The Line Between Middle Class and Upper-Middle Class on the West Coast

Half of Americans fall into the socioeconomic category of middle class, according to Pew Research Center, which classifies a middle-class person as someone who earns between two-thirds and double the median household income in the nation.

Using that definition, GOBankingRates researched the median income of each state so as to find where the upper-middle class begins. In West Coast and Pacific states, that is anywhere from $125,000 (Oregon) to $153,000 (Hawaii).

Check out where you will step up in the middle-class ranks in every West Coast state.

• Median household income: $89,336
• Middle-class income range: $59,557 to $178,672
• Upper-middle class income begins: $138,967

• Median household income: $96,334
• Middle-class income range: $64,223 to $192,668
• Upper-middle class income begins: $149,853

• Median household income: $98,317
• Middle-class income range: $65,545 to $196,634
• Upper-middle class income begins: $152,938

• Median household income: $80,426
• Middle-class income range: $53,617 to $160,852
• Upper-middle class income begins: $125,107

• Median household income: $94,952
• Middle-class income range: $63,301 to $189,904
• Upper-middle class income begins: $147,703

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.