INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Nationwide, the household income needed to be considered a part of the middle-class has increased significantly. An income of $35,364 made you a member of the middle-class in 2012.
In 2022, that figure increased to $50,099, and was the lowest minimum salary to be considered middle-class.
In 2012 a salary of $32,249 in Indiana was the minimum to be considered middle-class. That figure increased to $44,782 in 2022. That’s a 38.86% increase in 10 years.
The maximum income to be part of the middle class in Indiana $134,346.
Ashley Ryan, works at an Indianapolis bank. “I think the $134 (thousand) max for middle class is high. That’s like a two-person income. It’s almost me and my husband’s income.”
Inflation, the rising cost of housing, health care, and education have bumped up expenses for the average American, making it even more costly to be part of the middle class. Plus, it takes even more money to move to the next income bracket. Guangjun Qu, an associate professor of economics at DePauw University in Greencastle, says that’s worrisome. “It becomes harder to move up, and this is the systematic issue in the United States, higher income inequality.”
Despite the rising cost of everything, Qu says people can still act to make more money. “The big difference between middle class and upper class: The upper class did a lot of stock investment, so they benefitted a lot from their investment.”
Where does Indiana rank in relation to other states? Indiana ranks 30th, according to a study conducted by GoBankingRates.
Maryland has the highest salary to be considered middle-class at $65,641. Mississippi has the lowest at $35,323.
Alaska had the least amount of change in the last 10 years, with an increase of 25%.
The biggest increase was in Oregon, who saw a 53.15% increase in 10 years.
The study also looked at what it takes to reach the next level of wealth. In 2012 the highest household income considered to be middle class was $106,092. In 2022, that figure reached $150,298, an increase of 41.67%.
Income ranges to be considered middle class in all 50 states
1. Oregon
- 2022 middle-class income range:$51,088 to $153,264
- 2012 middle-class income range:$33,357 to $100,072
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):53.15%
2. Washington
- 2022 middle-class income range:$60,217 to $180,650
- 2012 middle-class income range:$39,583 to $118,748
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):52.13%
3. Colorado
- 2022 middle-class income range:$58,399 to $175,196
- 2012 middle-class income range:$38,829 to $116,488
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):50.40%
4. California
- 2022 middle-class income range:$61,270 to $183,810
- 2012 middle-class income range:$40,933 to $122,800
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):49.68%
5. Idaho
- 2022 middle-class income range:$46,809 to $140,428
- 2012 middle-class income range:$31,343 to $94,030
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):49.34%
6. Utah
- 2022 middle-class income range:$57,889 to $173,666
- 2012 middle-class income range:$38,776 to $116,328
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):49.29%
7. Montana
- 2022 middle-class income range:$44,227 to $132,682
- 2012 middle-class income range:$30,304 to $90,912
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):45.95%
8. Tennessee
- 2022 middle-class income range:$42,690 to $128,070
- 2012 middle-class income range:$29,427 to $88,280
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):45.07%
9. Rhode Island
- 2022 middle-class income range:$54,247 to $162,740
- 2012 middle-class income range:$37,401 to $112,204
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):45.04%
10. Massachusetts
- 2022 middle-class income range:$64,337 to $193,010
- 2012 middle-class income range:$44,439 to $133,316
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):44.78%
11. Arizona
- 2022 middle-class income range:$48,387 to $145,162
- 2012 middle-class income range:$33,504 to $100,512
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):44.42%
12. Georgia
- 2022 middle-class income range:$47,570 to $142,710
- 2012 middle-class income range:$33,069 to $99,208
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):43.85%
13. Florida
- 2022 middle-class income range:$45,278 to $135,834
- 2012 middle-class income range:$31,539 to $94,618
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):43.56%
14. North Dakota
- 2022 middle-class income range:$49,306 to $147,918
- 2012 middle-class income range:$34,427 to $103,282
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):43.22%
15. Minnesota
- 2022 middle-class income range:$56,209 to $168,626
- 2012 middle-class income range:$39,417 to $118,252
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):42.60%
16. South Carolina
- 2022 middle-class income range:$42,415 to $127,246
- 2012 middle-class income range:$29,749 to $89,246
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):42.58%
17. North Carolina
- 2022 middle-class income range:$44,124 to $132,372
- 2012 middle-class income range:$30,967 to $92,900
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):42.49%
18. Texas
- 2022 middle-class income range:$48,690 to $146,070
- 2012 middle-class income range:$34,375 to $103,126
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):41.64%
19. Maine
- 2022 middle-class income range:$45,501 to $136,502
- 2012 middle-class income range:$32,146 to $96,438
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):41.54%
20. South Dakota
- 2022 middle-class income range:$46,305 to $138,914
- 2012 middle-class income range:$32,727 to $98,182
