AAPL

TSLA

AMZN

How Wide Is the Gap Between the Middle Class and the Top 5% in Every State?

October 26, 2024 — 09:00 am EDT

Written by J. David Herman for GOBankingRates->

The difference between “high end of middle class” and “low end of the top 5%” varies widely from state to state. That’s according to a GOBankingRates analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2022, the most recent year available.

Check Out: The 30 Safest and Richest US Cities To Live in 2024

Find Out: 9 Things You Must Do To Grow Your Wealth in 2024

Making the jump in North Carolina requires nearly $118,000 more in annual income – the largest disparity in the U.S. That’s based on the Tar Heel State’s minimum figure to crack the top 5% ($250,000 a year) minus its top figure to still qualify as middle class ($132,372 a year). The average member of the top 5% club in North Carolina brings in $429,071 annually, compared to the state’s median annual income of just over $66,000.

Maryland has the smallest gap between middle class and top 5% at about $53,000 a year.

To define “middle class,” GBR used the Pew Research Center’s definition: two-thirds to double the average income of a given area.

Here’s our state-by-state list, including median household income, earning ranges for middle class, lowest figure for the top 5% and average income for the top 5%.

Also see the line between middle class and upper middle class in every state.

Alabama

Median household income: $59,609
Low end of middle-class income: $39,735
High end of middle-class income: $119,218
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $220,548
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,330
Average income for the top 5%: $370,977

Find Out: Here’s What the US Minimum Wage Was the Year You Were Born

Explore More: What Is the Median Income for the Upper Middle Class in 2024?

Alaska

Median household income: $86,370
Low end of middle-class income: $57,574
High end of middle-class income: $172,740
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $77,260
Average income for the top 5%: $424,278

Discover More: These Are America’s Wealthiest Suburbs

Arizona

Median household income: $72,581
Low end of middle-class income: $48,382
High end of middle-class income: $145,162
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $104,838
Average income for the top 5%: $435,414

Arkansas

Median household income: $56,335
Low end of middle-class income: $37,553
High end of middle-class income: $112,670
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $210,755
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $98,085
Average income for the top 5%: $377,043

California

Median household income: $91,905
Low end of middle-class income: $61,264
High end of middle-class income: $183,810
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $66,190
Average income for the top 5%: $613,602

Colorado

Median household income: $87,598
Low end of middle-class income: $58,393
High end of middle-class income: $175,196
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $74,804
Average income for the top 5%: $507,181

Connecticut

Median household income: $90,213
Low end of middle-class income: $60,136
High end of middle-class income: $180,426
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $69,574
Average income for the top 5%: $656,438

Delaware

Median household income: $79,325
Low end of middle-class income: $52,878
High end of middle-class income: $158,650
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $91,350
Average income for the top 5%: $442,860

Florida

Median household income: $67,917
Low end of middle-class income: $45,273
High end of middle-class income: $135,834
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $114,166
Average income for the top 5%: $476,546

Georgia

Median household income: $71,355
Low end of middle-class income: $47,565
High end of middle-class income: $142,710
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $107,290
Average income for the top 5%: $455,439

Hawaii

Median household income: $94,814
Low end of middle-class income: $63,203
High end of middle-class income: $189,628
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $60,372
Average income for the top 5%: $500,183

Idaho

Median household income: $70,214
Low end of middle-class income: $46,805
High end of middle-class income: $140,428
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $234,748
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $94,320
Average income for the top 5%: $402,743

Explore More: 50 Safest and Most Affordable US Cities To Live In

Illinois

Median household income: $78,433
Low end of middle-class income: $52,283
High end of middle-class income: $156,866
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $93,134
Average income for the top 5%: $503,970

Indiana

Median household income: $67,173
Low end of middle-class income: $44,778
High end of middle-class income: $134,346
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $223,312
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $88,966
Average income for the top 5%: $381,422

Iowa

Median household income: $70,571
Low end of middle-class income: $47,043
High end of middle-class income: $141,142
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $228,362
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,220
Average income for the top 5%: $386,152

Kansas

Median household income: $69,747
Low end of middle-class income: $46,493
High end of middle-class income: $139,494
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $239,514
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $100,020
Average income for the top 5%: $415,875

Kentucky

Median household income: $60,183
Low end of middle-class income: $40,118
High end of middle-class income: $120,366
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $215,866
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $95,500
Average income for the top 5%: $380,726

Find Out: How Much Do You Get for One Person on SNAP in 2024?

Louisiana

Median household income: $57,852
Low end of middle-class income: $38,564
High end of middle-class income: $115,704
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $226,420
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $110,716
Average income for the top 5%: $384,432

Maine

Median household income: $68,251
Low end of middle-class income: $45,496
High end of middle-class income: $136,502
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $234,090
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $97,588
Average income for the top 5%: $396,205

Maryland

Median household income: $98,461
Low end of middle-class income: $65,634
High end of middle-class income: $196,922
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $53,078
Average income for the top 5%: $540,934

Massachusetts

Median household income: $96,505
Low end of middle-class income: $64,330
High end of middle-class income: $193,010
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $56,990
Average income for the top 5%: $617,199

Michigan

Median household income: $68,505
Low end of middle-class income: $45,665
High end of middle-class income: $137,010
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $241,528
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $104,518
Average income for the top 5%: $406,657

Explore More: How I Went From Middle Class to Upper Middle Class

Minnesota

Median household income: $84,313
Low end of middle-class income: $56,203
High end of middle-class income: $168,626
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $81,374
Average income for the top 5%: $476,290

