Full Breakdown
Six-Figure Salaries Reclassified as Lower-Middle Class in Twelve U.S. States
4/30/2026, 12:27:15 PM
Redefining the Six-Figure Benchmark
MoneyLion’s recent analysis, applying the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class, finds that a household income of $100,000 falls in the bottom third of the middle-class range in twelve states. In those states—Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, California, New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Alaska and Virginia—a $100,000 salary is now classified as “lower-middle class.”
Methodology and Historical Context
Pew defines the middle class as earnings between two-thirds and twice the median household income for a state. The lower-middle-class segment comprises the lowest third of that range. MoneyLion applied these thresholds to state-level income and cost data, observing that rising housing, childcare, and grocery expenses have eroded the purchasing power of six-figure incomes that once signaled wealth.
Key Organizations and Data Sources
- MoneyLion – performed the classification.
- Pew Research Center – provided the class definition.
- U.S. News & World Report – supplied cost-of-living rankings.
State-by-State Income and Cost Profile
| State | Median Income | Necessities | Top Lower-Middle-Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $104,828 | $73,368 | $116,476 |
| New Jersey | $104,294 | $63,452 | $115,882 |
| Maryland | $102,905 | $54,431 | $114,339 |
| Hawaii | $100,745 | $99,179 | $111,939 |
| California | $100,149 | $81,674 | $111,277 |
| New Hampshire | $99,782 | $59,484 | $110,869 |
| Washington | $99,389 | $66,961 | $110,432 |
| Colorado | $97,113 | $60,157 | $107,903 |
| Utah | $96,658 | $58,737 | $107,398 |
| Connecticut | $96,049 | $56,512 | $106,721 |
| Alaska | $95,665 | $58,004 | $106,294 |
| Virginia | $92,090 | $51,218 | $102,322 |
Implications for Households and Mobility
The reclassification means many earners who once saw $100,000 as middle-class now face paycheck-to-paycheck pressures. The analysis suggests residents in high-cost states may look to lower-cost regions—such as Arkansas, Mississippi, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana, ranked most affordable by U.S. News—to preserve purchasing power.
Official Statements & Responses
MoneyLion reports that “a household income topping $100,000 isn’t considered particularly high” in the twelve states. The shift is attributed to stagnant wages and rising living costs, using Pew’s class definition as the benchmark.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources do not detail the methodology for calculating the “annual cost of necessities,” leaving a gap in how those figures interact with income thresholds. No alternative assessments or dissenting views are presented, limiting comparison across analytical frameworks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ Now, it’s barely enough to get by in many parts of the country.” — NEXSTAR article
- “5 The $100,000 annual salary many have and had strived for as a status symbol is now barely enough to make ends meet in the 21st Century.” — New York Post article
- “5 Another report from US News and World Report ranked California as the worst of all 50 states in terms of cost of living, affordability and opportunity, though they did rank it #37 in terms of the best states overall.” — New York Post article
Outlook
Future research may track whether the identified income thresholds shift as inflation, housing markets, and regional wage growth evolve, and whether interstate migration patterns intensify in response to affordability pressures.
