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Key Takeaways According to a recent Pew Research analysis, 60% of Americans think of themselves as working class, up from 54% in 2024.
Fully half of upper-income adults, those above Pew’s $155,600 threshold, also say they are working class.
The phrase working class has no universal definition, causing some high-earners to identify with the label.
How much do you have to make to consider yourself working class? The targets keep moving.
According to a recent Pew Research analysis, 60% of Americans think of themselves as working class, up from 54% in 2024.
Working class has traditionally referred to lower-income workers. For many Americans, the term has become less about a specific income bracket and more about if they feel financially secure.
Pew Research Center classifies middle-income households as those earning roughly $51,900 to $155,600 annually, with the precise range adjusted for household size and local cost of living. People in that group are especially likely to embrace the working-class label: 67% say it describes them extremely or very well.
The finding is not limited to middle earners. Fully half of upper-income adults, those above Pew’s $155,600 threshold, also say they are working class.
Why more Americans identify as working class
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