6 in 10 Americans Call Themselves Working Class. Even Half of Upper-Income Adults Do.

The findings are based on a Pew survey conducted in January 2026 and show that working-class identification has increased in just two years. (Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The image of America's working class as people without college degrees earning their living in factories, construction sites, or other blue-collar jobs doesn't fully capture how millions see themselves.

A new Pew Research Center analysis has found that 60% of U.S. adults said the term "working class" describes them extremely or very well, an identity that extends far beyond traditional definitions based on income, education or occupation.