There’s good news for Americans who don’t yet earn a six-figure income and want to join the upper-middle class. The lowest end of upper-middle class income is under $95,000 in seven of the nation’s largest cities, according to a new study from GOBankingRates.
To find the upper-middle class income ranges, GOBankingRates studied the 50 largest U.S. cities by total population and referred to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey to find each city’s median household income. Using the definition of middle-class income as two-thirds to double the median household income of an area, GOBankingRates found the total upper-middle class income range for each city.
Key Findings
- Detroit is the largest U.S. city where you’re considered upper-middle class on a salary of $80,000. There, the lowest end of upper-middle class income is $60,993 and the highest end is $78,418.
- Americans who earn at least $95,000 in seven major cities break through the lowest end of upper-middle class income. These cities are Detroit ($60,993), Memphis ($81,946), Milwaukee ($88,344), El Paso ($93,229), Tucson ($94,086), Philadelphia ($94,145) and Tulsa ($94,781).
- The highest end of upper-middle class income is more than $200,000 in six cities: Oakland ($204,470), Washington, D.C. ($219,414), San Diego ($222,064), Seattle ($237,490), San Francisco ($279,602) and San Jose ($296,452).
Here’s the income needed to be upper-middle class in America’s 50 largest cities. And if you’re planning to relocate in 2026, don’t forget to review America’s 50 wealthiest suburbs.
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1. Detroit
- Population: 645,702
- Median household income: $39,209
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $60,993
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $78,418
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2. Memphis, Tennessee
- Population: 610,936
- Median household income: $52,679
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $81,946
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $105,358
3. Milwaukee
- Population: 563,512
- Median household income: $56,792
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $88,344
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $113,584
4. El Paso, Texas
- Population: 681,724
- Median household income: $59,932
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $93,229
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $119,864
5. Tucson, Arizona
- Population: 554,011
- Median household income: $60,483
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $94,086
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $120,966
6. Philadelphia
- Population: 1,573,916
- Median household income: $60,521
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $94,145
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $121,042
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7. Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Population: 413,652
- Median household income: $60,930
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $94,781
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $121,860
8. Houston
- Population: 2,387,910
- Median household income: $64,361
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $100,118
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $128,722
9. Baltimore
- Population: 568,271
- Median household income: $64,778
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $100,767
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $129,556
10. San Antonio
- Population: 1,526,621
- Median household income: $66,176
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $102,941
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $132,352
11. Miami
- Population: 487,006
- Median household income: $66,337
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $103,192
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $132,674
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12. Indianapolis
- Population: 890,315
- Median household income: $66,900
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $104,068
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $133,800
13. Columbus, Ohio
- Population: 931,551
- Median household income: $67,084
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $104,354
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $134,168
14. Louisville, Kentucky
- Population: 640,793
- Median household income: $67,251
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $104,614
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $134,502
15. Kansas City, Missouri
- Population: 516,045
- Median household income: $69,958
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $108,825
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $139,916
16. Oklahoma City
- Population: 713,014
- Median household income: $70,040
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $108,952
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $140,080
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17. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Population: 560,333
- Median household income: $71,494
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $111,214
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $142,988
18. Omaha, Nebraska
- Population: 489,263
- Median household income: $71,640
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $111,441
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $143,280
19. Jacksonville, Florida
- Population: 1,009,831
- Median household income: $72,389
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $112,606
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $144,778
20. Dallas
- Population: 1,326,093
- Median household income: $74,323
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $115,615
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $148,646
21. Arlington, Texas
- Population: 403,657
- Median household income: $74,388
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $115,716
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $148,776
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22. Fresno, California
- Population: 550,091
- Median household income: $74,491
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $115,876
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $148,982
23. Minneapolis
- Population: 428,572
- Median household income: $77,732
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $120,917
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $155,464
24. Las Vegas
- Population: 678,924
- Median household income: $78,556
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $122,199
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $157,112
25. Nashville, Tennessee
- Population: 704,965
- Median household income: $80,090
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $124,585
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $160,180
26. Chicago
- Population: 2,721,326
- Median household income: $80,613
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $125,399
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $161,226
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27. New York City
- Population: 8,478,072
- Median household income: $81,228
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $126,356
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $162,456
28. Bakersfield, California
- Population: 417,461
- Median household income: $82,093
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $127,701
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $164,186
29. Los Angeles
- Population: 3,878,718
- Median household income: $82,263
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $127,966
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $164,526
30. Fort Worth, Texas
- Population: 1,014,376
- Median household income: $82,503
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $128,339
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $165,006
31. Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Population: 493,540
- Median household income: $83,672
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $130,157
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $167,344
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32. Tampa, Florida
- Population: 414,575
- Median household income: $84,114
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $130,845
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $168,228
33. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Population: 499,637
- Median household income: $85,060
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $132,317
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $170,120
34. Phoenix
- Population: 1,673,122
- Median household income: $85,246
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $132,606
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $170,492
35. Mesa, Arizona
- Population: 517,142
- Median household income: $85,580
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $133,125
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $171,160
36. Charlotte, North Carolina
- Population: 943,474
- Median household income: $86,416
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $134,426
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $172,832
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37. Atlanta
- Population: 520,066
- Median household income: $88,165
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $137,147
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $176,330
38. Austin, Texas
- Population: 993,771
- Median household income: $90,430
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $140,670
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $180,860
39. Long Beach, California
- Population: 450,917
- Median household income: $91,318
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $142,051
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $182,636
40. Sacramento, California
- Population: 535,787
- Median household income: $91,387
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $142,159
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $182,774
41. Portland, Oregon
- Population: 636,958
- Median household income: $91,478
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $142,300
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $182,956
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42. Denver
- Population: 729,019
- Median household income: $92,504
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $143,896
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $185,008
43. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Population: 454,808
- Median household income: $94,579
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $147,124
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $189,158
44. Boston
- Population: 673,822
- Median household income: $97,791
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $152,120
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $195,582
45. Oakland, California
- Population: 443,575
- Median household income: $102,235
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $159,033
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $204,470
46. Washington, D.C.
- Population: 702,250
- Median household income: $109,707
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $170,656
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $219,414
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47. San Diego
- Population: 1,404,461
- Median household income: $111,032
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $172,717
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $222,064
48. Seattle
- Population: 780,992
- Median household income: $118,745
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $184,715
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $237,490
49. San Francisco
- Population: 827,526
- Median household income: $139,801
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $217,469
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $279,602
50. San Jose, California
- Population: 997,395
- Median household income: $148,226
- Lowest end of upper-middle class income: $230,575
- Highest end of upper-middle class income: $296,452
Discover more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates found the upper-middle class income ranges for the largest 50 U.S. cities, in terms of total populations, by first sourcing the total population figures from the 2024 1-Year American Community Survey (ACS) as conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. We then found the median household income in every city from the 2024 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Using the definition of middle-class income (two-thirds to double the median income), GOBankingRates was able to determine each state’s upper-middle-class income range. All data was collected on Dec. 16, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Income Needed To Be Upper-Middle Class in the 50 Largest US Cities
