What family income is considered wealthy?
Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.
In 2020, according to Pew Research Center analysis, the median for upper income households was around $220,000 and the median for middle income households was slightly above $90,000.
As of the second quarter 2023, the average American household had wealth of $1.09 million. The average wealth of households in the top 1 percent was about $33.4 million. In the top 0.1 percent, the average household had wealth of more than $1.52 billion.
A household with an annual income of more than ₹30 lakh is categorised as rich by the study. While a middle-class household earns between ₹5 lakh and ₹30 lakh, aspirers make somewhere between ₹1.25 and ₹5 lakh. The destitute make less than ₹1.25 lakh a year.
How much money is considered generational wealth? For any amount of wealth to be considered generational wealth, it simply has to be passed down by at least one generation; however, there is no definitive number that constitutes generational wealth because wealth is relative.
But while everyone in this group is rich, it does not mean they are wealthy. To be considered wealthy, your assets must be more substantial than your liabilities, with them generating an income large enough to cover your fixed expenses (such as rent or mortgage payments, car payments and insurance premiums).
Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range. "The upper middle class has grown...and its composition has changed.
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.
Some sources define the upper middle class as anyone making a lot of money but haven't crossed the threshold to become truly wealthy. These individuals often have a net worth of at least $500,000 to $2 million.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average U.S. annual salary in Q4 of 2023 was $59,384. This is up 5.4% from the same time period in 2022 when the average American was making $56,316 per year. Average weekly earnings reached $1,142, while the average American made $4,949 per month in Q4 of 2023.
What is a comfortable salary for a family of 4?
Out of all 99 cities SmartAsset examined, a family of four would need a median of $226,886 to live comfortably. In Houston, the income needed drops to $175,219 — the lowest of all cities examined.
Two working adults need to make a particularly high combined income in San Francisco ($339,123); San Jose ($334,547); Boston ($319,738); Arlington, VA ($318,573); New York City ($318,406); and Oakland, CA ($316,243) to raise two children with enough money for needs, wants and savings.
A table showing median income by family size in 2021. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau (2023). U.S. median family income peaks with four-person families at $113,919 and levels off at around $107,000 for families of five or larger.
But despite this tremendous inherited wealth, the Walton family are not considered “old money people.” Most social scientists state wealth must be sustained through more than three generations before being considered “old money”.
Generational wealth is defined as “financial assets passed from one generation of a family to another,” according to Investopedia. Financial assets include cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, family businesses, and other investments.
As the saying goes, 'from shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations. ' This means that wealth accumulated by one generation is often lost by the third generation.
Generally speaking, someone considered “rich” has access to more resources than the average person. This could include financial assets such as money in the bank or investments, physical items like cars or houses, and intangible benefits like having a network of influential friends or access to luxury experiences.
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.
Since higher earners will get a smaller portion of their income in retirement from Social Security, they generally need more assets in relation to their income. We estimated that most people looking to retire around age 65 should aim for assets totaling between 7½ and 13½ times their preretirement gross income.
- Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000.
- Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.
- Middle class: $58,021 – $94,000.
- Upper-middle class: $94,001 – $153,000.
- Upper class: greater than $153,000.
What income is upper class 2024?
As of Apr 11, 2024, the average annual pay for the Upper Class jobs category in the United States is $59,699 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $28.70 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,148/week or $4,974/month.
Middle Class Defined by Region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in 2021 was $70,784. So American families earning between $47,189 and $141,568 are technically in the middle class, according to the Pew Research Center's definition.
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 Bottom Line
There is no official financial standard for what constitutes middle class. For most it's more about a standard of living—including owning a home, being able to afford to pay for a college education for your kids, and having enough disposable income to take a family vacation.
“If you make between about $50,000 to $150,000, you are considered to be in the middle class as of 2024,” said Kullberg. “However, it may not always feel that way to those higher income earners if they live somewhere with a high cost of living, have a lot of debt or have many dependents.”