Mississippi

Median household income: $52,985
Low end of middle-class income: $35,320
High end of middle-class income: $105,970
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $194,721
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $88,751
Average income for the top 5%: $333,597

Downtown St. Louis Beyond the Arch stock photo

Missouri

Median household income: $65,920
Low end of middle-class income: $43,942
High end of middle-class income: $131,840
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $233,270
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,430
Average income for the top 5%: $404,080

Montana

Median household income: $66,341
Low end of middle-class income: $44,223
High end of middle-class income: $132,682
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $230,670
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $97,988
Average income for the top 5%: $411,205

Nebraska

Median household income: $71,722
Low end of middle-class income: $47,810
High end of middle-class income: $143,444
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $236,656
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $93,212
Average income for the top 5%: $420,169

Also See: How Far $750,000 in Retirement Savings Plus Social Security Goes in Every State

Nevada

Median household income: $71,646
Low end of middle-class income: $47,759
High end of middle-class income: $143,292
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $106,708
Average income for the top 5%: $449,872

New Hampshire

Median household income: $90,845
Low end of middle-class income: $60,557
High end of middle-class income: $181,690
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $68,310
Average income for the top 5%: $485,660

New Jersey

Median household income: $97,126
Low end of middle-class income: $64,744
High end of middle-class income: $194,252
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $55,748
Average income for the top 5%: $613,494

New Mexico

Median household income: $58,722
Low end of middle-class income: $39,144
High end of middle-class income: $117,444
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $215,617
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $98,173
Average income for the top 5%: $353,104

New York

Median household income: $81,386
Low end of middle-class income: $54,252
High end of middle-class income: $162,772
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,228
Average income for the top 5%: $621,301

Learn More: How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State?

North Carolina

Median household income: $66,186
Low end of middle-class income: $44,120
High end of middle-class income: $132,372
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $117,628
Average income for the top 5%: $429,071

North Dakota

Median household income: $73,959
Low end of middle-class income: $49,301
High end of middle-class income: $147,918
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $246,904
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $98,986
Average income for the top 5%: $418,541

Ohio

Median household income: $66,990
Low end of middle-class income: $44,656
High end of middle-class income: $133,980
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $235,112
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,132
Average income for the top 5%: $403,750

Oklahoma

Median household income: $61,364
Low end of middle-class income: $40,905
High end of middle-class income: $122,728
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $219,482
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $96,754
Average income for the top 5%: $377,724

Oregon

Median household income: $76,632
Low end of middle-class income: $51,083
High end of middle-class income: $153,264
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $96,736
Average income for the top 5%: $448,649

See More: How Long $1 Million in Retirement Will Last in Every State

Pennsylvania

Median household income: $73,170
Low end of middle-class income: $48,775
High end of middle-class income: $146,340
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $103,660
Average income for the top 5%: $454,639

Rhode Island

Median household income: $81,370
Low end of middle-class income: $54,241
High end of middle-class income: $162,740
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,260
Average income for the top 5%: $453,192

South Carolina

Median household income: $63,623
Low end of middle-class income: $42,411
High end of middle-class income: $127,246
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $233,194
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $105,948
Average income for the top 5%: $408,138

South Dakota

Median household income: $69,457
Low end of middle-class income: $46,300
High end of middle-class income: $138,914
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $222,099
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $83,185
Average income for the top 5%: $392,724

Nashville skyline with river and sunset.

Tennessee

Median household income: $64,035
Low end of middle-class income: $42,686
High end of middle-class income: $128,070
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $234,549
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $106,479
Average income for the top 5%: $418,421

Check Out: Here’s the Salary Needed To Actually Take Home $100K in Every State

Texas

Median household income: $73,035
Low end of middle-class income: $48,685
High end of middle-class income: $146,070
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $103,930
Average income for the top 5%: $464,859

Utah

Median household income: $86,833
Low end of middle-class income: $57,883
High end of middle-class income: $173,666
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $76,334
Average income for the top 5%: $463,437

Vermont

Median household income: $74,014
Low end of middle-class income: $49,338
High end of middle-class income: $148,028
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $249,743
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,715
Average income for the top 5%: $405,333

Virginia

Median household income: $87,249
Low end of middle-class income: $58,160
High end of middle-class income: $174,498
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $75,502
Average income for the top 5%: $531,035

Discover More: Here’s the Income Needed To Be in the Top 1% in All 50 States

Washington

Median household income: $90,325
Low end of middle-class income: $60,211
High end of middle-class income: $180,650
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $69,350
Average income for the top 5%: $544,518

West Virginia

Median household income: $55,217
Low end of middle-class income: $36,808
High end of middle-class income: $110,434
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $197,767
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,333
Average income for the top 5%: $329,620

Wisconsin

Median household income: $72,458
Low end of middle-class income: $48,301
High end of middle-class income: $144,916
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $233,991
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $89,075
Average income for the top 5%: $403,055

Wyoming

Median household income: $72,495
Low end of middle-class income: $48,325
High end of middle-class income: $144,990
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $229,463
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $84,473
Average income for the top 5%: $407,646

Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey to learn the median household income, lowest limit to be considered top 5%, and the average income of the top 5% for every state. To determine the range for “middle class,” we use the Pew Research Center’s definition of two-thirds to double the income of a given area. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 10, 2024.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Wide Is the Gap Between the Middle Class and the Top 5% in Every State?

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tags

Personal Finance

GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates is a publication for all things personal finance, that reaches billions of readers. We empower our audience to live richer in your bank account, richer in your personal goal fulfillment, and richer in how you explore the world. Whether you want to know which bank has the best CD rates, where you can retire on a budget or which tech stock to invest in, you’ll find the answers on GOBankingRates.