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

Half of Americans are in the middle class, making two-thirds to double the median income. The next step before upper class is upper-middle class, which is defined by a salary in the range of $106,000 to $149,000 — depending on where you live.

Using the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class (as mentioned above), GOBankingRates researched the median income of every state to see where the line is between middle class and upper-middle class. On the East Coast, the upper-middle class spans from $103,000 (South Carolina) to the high $150,000 range (Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey).

See where the line is in every East Coast state.

• Median household income: $93,760
• Middle-class income range: $62,507 to $187,520
• Upper-middle class income begins: $145,849

• Median household income: $82,855
• Middle-class income range: $55,237 to $165,710
• Upper-middle class income begins: $128,886

• Median household income: $71,711
• Middle-class income range: $47,807 to $143,422
• Upper-middle class income begins: $111,550

• Median household income: $74,664
• Middle-class income range: $49,776 to $149,328
• Upper-middle class income begins: $116,144

• Median household income: $101,652
• Middle-class income range: $67,768 to $203,304
• Upper-middle class income begins: $158,125

• Median household income: $101,341
• Middle-class income range: $67,561 to $202,682
• Upper-middle class income begins: $157,642

• Median household income: $95,628
• Middle-class income range: $63,752 to $191,256
• Upper-middle class income begins: $148,755

• Median household income: $101,050
• Middle-class income range: $67,367 to $202,100
• Upper-middle class income begins: $157,189

• Median household income: $84,578
• Middle-class income range: $56,385 to $169,156
• Upper-middle class income begins: $131,566

• Median household income: $69,904
• Middle-class income range: $46,603 to $139,808
• Upper-middle class income begins: $108,740

• Median household income: $76,081
• Middle-class income range: $50,721 to $152,162
• Upper-middle class income begins: $118,348

• Median household income: $86,372
• Middle-class income range: $57,581 to $172,744
• Upper-middle class income begins: $134,356

• Median household income: $66,818
• Middle-class income range: $44,545 to $133,636
• Upper-middle class income begins: $103,939

• Median household income: $78,024
• Middle-class income range: $52,016 to $156,048
• Upper-middle class income begins: $121,371

• Median household income: $90,974
• Middle-class income range: $60,649 to $181,948
• Upper-middle class income begins: $141,515

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.