this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
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Work Reform

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[–] Nougat@fedia.io 94 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Over $100K ain't chump change, but that also isn't the line where "upper income" starts.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/heres-minimum-salary-required-be-considered-upper-class-2025

The Pew Research Center defines upper-income households as having incomes greater than $169,800, based on three-person households. For a household with a single earner and no additional income, that $169,800 is the minimum salary required to be upper class. With two earners, each with the same salary, that minimum would be $84,900 each.

[–] Reyali@lemmy.world 39 points 3 months ago (2 children)

And the difference between that level of “upper class” vs the truly wealthy is insane.

Unless you’re in places like CA or NYC, $170k allows for a very comfortable life. It’s nothing to scoff at and it is absolutely beyond what most people in this country have.

But when thinking of the “upper class,” I think most people picture lush lives. Mansions, yachts, foreign vacations, private schools, house staff, etc.

I don’t think most people imagine someone who lives in a nice suburban neighborhood, saves enough money for retirement that they actually expect to retire in their 60s, and takes a modest vacation every year. But that’s closer to what $170k gets you. It’s comfortable and it’s a life most people would kill to have. But it’s a whole lot closer to a stereotyped “middle class” experience than it is to what most people imagine “upper class” to look like.

[–] MajorasTerribleFate@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 months ago

I was curious how many U.S. households earn at least $170k, and this website responded to asking about 170k by saying that the 80th percentile is $165,068.

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 months ago

You lost me at "vacation", like that's a real thing? (/s)

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

uh there are still loads of people living on like 30k/yr. you 100k people will fucking live

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 7 points 3 months ago

I never suggested otherwise. I was pointing out how disconnected from reality the really “upper income” CEO is.

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

The only people you should be concerned about are the ones in the 270k/yr and up tax bracket.

100k/yr isn't enough in a lot of places.

[–] DireTech@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago

This has gotta be some AI drivel. It even tried to say upper class in San Francisco starts at $69k so unless they’re talking about 1930 this is nonsense.