What Middle-Class Income Has Looked Like Every Year Since 1980

If you earn a middle-class income in 2024, you’re undoubtedly making more money now than what was considered to be middle class five, 10 and more than 20 years ago.

To determine what income amount was considered middle class for Americans, GOBankingRates used the Current Population Survey to find the median household income every year from 1980 onwards. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI inflation calculator, the middle-class income in the United States was then found in current dollars and in 2024 dollars.

Keep reading to find out which household income since 1980 has been considered middle class.

In 1980 dollars: 

• Median household income: $17,710
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $11,807
• Highest end of middle-class income: $35,420

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $67,146
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $44,764
• Highest end of middle-class income: $134,291

In 1981 dollars: 

• Median household income: $19,070
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $12,713
• Highest end of middle-class income: $38,140

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $65,997
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $43,998
• Highest end of middle-class income: $131,995

In 1982 dollars: 

• Median household income: $20,170
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $13,447
• Highest end of middle-class income: $40,340

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $65,199
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $43,466
• Highest end of middle-class income: $130,397

In 1983 dollars: 

• Median household income: $20,890
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $13,927
• Highest end of middle-class income: $41,780

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $65,829
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $43,886
• Highest end of middle-class income: $131,659

In 1984 dollars: 

• Median household income: $22,420
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $14,947
• Highest end of middle-class income: $44,840

In 2024 dollars:

• Median household income: $67,789
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,193
• Highest end of middle-class income: $135,579

In 1985 dollars: 

• Median household income: $23,620
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $15,747
• Highest end of middle-class income: $47,240

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $68,829
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,886
• Highest end of middle-class income: $137,658

In 1986 dollars: 

• Median household income: $24,900
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $16,600
• Highest end of middle-class income: $49,800

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $71,300
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,533
• Highest end of middle-class income: $142,600

In 1987 dollars: 

• Median household income: $26,060
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $17,373
• Highest end of middle-class income: $52,120

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $71,992
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,994
• Highest end of middle-class income: $143,983

In 1988 dollars: 

• Median household income: $27,230
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $18,153
• Highest end of middle-class income: $54,460

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $72,355
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,237
• Highest end of middle-class income: $144,710

In 1989 dollars: 

• Median household income: $28,910
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $19,273
• Highest end of middle-class income: $57,820

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $73,043
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,696
• Highest end of middle-class income: $146,087

In 1990 dollars: 

• Median household income: $29,940
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $19,960
• Highest end of middle-class income: $59,880

In 2024 dollars:

• Median household income: $72,268
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,179
• Highest end of middle-class income: $144,536

In 1991 dollars: 

• Median household income: $30,130
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $20,087
• Highest end of middle-class income: $60,260

In 2024 dollars:

• Median household income: $69,465
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,310
• Highest end of middle-class income: $138,929

In 1992 dollars: 

• Median household income: $30,640
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $20,427
• Highest end of middle-class income: $61,280

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $68,524
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,683
• Highest end of middle-class income: $137,049

In 1993 dollars: 

• Median household income: $31,240
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $20,827
• Highest end of middle-class income: $62,480

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $67,834
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,223
• Highest end of middle-class income: $135,668

In 1994 dollars: 

• Median household income: $32,260
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $21,507
• Highest end of middle-class income: $64,520

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $68,345
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,563
• Highest end of middle-class income: $136,690

In 1995 dollars: 

• Median household income: $34,080
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $22,720
• Highest end of middle-class income: $68,160

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $70,070
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,714
• Highest end of middle-class income: $140,141

In 1996 dollars: 

• Median household income: $35,490
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $23,660
• Highest end of middle-class income: $70,980

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $71,014
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,342
• Highest end of middle-class income: $142,027

In 1997 dollars: 

• Median household income: $37,010
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $24,673
• Highest end of middle-class income: $74,020

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $72,392
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,261
• Highest end of middle-class income: $144,784

In 1998 dollars: 

• Median household income: $38,890
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $25,927
• Highest end of middle-class income: $77,780

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $74,809
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,873
• Highest end of middle-class income: $149,618

In 1999 dollars: 

• Median household income: $40,700
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $27,133
• Highest end of middle-class income: $81,400

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $76,783
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $51,189
• Highest end of middle-class income: $153,567

In 2000 dollars: 

• Median household income: $41,990
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $27,993
• Highest end of middle-class income: $83,980

