What income puts you in the top 20%?
How Much Income Do You Need to Be in the Top 20%? The real median household income in the U.S. is around $71,000, according to the latest Census Bureau data. In order to be in the top 20% of income, you'd need to earn nearly double that amount or an average of $130,545 per year.
| 2022 AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES | |
|---|---|
| Top 10% | $120,000 to $124,999 |
| Top 15% | $95,000 to $99,999 |
| Top 20% | $80,000 to $84,999 |
| Top 50% | $40,000 to $44,999 |
Americans held roughly $137.6 trillion in wealth in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve. For the top 20%, that equaled about $97.9 trillion. The middle class combined held $35.7 trillion. And the bottom quintile had $4.1 trillion in total wealth.
| Age Range | Top 10% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 | $64,855 | $129,709 |
| 25-29 | $142,680 | $303,736 |
| 30-34 | $188,079 | $468,035 |
| 35-39 | $230,234 | $1,048,484 |
In absolute terms affluence is a relatively widespread phenomenon in the United States, with over 30% of households having an income exceeding $100,000 per year and over 30% of households having a net worth exceeding $250,000, as of 2019.
When it comes to the percentage of people making over $100k per year in the US, it's around 28%. 2. Now, regarding differences based on state or city, there can be variations. In some states or cities with higher costs of living or thriving industries, the percentage of people earning higher incomes might be higher.
Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.
The 95th percentile, with a net worth of $3.2 million, is considered wealthy, facilitating estate planning and possibly owning multiple homes. The top 1%, or the 99th percentile, has a net worth of $16.7 million and represents the very wealthy, who enjoy considerable financial freedom and luxury​​.
Upper middle class: Anyone with earnings in the 60th to 80th percentile would be considered upper middle class. Those in the upper middle class have incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: Finally, the upper class is the top 20% of earners and they have incomes of $149,132 or higher.
Additionally, statistics show that the top 2% of the United States population has a net worth of about $2.4 million. On the other hand, the top 5% wealthiest Americans have a net worth of just over $1 million. Therefore, about 2% of the population possesses enough wealth to meet the current definition of being rich.
What income is middle class?
But data from the U.S. Census Bureau cites a different number as the average salary: just under $75,000. What does this all mean? By the Census data, it means that if you earn between $50,000 and $150,000 a year, you are considered middle class.
Over one quarter, 28.5%, of all income was earned by the top 8%, those households earning more than $150,000 a year.
Middle class: Those in the 40th to 60th percentile of household income, ranging from $55,001 to $89,744. Upper middle class: Households in the 60th to 80th percentile, with incomes between $89,745 and $149,131. Upper class: The top 20% of earners, with household incomes of $149,132 or more.
The Poverty Threshold in 2023
Under their guidelines, a family of four is considered impoverished if they earn $30,000 or less per year. That number is slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii, which tend to have higher living expenses.
| Annual household income in U.S. dollars | Percentage of U.S. households |
|---|---|
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12.3% |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16.4% |
| 150,000 to 199,999 | 9.2% |
| 200,000 and over | 11.9% |
| Income Bracket* | Percentage of Americans |
|---|---|
| $75,000-$99,999 | 12.3% |
| $100,000-$149,999 | 16.4% |
| $150,000-$199,999 | 9.2% |
| Over $200,000 | 11.9% |
According to the U.S. Census, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000 annually. A $100,000 salary can yield a monthly income of $8,333.33, a biweekly paycheck of $3,846.15, a weekly income of $1,923.08, and a daily income of $384.62 based on 260 working days per year.
For a single individual, $100,000 would actually put you in the upper-income level in most places. For household sizes between two and four, $100,000 a year would put you squarely in the middle class.
Earning more than $100,000 per year would put you well ahead of the median American household, which brings in $74,784 as of 2021. Assuming you're an individual without dependents, that salary would qualify you as upper class, according to three different definitions (Brookings, Urban Institute and Pew Research).
1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.
What net worth is upper class?
Households with a net worth of $1 million or more may be classified as members of the upper class, depending on the definition of class used.
| Age by decade | Average net worth | Median net worth |
|---|---|---|
| 40s | $713,796 | $126,881 |
| 50s | $1,310,775 | $292,085 |
| 60s | $1,634,724 | $454,489 |
| 70s | $1,588,886 | $378,018 |
U.S. wealth percentiles provide clearer picture of where you rank. According to Schwab's 2023 Modern Wealth Survey, its seventh annual, Americans said it takes an average net worth of $2.2 million to qualify a person as being wealthy.
Is Retiring at 55 with $4 Million Possible? The average age at which most people retire is 62, according to a 2021 Gallup Poll. But if you have $4 million in savings, it's entirely possible to retire by age 55. Retiring early offers a lot of advantages.
At its most basic, net worth is everything you own minus everything you owe. To calculate your net worth, tally the value of all or your assets, including bank accounts, investments, and perhaps the value of your home or vacation home.
