People making six-figure salaries used to be considered rich—now earning nearly $200,000 a year isn't even considered upper-class in some U.S. states

Young family stressed over finances (Credit: ArtistGNDphotography / Getty Images)

• A six-figure salary used to be considered wealthy—but now, most of these earners are struggling to stay afloat amid raging living costs and salary deflation. That’s because households making $100,000 annually are still considered “middle-class” in every U.S. state, according to a recent analysis of 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data.

How much money you need to make to be “rolling in it” has changed: Earning nearly $200,000 a year isn't even considered upper-class in some U.S. states. Being considered rich is becoming more gate-kept among the 1% raking in millions every day.