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $76,368
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $50,912
• Highest end of middle-class income: $152,736

In 2001 dollars: 

• Median household income: $42,230
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $28,153
• Highest end of middle-class income: $84,460

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $74,388
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,592
• Highest end of middle-class income: $148,777

In 2002 dollars: 

• Median household income: $42,410
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $28,273
• Highest end of middle-class income: $84,820

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $73,916
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,278
• Highest end of middle-class income: $147,833

In 2003 dollars: 

• Median household income: $43,320
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $28,880
• Highest end of middle-class income: $86,640

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $73,941
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,294
• Highest end of middle-class income: $147,881

In 2004 dollars: 

• Median household income: $44,330
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $29,553
• Highest end of middle-class income: $88,660

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $73,271
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,848
• Highest end of middle-class income: $146,543

In 2005 dollars: 

• Median household income: $46,330
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $30,887
• Highest end of middle-class income: $92,660

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $74,687
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,792
• Highest end of middle-class income: $149,375

In 2006 dollars: 

• Median household income: $48,200
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $32,133
• Highest end of middle-class income: $96,400

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $74,485
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,657
• Highest end of middle-class income: $148,970

In 2007 dollars: 

• Median household income: $50,230
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,487
• Highest end of middle-class income: $100,460

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $75,591
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $50,394
• Highest end of middle-class income: $151,182

In 2008 dollars: 

• Median household income: $50,300
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,533
• Highest end of middle-class income: $100,600

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $72,077
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,051
• Highest end of middle-class income: $144,153

In 2009 dollars: 

• Median household income: $49,780
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,187
• Highest end of middle-class income: $99,560

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $72,364
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,243
• Highest end of middle-class income: $144,728

In 2010 dollars: 

• Median household income: $49,280
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $32,853
• Highest end of middle-class income: $98,560

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $70,890
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,260
• Highest end of middle-class income: $141,781

In 2011 dollars: 

• Median household income: $50,050
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,367
• Highest end of middle-class income: $100,100

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $69,524
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,349
• Highest end of middle-class income: $139,048

In 2012 dollars: 

• Median household income: $51,020
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $34,013
• Highest end of middle-class income: $102,040

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $69,711
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,474
• Highest end of middle-class income: $139,423

In 2013 dollars: 

• Median household income: $53,590
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $35,727
• Highest end of middle-class income: $107,180

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $71,960
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,974
• Highest end of middle-class income: $143,921

In 2014 dollars: 

• Median household income: $53,660
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $35,773
• Highest end of middle-class income: $107,320

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $70,591
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,061
• Highest end of middle-class income: $141,183

In 2015 dollars: 

• Median household income: $56,520
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $37,680
• Highest end of middle class income: $113,040

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $74,262
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,508
• Highest end of middle-class income: $148,524

In 2016 dollars: 

• Median household income: $59,040
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $39,360
• Highest end of middle-class income: $118,080

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $76,807
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $51,205
• Highest end of middle-class income: $153,614

In 2017 dollars: 

• Median household income: $61,140
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $40,760
• Highest end of middle-class income: $122,280

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $78,261
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $52,174
• Highest end of middle-class income: $156,521

In 2018 dollars: 

• Median household income: $63,180
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $42,120
• Highest end of middle-class income: $126,360

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $78,614
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $52,410
• Highest end of middle-class income: $157,229

In 2019 dollars: 

• Median household income: $68,700
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,800
• Highest end of middle-class income: $137,400

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $84,097
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $56,064
• Highest end of middle-class income: $168,193

In 2020 dollars: 

• Median household income: $68,010
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,340
• Highest end of middle-class income: $136,020

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $82,718
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $55,145
• Highest end of middle-class income: $165,436

In 2021 dollars: 

• Median household income: $70,780
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,187
• Highest end of middle-class income: $141,560

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $81,683
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $54,455
• Highest end of middle-class income: $163,366

In 2022 dollars: 

• Median household income: $74,580
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,720
• Highest end of middle-class income: $149,160

In 2024 dollars: 

• Median household income: $78,918
• Lowest end of middle-class income: $52,612
• Highest end of middle-class income: $157,837

Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used the Current Population Survey as conducted by the US Census Bureau, to find the median household income each year from 1980 onwards. With this information, GOBankingRates found both the middle-class income in the US every year since 1980 in current dollars and in 2024 dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI inflation calculator. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 28, 2024.