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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:04:25 PM EDT
[#1]
Single - $40k
Family - $60k |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:04:51 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted: Single - $40k Family - $60k sounds about right |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:05:02 PM EDT
[#3]
In before the poll.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:05:31 PM EDT
[#4]
Shouldn't it be a range? |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:06:08 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Single - $40k Family - $60k Really? What do you consider the next tier? |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:06:36 PM EDT
[#6]
lower middle 20k-35k
true middle class 35k-70k upper middle class 70k-100k |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:07:51 PM EDT
[#7]
I think that a lot of people are confused about what "middle class" means. They think that it means you have three cars, and a boat in the driveway.
There's poor, middle-class, and rich. If you aren't poor, and you aren't rich, you're middle class. But a lot of people think they're poor, when they aren't. Sorry, but I just can't call you poor when you have a car, cell phone, flat-screen TV, video game console, etc.. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:08:14 PM EDT
[#8]
How could anyone honestly not think 50k is middle class ? Go look up national averages, its pretty clear that would be in the middle or likely slightly above it.
Honestly it would depend on where you live and family size but as I rule I would say about 35-40k for a small family of 4 or less. Less than that would be poor. That is lower middle class as there is definitely a lower and upper end. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:08:28 PM EDT
[#9]
Are these numbers gross or net pay?
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:08:31 PM EDT
[#10]
Depends on where you live.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:09:13 PM EDT
[#11]
You should clarify whether single or couple for the salary to be considered middle class.
$60k & Single = is living very very very well. $60k & a wife with 3 kids.... not middle class. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:09:44 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
I think that a lot of people are confused about what "middle class" means. They think that it means you have three cars, and a boat in the driveway. There's poor, middle-class, and rich. If you aren't poor, and you aren't rich, you're middle class. But a lot of people think they're poor, when they aren't. Sorry, but I just can't call you poor when you have a car, cell phone, flat-screen TV, video game console, etc.. Agreed. There is different levels of rich and poor though. I would say 20k and 30k could both be poor depending on area and family size but there will obviously be a difference in quality of life between 20k and 30k. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:10:29 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
Depends on where you live. This. It's all relevant. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:10:46 PM EDT
[#14]
$75k per person in the metro area of a large city like mine. (Even more if you have a family)
I wouldn't even consider my income "middle class", and it's in the low 40k range depending on how much OT I work. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:11:04 PM EDT
[#15]
Depends on where you live.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:11:27 PM EDT
[#16]
A family living on government benefits (without going to far into fraud, some make way more) is getting about 50K worth of cash and services. Take that into account when you are deciding what poor is in our country.
Of course there are millions who don't take a penny of assistance getting by on much less, but it isn't easy when the government is giving anybody who doesn't want to work 50K, that disrupts markets and puts the spending floor at a level above what many working families make. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:11:38 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
Depends on where you live. This is a big factor. $50K may be average and afford you a decent life in many places, but in many major metro areas that would barely scrape you by, let alone a family. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:11:40 PM EDT
[#18]
Location, location, location.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:16:17 PM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Single - $40k Family - $60k sounds about right Agreed |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:20:08 PM EDT
[#20]
I went with 75k and that's for a household. In most areas of the continental US away from a major city. I think with that amount of income as long as your a little frugal you can live without wanting anything even with a small family (2-3 kids).
My thought process for dividing the different classes: Lower class: 40k household- No money to spare, living paycheck to paycheck. Middle class: 75k household- Some money to spare. Can save for toys/retirement/etc. Upper class: 110k+ household- Plenty of money to get by as long as they don't have too many crazy toys. Can afford pretty much anything they want within reason. Now take this with a grain of salt if trying to live in an urban area.. That shit is crazy expensive from my experience.. Probably double my figures if not a little more. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:21:48 PM EDT
[#21]
It's not just salary, it's debt too IMO.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:22:20 PM EDT
[#22]
Are we talking individual or household?
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:23:31 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
Depends on where you live. I agree. My property taxes are $14,000 a year for a 75x100 with a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom split level. Family of 4 here needs at least 125-150 a year. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:24:24 PM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:
It's not just salary, it's debt too IMO. If you are going to look at it that way, then lots of 1%ers are poor. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:25:13 PM EDT
[#25]
I live like I am poor. I could support my lifestyle on $10/hr. I make what the poll would consider middle class though.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:25:18 PM EDT
[#26]
Class distinctions have little to do with salary.
Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:25:51 PM EDT
[#27]
Did I make it in before military members start getting mad people concider them lower class based on thier salary?
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:26:48 PM EDT
[#28]
I'm not sure, which salary level allows the OP to buy the correct vowel to spell salary?