References
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/10/middle-class.asp
- https://aliceblueonline.com/non-institutional-investors/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/29/wealth-transfer-millennials-to-become-richest-generation-in-history.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/06/institutionalinvestor.asp
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wealth-inequality-america-since-pandemic-new-york-federal-reserve/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/new-vs-old-money/
- https://fastercapital.com/startup-topic/Factors-to-Consider-in-a-Portfolio.html
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/asset-classes
- https://rainmaker-s3-media.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/prod/media/library/CPD/PDFs/Journals/Investment%20Strategy/Volume%202/Number%201/JIS-v2no1-07_rees.pdf
- https://www.thrivent.com/insights/investing/what-are-3-of-the-main-types-of-asset-classes
- https://syndicationpro.com/blog/what-do-institutional-investors-expect
- https://www.wealthbuilders.org/proverbs-13-22/
- https://www.pionline.com/largest-money-managers/2023
- https://www.investopedia.com/how-to-build-generational-wealth-8417999
- https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/real-estate/real-estate-banking/institutional-real-estate-investing-how-it-works
- https://www.boldermoney.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-to-be-rich
- https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/em/winter23/highlight1.html
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unveiling-intellect-decoding-why-gen-z-appears-smarter-farhan-hidayat-ul77f
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/012815/what-assets-are-most-risky-and-what-assets-are-safest.asp
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-generation-curse-wealth-why-riches-dont-last-michael
- https://www.yieldstreet.com/resources/article/retail-vs-institutional-investors/
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Upper-Class-Salary
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattdurot/article/americas-richest-families-10-billion-waltons-mars-kochs-rockefeller-decabillionaire-dynasties/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/11/10/inheritance-america-taxes-equality/
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/career-map/sell-side/capital-markets/institutional-investor/
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/generational-wealth%3A-why-do-70-of-families-lose-their-wealth-in-the-2nd-generation-2018-10
- https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Three-fund_portfolio
- https://thehill.com/homenews/4319352-are-millennials-worse-off-than-boomers-heres-how-they-stack-up-financially/
- https://www.willful.co/blog/generational-wealth
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_middle_class_in_the_United_States
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_upper_class
- https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/how-to-build-generational-wealth
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/business/hr-payroll/average-salary-us/
- https://gitnux.org/baby-boomer-net-worth-statistics/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-ways-tell-middle-class-174814986.html
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/institutional-vs-retail-investors
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/28/americans-median-net-worth-by-age.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/07/institutional_holdings.asp
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jifm.12183
- https://groww.in/p/institutional-investor
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boomers-expected-pass-90-trillion-185809334.html
- https://www.5paisa.com/stock-market-guide/generic/institutional-investor
- https://www.impactinvest.org.uk/learning-hub/introduction-to-impact-investing/
- https://fintel.io/so/us/hood
- https://www.gpb.org/education/econ-express/allocation-strategies
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/6-key-signs-youre-on-track-to-build-generational-wealth
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-difference-between-rich-wealthy-forbes-advisor-lq0le
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/income-considered-middle-class-2024-160007340.html
- https://fintel.io/so/us/brk.a
- https://wealthfactory.com/articles/what-is-the-3-generation-curse/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-to-do-inheritance
- https://gocardless.com/guides/posts/assets-in-accounting/
- https://fortune.com/recommends/investing/generational-wealth-explained/
- https://seekingalpha.com/article/4513425-institutional-investors
- https://www.debtfreedr.com/new-money-vs-old-money/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/institutional-investors-role-corporate-governance-pritish-gandhi-1rgwf
- https://fastercapital.com/content/Old-Money--Old-Money-Chronicles--Tracing-the-Lineage-of-the-Upper-Class.html
- https://leaders.com/articles/wealth/generational-wealth/
- https://navi.com/blog/institutional-investors/
- https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/membership/professional-development/refresher-readings/portfolio-management-institutional-investors
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/income-fall-americas-lower-middle-122100515.html
- https://www.joshuakennon.com/1821745-households-in-the-united-states-have-investment-portfolios-worth-3000000-or-more/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/know-im-rich-140000452.html
- https://blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/oblb/blog-post/2023/04/giant-asset-managers-big-three-and-index-investing
- https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/among-following-four-categories-largest-asset-category-portfolio-average-us-household-mult-q131739397
