The Line Between Middle Class and Upper-Middle Class in the Midwest

The line between middle class and upper-middle class is a moving target that varies depending on where in America you live.

GOBankingRates used the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class and then found the median income of each state to determine where the line is between middle class and upper-middle class. In the Midwest, the upper-middle class begins at an average salary of about $116,000.

See where the line is in every Midwestern state.

• Median household income: $81,702
• Middle-class income range: $54,468 to $163,404
• Upper-middle class income begins: $127,092

• Median household income: $70,051
• Middle-class income range: $46,701 to $140,102
• Upper-middle class income begins: $108,968

• Median household income: $73,147
• Middle-class income range: $48,765 to $146,294
• Upper-middle class income begins: $113,784

• Median household income: $72,639
• Middle-class income range: $48,426 to $145,278
• Upper-middle class income begins: $112,994

• Median household income: $71,149
• Middle-class income range: $47,433 to $142,298
• Upper-middle class income begins: $110,676

• Median household income: $87,556
• Middle-class income range: $58,371 to $175,112
• Upper-middle class income begins: $136,198

• Median household income: $68,920
• Middle-class income range: $45,947 to $137,840
• Upper-middle class income begins: $107,209

• Median household income: $74,985
• Middle-class income range: $49,990 to $149,970
• Upper-middle class income begins: $116,643

• Median household income: $75,949
• Middle-class income range: $50,633 to $151,898
• Upper-middle class income begins: $118,143

• Median household income: $69,680
• Middle-class income range: $46,453 to $139,360
• Upper-middle class income begins: $108,391

• Median household income: $72,421
• Middle-class income range: $48,281 to $144,842
• Upper-middle class income begins: $112,655

• Median household income: $75,670
• Middle-class income range: $50,447 to $151,340
• Upper-middle class income begins: $117,709

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each state to find their middle class income range. The median household income, total population and households were all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. GOBankingRates was able to calculate the middle class income using PewResearch’s definition of middle class, “two-thirds to double the median income”. With the middle class income calculated the lower, middle, and upper middle class were calculated for each state. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Jan. 29, 2025.