What is the income threshold for the upper middle class in the United States in 2026?

According to the latest data, to be among the upper middle class in most cities in the United States, an annual income needs to be between $117,000 and $150,000. However, this standard varies by location—only $85,000 is needed in Mississippi, while in Maryland it requires $158,000 or more.

The key point is that the inflation rate is expected to reach 2.6%-2.8% in 2026, and the cost of living is still rising. This means that to maintain the status of an upper-middle class, you need to earn more money to support the same standard of living.

Factors that influence whether you are "rich" are not just the salary figures, but also include housing prices, family size, local prices, tax rates, etc. Therefore, your real purchasing power depends on where you live.