You've been hearing about the K-shaped economy and the shrinking middle class , but what does it actually mean to be in the middle class in the US today?

For many, the label can describe a suburban, non-excessive way of life, but the actual income it implies can span a wide range of lifestyles.

A recent SmartAsset study calculated the income needed to be considered middle class in every US state.

The study used the US Census Bureau's 2024 one-year American Community Survey median household income estimates for all 50 states. It applied a variation of the Pew Research Center's definition of middle class — households that earn between two-thirds and double the median income — to identify a middle-class salary range .

Rankings were then determined by comparing the upper limit of middle-class income among states and ranking those earnings from highest to lowest.

In five states, households earning over $200,000 can still be considered middle class, while in seven, you can be counted in the category even with…