This is how much money you must earn in North Carolina to be in the middle class, report shows

Middle Class in North Carolina: What You Need to Know

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Half of American adults are considered middle class, but the proportion of workers with average incomes has significantly declined over the past few decades.

According to a Pew Research Center analysis, the percentage of adults in middle-class households fell from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021. In 2022, an annual salary of $50,099 was considered the bottom threshold for the middle class in the U.S., according to GOBankingRates.

North Carolina Middle Class Income Range

A study by GOBankingRates, using data from the 2022 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, found the range of income needed to be considered middle class in each state. Middle class is defined as having an annual household income that is two-thirds to double the median income.

Here’s how much you would need to earn to be considered middle class in 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%

Key Findings from the Study

• Mississippi has the lowest household income needed to be middle class. As of 2022, a $35,323 salary is considered middle class in the state.
• Maryland has the highest household income needed to be middle class. As of 2022, $65,641 is the lowest household income that qualifies you to be considered middle class in the state.
• Alaska has seen the least change in the definition of middle class. The household income needed to be middle class in Alaska has increased by just 23.53% from 2012 to 2022.
• Oregon has experienced the largest increase in the household income needed to be middle class, with a 53.15% rise from 2012 to 2022.