Single, couple or family: not all Australian middle-income earners are equal

The Hilda survey by the Melbourne Institute is a longitudinal study that follows the same group of about 17,000 people to get a sense of how Australia is changing across a range of economic and social measures. Photograph: Posed by models; Halfpoint Images/Getty Images

The latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (Hilda) survey released on Thursday provides vital details on the lives of Australians. It also helps answer the question of how much you need to earn to be a middle-income Australian.

The Hilda survey by the Melbourne Institute is a longitudinal study that follows the same group of about 17,000 people to get a sense of how Australia is changing across a range of economic and social measures.