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):41.49%
21. Michigan
- 2022 middle-class income range:$45,670 to $137,010
- 2012 middle-class income range:$32,314 to $96,942
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):41.33%
22. Kentucky
- 2022 middle-class income range:$40,122 to $120,366
- 2012 middle-class income range:$28,407 to $85,220
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):41.24%
23. New York
- 2022 middle-class income range:$54,257 to $162,772
- 2012 middle-class income range:$38,455 to $115,366
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):41.09%
24. Hawaii
- 2022 middle-class income range:$63,209 to $189,628
- 2012 middle-class income range:$44,995 to $134,984
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):40.48%
25. Pennsylvania
- 2022 middle-class income range:$48,780 to $146,340
- 2012 middle-class income range:$34,845 to $104,534
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):39.99%
26. New Hampshire
- 2022 middle-class income range:$60,563 to $181,690
- 2012 middle-class income range:$43,283 to $129,850
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):39.92%
27. Nebraska
- 2022 middle-class income range:$47,815 to $143,444
- 2012 middle-class income range:$34,254 to $102,762
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):39.59%
28. Missouri
- 2022 middle-class income range:$43,947 to $131,840
- 2012 middle-class income range:$31,555 to $94,666
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):39.27%
29. Arkansas
- 2022 middle-class income range:$37,557 to $112,670
- 2012 middle-class income range:$27,021 to $81,062
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):38.99%
30. Indiana
- 2022 middle-class income range:$44,782 to $134,346
- 2012 middle-class income range:$32,249 to $96,748
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):38.86%
31. Ohio
- 2022 middle-class income range:$44,660 to $133,980
- 2012 middle-class income range:$32,164 to $96,492
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):38.85%
32. Alabama
- 2022 middle-class income range:$39,739 to $119,218
- 2012 middle-class income range:$28,773 to $86,320
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):38.11%
33. Iowa
- 2022 middle-class income range:$47,047 to $141,142
- 2012 middle-class income range:$34,086 to $102,258
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):38.03%
34. Illinois
- 2022 middle-class income range:$52,289 to $156,866
- 2012 middle-class income range:$37,902 to $113,706
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):37.96%
35. Wisconsin
- 2022 middle-class income range:$48,305 to $144,916
- 2012 middle-class income range:$35,085 to $105,254
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):37.68%
36. Virginia
- 2022 middle-class income range:$58,166 to $174,498
- 2012 middle-class income range:$42,424 to $127,272
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):37.11%
37. Oklahoma
- 2022 middle-class income range:$40,909 to $122,728
- 2012 middle-class income range:$29,927 to $89,782
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):36.70%
38. West Virginia
- 2022 middle-class income range:$36,811 to $110,434
- 2012 middle-class income range:$26,933 to $80,800
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):36.68%
39. Vermont
- 2022 middle-class income range:$49,343 to $148,028
- 2012 middle-class income range:$36,112 to $108,336
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):36.64%
40. Mississippi
- 2022 middle-class income range:$35,323 to $105,970
- 2012 middle-class income range:$25,921 to $77,764
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):36.27%
41. Kansas
- 2022 middle-class income range:$46,498 to $139,494
- 2012 middle-class income range:$34,182 to $102,546
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):36.03%
42. New Jersey
- 2022 middle-class income range:$64,751 to $194,252
- 2012 middle-class income range:$47,758 to $143,274
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):35.58%
43. Maryland
- 2022 middle-class income range:$65,641 to $196,922
- 2012 middle-class income range:$48,666 to $145,998
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):34.88%
44. Nevada
- 2022 middle-class income range:$47,764 to $143,292
- 2012 middle-class income range:$36,055 to $108,166
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):32.47%
45. Delaware
- 2022 middle-class income range:$52,883 to $158,650
- 2012 middle-class income range:$40,079 to $120,238
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):31.95%
46. New Mexico
- 2022 middle-class income range:$39,148 to $117,444
- 2012 middle-class income range:$29,924 to $89,772
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):30.82%
47. Connecticut
- 2022 middle-class income range:$60,142 to $180,426
- 2012 middle-class income range:$46,346 to $139,038
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):29.77%
48. Louisiana
- 2022 middle-class income range:$38,568 to $115,704
- 2012 middle-class income range:$29,782 to $89,346
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):29.50%
49. Wyoming
- 2022 middle-class income range:$48,330 to $144,990
- 2012 middle-class income range:$37,715 to $113,146
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):28.14%
50. Alaska
- 2022 middle-class income range:$57,580 to $172,740
- 2012 middle-class income range:$46,611 to $139,834
- 10-year change in middle-class income (%):23.53%
GoBankingRates used information from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. The site defines “middle class” as households with an annual income that is two-thirds to double a states median income.
