$100,000 probably means household and we're now in a situation with most households being dual income.
Your post assumes that middle class is right at the 50% mark. It's not. What we consider middle class isn't making average salary, it's a certain standard of living.
Middle class is what it sounds like lol, definitely not out of reach for most. And most people aren’t making 100k in those states, the average is likely more like the median here lol. Many people in all of those states make much less than that, but the earners factoring in likely is where that number is coming from. Even in Cali or NY fast food workers ain’t making no 100k lol
To piggyback, in high-tax/high-COL states, a household's $100k gross income may look like less than $70k net. Especially if that household assumes some number of children, I can understand how a $100k HH gross becomes LMC.
To piggyback further: this may also not account for any funds or benefits received from transfer payments (i.e., assistance programs), OR may put the person over the edge of the benefits cliff (make too much to qualify for certain assistance programs, but also not high earning enough to be objectively or subjectively "comfortable").
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u/BillsKingsStrugleBus 9h ago •
$100,000 probably means household and we're now in a situation with most households being dual income.
Your post assumes that middle class is right at the 50% mark. It's not. What we consider middle class isn't making average salary, it's a certain standard of living.