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:28:28 PM EDT
[#29]
Depends on where you live.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:28:42 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
lower middle 20k-35k true middle class 35k-70k upper middle class 70k-100k with todays cost of living, i would say that 25k-50k is lower class and 50-125k is middle class. you dont get a hell of alot for a 50k salary anymore. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:29:56 PM EDT
[#31]
Totally depends on where you live. $100k/yr in NYC is poor
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:30:46 PM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
lower middle 20k-35k true middle class 35k-70k upper middle class 70k-100k This is a pretty good representation of what I have seen...but of course it really depends on where you live. $100k in Spruce Knob, WV is going to go a lot further than in a NYC. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:31:32 PM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
Class distinctions have little to do with salary. Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. That all depends on what definitions one chooses to employ. It would be willfully ignorant to deny that in America income is generally the most popular determinant of social class. That essay you posted in previous thread about social classes was a good read, too. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:31:42 PM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
Did I make it in before military members start getting mad people concider them lower class based on thier salary? Generally, I would say enlisted military jobs have traditionally been considered working class, and officers are considered middle class. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:31:53 PM EDT
[#35]
Quoted: Depends on where you live. This x1000. $50,000 a year in WV is like making $225k a year in Baltimore, or like making $500,000 a year in Silicon Valley. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:32:19 PM EDT
[#36]
Quoted:
Did I make it in before military members start getting mad people concider them lower class based on thier salary? It's because we are lower class based on our salaries
An E-1 only pulls down $18k a year.. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:32:50 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Class distinctions have little to do with salary. Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. That all depends on what definitions one chooses to employ. It would be willfully ignorant to deny that in America income is generally the most popular determinant of social class. That essay you posted in previous thread about social classes was a good read, too. Link? |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:35:18 PM EDT
[#38]
Quoted:
Class distinctions have little to do with salary. Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. To an economist, your economic class is determined by your income. It might be salary, wages, interest from treasury bonds purchased in the last century, rents/royalties received, dividends from investments or capital gains from same. None of which has any thing to do with social class, or style, or whatever you want to call it. Not a very sensible system, but a useful one for looking at large numbers of peoples, not individuals. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:36:20 PM EDT
[#39]
Welcome to Fairfield county, CT
The median income for a household in the county was $65,249, and the median income for a family was $77,690. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:36:41 PM EDT
[#40]
Quoted: Class distinctions have little to do with salary. Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. this. six figures doesnt mean as much if your student loan payment is $1800/ month |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:39:29 PM EDT
[#41]
I make about $42,000, and have four kids and a wife.
We sure aren't rich, but, no one is going hungry either. What has taken a hit, is my ability to save money. Increased fuel and food costs have increased weekly costs, and there is less to save. I pray that the wife finds work after nursing school, and our situation will surely improve. Until then, I work as much as it takes. I currently am on a 13 day run.....not much I know.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:50:21 PM EDT
[#42]
Quoted: That isn't too bad considering that group is almost exclusively trainees, who most often have zero experience, little education and don't bring an awful lot with them. That number also does not include anything but base pay. It doesn't take into account that all meals are paid for, clothing is paid for, housing is paid for, utilities are paid for, housing allowance for married members, and other benefits. Quoted: Did I make it in before military members start getting mad people concider them lower class based on thier salary? It's because we are lower class based on our salaries An E-1 only pulls down $18k a year.. I am not saying they are overpaid, just saying that pointing at an E1's base pay and saying military members aren't paid well is disingenuous. An E5 with four years probably makes over 30K base pay, and when you include other benefits that are generally cash expenses in the civilian world, that is a pretty good place to be. Yes, I am aware that there are many things that a military member has to put up with in the process of earning their pay and benefits, but that is really their own choice, and they are pretty well compensated for it. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:51:04 PM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Class distinctions have little to do with salary. Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. That all depends on what definitions one chooses to employ. It would be willfully ignorant to deny that in America income is generally the most popular determinant of social class. That essay you posted in previous thread about social classes was a good read, too. Link? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:51:35 PM EDT
[#44]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Class distinctions have little to do with salary. Upper class has NOTHING to do with salary. That all depends on what definitions one chooses to employ. It would be willfully ignorant to deny that in America income is generally the most popular determinant of social class. That essay you posted in previous thread about social classes was a good read, too. Was JFK Jr. ever middle or a lower class, even as an unemployed schmuck who couldn't pass the bar? I would argue that one's social class is actually a better predictor of income / earnings potential than the other way around. I wouldn't call anyone upper class if they actually needed to work - those in the upper classes have properties and interests to such extent that they generate plenty of cash flow. The middle class, or bourgeoisie, that historically made up the merchants and professionals of a society have historically been self-employed, employers themselves, or - at the very least - salaried professionals. The idea that the middle class even included hourly wage earners is a very recent concept. One key aspect of middle class people was connections to property - usually at least home ownership and/or small business ownership, and access to education. This, of course, can mean a wide range of actual incomes or assets values, varying greatly based on region. Much of the "middle class" rhetoric in politics is actually about working class people getting paid enough to live on par with traditional middle class people. This was the "achievement" of unions, etc. in the 20th century. Whether this is sustainable or not is a different story entirely. That, combined with free flowing credit, has caused a lot of people to think themselves middle class despite actually owning nothing, and owing more to a bank than they own in assets. The sustainability of this kind of lifestyle is also questionable. Much of the politics of America has been based on the idea that nearly all of us think of ourselves as middle class - from the wealthiest executives to the most meager wage earner. Then we have the welfare rates that seem to live better than the latter, but I digress. I don't know what I did with that essay I used to have, and can't find it online now - but that guy has pretty solid insights. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:52:37 PM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
lower middle 20k-35k true middle class 35k-70k upper middle class 70k-100k dis right cheer. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:53:29 PM EDT
[#46]
depends on where you live, me and my wife make over 150K a year and I would be no means consider us upper class, we do ok but don't live in a big house, have new cars, or go on lavish vacations.
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:54:02 PM EDT
[#47]
Before or after taxes ?
 
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:55:41 PM EDT
[#48]
Quoted:
lower middle 20k-35k true middle class 35k-70k upper middle class 70k-100k This. |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:56:23 PM EDT
[#49]
Quoted:
Single - $40k Family - $60k This is close, but it depends on where you live. Also, "salary." |
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Posted: 8/12/2012 3:57:12 PM EDT
[#50]
Quoted:
lower middle 20k-35k true middle class 35k-70k upper middle class 70k-100k In this area this is about right. Its sad when teachers are making the low end of lower middle class...
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