- https://www.aubank.in/blogs/importance-of-asset-allocation
- https://brokerchooser.com/safety/institutional-equity-partners-broker-safe-or-scam
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/salary-does-financially-content-2023-210212182.html
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthy-net-worth-considered-poor-190014440.html
- https://capital.com/blackrock-shareholder-who-owns-most-blk-stock
- https://www.10news.com/what-income-is-considered-middle-class-20-us-cities
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-many-millionaires-actually-inherited-their-wealth
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wealth-1-percent-5-8-million-knight-frank-report/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/institutionalinvestor.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/portfolio-investment.asp
- https://www.quora.com/What-percentage-of-the-US-population-has-2-million-dollars
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/best-long-term-investments/
- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID3133206_code1651056.pdf?abstractid=3133206&mirid=1
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/assetclasses.asp
- https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/how-we-invest/principles-for-investing-success.html
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/investing/are-you-upper-middle-class/
- https://www.thestreet.com/dictionary/institutional-investors
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/asset.asp
- https://institutional.vanguard.com/utility/about-us/about-vanguard-institutional.html
- https://governance.weil.com/featured/the-big-three-esg-a-guide-to-blackrock-state-street-vanguard-proxy-voting-policies-guidance-on-key-esg-issues/
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/income-wealth-top-1-percent/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2023/12/04/the-assets-households-own-and-the-debts-they-carry/
- https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-equity-and-principal-investors/our-insights/performance-edge-investors-hone-their-strategies-for-a-new-era
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/041515/which-asset-classes-are-most-risky.asp
- https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/investing-styles
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/10/23/what-does-it-take-to-be-wealthy-in-america/71237797007/
- https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/johnson-county/article280478329.html
- https://www.bajajfinserv.in/investments/complete-guide-investing
- https://www.wealthenhancement.com/s/blog/4-key-elements-of-strong-investment-portfolios-MCEXKS6KBRCVEMDAL3IQP72MG7UM
- https://andsimple.co/guides/what-is-generational-wealth/
- https://www.news-journal.com/arena/thestreet/this-article-explains-what-institutional-investors-are-how-they-trade-and-why-they-have-so/article_045dfcbc-e01d-5fdc-a8c7-7251b6967765.html
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/research/average-us-income/
- https://www.livenowfox.com/news/money-income-need-to-live-comfortably-us-data
- https://www.bankrate.com/investing/individual-investors-vs-institutional-investors/
- https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/where-do-i-fall-in-the-american-economic-class-system
- https://www.pewresearch.org/2023/12/04/the-assets-households-own-and-the-debts-they-carry/
- https://business.smu.edu.sg/master-wealth-management/lkcsb-community/how-beat-third-generation-curse
- https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/personal-finance/articles/types-of-assets
- https://www.comerica.com/insights/personal-finance/Wealth-Preservation-Beyond-the-First-Generation1.html
- https://www.self.inc/info/generational-wealth-gap/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-theory/11/introduction-institutional-investing.asp
- https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WP/2021/English/wpiea2021158-print-pdf.ashx
- https://www.stlouisfed.org/institute-for-economic-equity/the-state-of-us-wealth-inequality
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/41659/top-10-investment-companies-by-assets/
- https://www.visualcapitalist.com/us-wealth-by-generation/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/signs-you-are-financially-stable/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/8-key-signs-ve-made-170047090.html
- https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/wealth-management/accumulation-phase/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/institutional-ownership.asp
- https://www.pionline.com/article/20170425/INTERACTIVE/170429926/80-of-equity-market-cap-held-by-institutions
- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/data-stories/visually/maharashtra-and-tamil-nadu-have-the-most-number-of-rich-households-in-india/article67054653.ece
- https://wealthfactory.com/articles/why-is-generational-wealth-lost/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-theory/11/6-lessons-top-6-investors.asp
- https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2019/02/18/institutional-investors-as-short-sellers/
- https://www.lifeskillsthatmatter.com/blog/how-much-money-you-need
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dont-blow-your-800000-inheritance-jeff-rose-cfp-
- https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/single-this-is-how-much-you-have-to-earn-to-live-comfortably
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asset_allocation
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/how-much-money-family-of-4-needs-to-live-comfortably-in-us-cities.html
- https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/economy/how-to-tell-if-youre-middle-or-upper-middle-class/
- https://www.troweprice.com/personal-investing/resources/insights/youre-age-35-50-or-60-how-much-should-you-have-by-now.html