a middle class range of $39,148 to $117,444.
• New York has a median of $81,386 with a middle-class range of $54,257 to $162,772.
• North Carolina has a median household income of $66,186, with a middle class range of $44,124 to $132,372.
• North Dakota has a median income of $73,959, with a middle class range of $49,306 to $147,918.
• Ohio has a median household income of $66,990, with a middle class range of $44,660 to $133,980.
• Oklahoma has a median income of $61,364, with a middle class range of $40,909 to $122,728.
• Oregon has a median household income of $76,632, with a middle class range of $51,088 to $153,264.
• Pennsylvania has a median of $70,479 with a middle-class range of $46,986 to $140,958.
• Rhode Island has a median household income of $81,370, with a middle class range of $54,247 to $162,740.
• South Carolina has a median income of $64,115, with a middle class range of $42,743 to $128,230.
• South Dakota has a median household income of $69,457, with a middle class range of $46,305 to $138,914.
• Tennessee has a median of $64,035 with a middle-class range of $42,690 to $128,070.
• Texas has a median household income of $73,035, with a middle class range of $48,690 to $146,070.
• Utah has a median of $86,833 with a middle-class range of $57,889 to $173,666.
• Vermont has a median household income of $74,014, with a middle class range of $49,343 to $148,028.
• Virginia has a median of $87,249 with a middle-class range of $58,166 to $174,498.
• Washington has a median household income of $90,325, with a middle-class range between $60,217 and $180,650.
• West Virginia has a median income of $55,217, with a middle class range between $36,811 and $110,434.
• Wisconsin has a median household income of $72,602, with a middle class range of $48,401 to $145,204.
• Wyoming has a median income of $72,495, with a middle class range of $48,330 to $144,990.

2. Regional models and economic drivers

The highest median household incomes are concentrated in the Northeast Coast and the West Coast, with Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey leading the way at $99,858, $98,461 and $97,346, respectively.

These states benefit from a concentration of technology industries, financial services and high-paying government positions that drive up typical profits. Hawaii, California and Washington also have high medians above $90,000, reflecting both strong economies and a high cost of living that requires higher incomes to maintain a middle-class lifestyle.

The lowest medians appear primarily in the South and Appalachian regions. Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana have medians below $58,000, reflecting lower overall wages and different economic structures compared to coastal metro areas. These states have historically relied on sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and resource extraction, which typically offer lower pay than the technology or financial services sectors.

Geographic income disparity reveals much more than just raw earning power. These ranges adjust for the local cost of living, meaning that an income in the middle of the range in a low-cost state can buy significantly more than the same amount in a high-cost state.

A household earning $72,000 in Mississippi enjoys greater purchasing power for housing, food, and services than a household earning $130,000 in Massachusetts, even if the Massachusetts household is in a higher absolute income bracket.

Conclusion

Understanding middle class income by state reveals the financial landscape across America in 2025. The $45,660 gap between the highest and lowest state medians illustrates the significant impact of geography on what constitutes “middle class” financially.

Whether you’re evaluating your own financial situation, considering reshoring, or simply trying to understand regional economic differences, these state-specific numbers provide a clearer picture than national averages alone can offer.

The data demonstrates that middle class status isn’t just about earning a specific amount: it’s also about how that income relates to the economic realities of where you live. For personalized calculations based on your unique household situation, this tool from Pew Research can help you determine precisely where you fall in your state’s middle class range.