This Is The Income A Family Needs To Be Middle Class, By State

A map by Visual Capitalist's Bruno Venditti shows the median household income for each US state, highlighting significant differences in earning power across the country. The data comes from SmartAsset and provides a snapshot of where families may feel more or less financially secure based on local income benchmarks. The top-earning states are Maryland, Washington D.C., and Massachusetts, with household incomes above $90,000, driven by federal jobs, tech firms, and elite educational institutions. These regions also report strong access to healthcare and education, contributing to higher cost-of-living dynamics. The Northeast region has a high concentration of top-earning states, while the South has the lowest median household incomes, under $54,000. Economic mobility in Southern states is often hindered by lower investment in public infrastructure and education, leading to higher poverty rates and limited access to high-paying industries. In contrast, several Western and Midwestern states, such as Oregon and Utah, are emerging with stronger income levels, typically in the $70,000-$80,000 range. The map uses median household income as a simple indicator of the middle class in each state, but true middle-class status typically spans a range of incomes. The data reveals sharp contrasts in earning power across the US, with significant implications for families' financial security. Overall, the map provides a nuanced understanding of the complex factors driving income disparities across the country.