©Google Maps 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.
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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
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Anfisa Tukane / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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
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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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
RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 stellalevi / Getty Images
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 ©Zillow 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 Read More: What the Upper Middle Class Makes in Different US Cities
Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture / Wikimedia Commons 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 aimintang / iStock.com 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 Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 ©iStock.com 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 Kirk Fisher / Getty Images 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
pabradyphoto / iStock.com 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 Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 Wirestock / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 Oleksii Liskonih / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 ©Zillow 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?
Larry Gibson / iStock.com 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 Photo Italia LLC / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 APCortizasJr / Getty Images 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 ©iStock.com 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
Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 ©iStock.com 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 Art Wager / iStock.com 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 marekuliasz / iStock.com 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
DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 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 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 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 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 ElFlacodelNorte / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 FilippoBacci / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 Guy RD / Shutterstock.com 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 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com 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 Strekoza2 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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
Wirestock / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 omersukrugoksu / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 Jonathan Ross / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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
f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 ©Zillow 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 marchello74 / iStock.com 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 ferrantraite / Getty Images 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 ablokhin / iStock.com 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 Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images 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 Ingo Dörenberg / iStock.com 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.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : How Wide Is the Gap Between the Middle Class and the Top 5% in Every State?
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