Upper middle class

File:University of Chicago, Harper Library.jpg

Higher education is not a sufficient condition for the upper-middle class, and is a characteristic shared with many members of the lower-middle class.

In sociology, the upper middle class is the social group constituted by higher status members of the middle class, in contrast to the lower middle class. The definition is debated. Max Weber controversially defined it as the group of professionals with postgraduate degrees, but most Americans and Europeans identify income as the prime determiner of class.

The American upper middle class is primarily defined by using income, occupation, and education; it consists mostly of white-collar professionals with above-average personal incomes and a higher degree of autonomy in their work.Template:Sfn The main occupational tasks of upper-middle-class individuals tend to center on conceptualizing, consulting, and instruction.Template:Sfn

American upper middle class

The American middle class (and its subdivisions) is not a strictly defined concept across disciplines, as economists and sociologists do not agree on defining the term. In academic models, the term "upper middle class" applies to highly educated, salaried professionals whose work is largely self-directed. Many have postgraduate degrees.Template:Sfn Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000 ().Template:Sfnm Professions for this class may include but are not limited to: physicians, lawyers, senior military officers, psychologists, certified public accountants, pharmacists, optometrists, financial planners, dentists, engineers, scientists, professors, architects, urban planners, civil service executives, civilian contractors, nurse practitioners, veterinarians, air traffic controllers, airline pilots, and businessmen.Template:Sfn

In addition to having autonomy in their work, above-average incomes, and advanced educations, the upper middle class also tends to be influential, setting trends and largely shaping public opinion.Template:Sfnm Overall, members of this class are also secure from economic down-turns and, unlike their counterparts in the statistical middle class, do not need to fear downsizing, corporate cost-cutting, or outsourcing—an economic benefit largely attributable to their postgraduate degrees and comfortable incomes, likely in the top income quintile or top third.Template:Sfn

Income

While many Americans cite income as the prime determinant of class, occupational status, educational attainment, and value systems are equally important variables. Income is in part determined by the scarcity of certain skill sets.Template:Sfn An occupation that requires a scarce skill set which is attained through higher educational degree, and which involves higher autonomy, responsibility and influence, will usually offer higher economic compensation. Qualifying for such higher income often requires that individuals obtain the necessary skills (e.g., by attending law, medical, or postgraduate school) and demonstrate the necessary competencies.Template:Sfn There are also differences between household and individual income. In 2005, 42% of US households (76% among the top quintile) had two or more income earners; as a result, 18% of households but only 5% of individuals had six-figure incomes. To illustrate, two nurses each making $55,000 per year can out-earn, in a household sense, a single attorney who makes a median of $95,000 annually.

Sociologists Dennis Gilbert, William Thompson and Joseph Hickey estimate the upper middle class to constitute roughly 15% of the population. Using the 15% figure one may conclude that the American upper middle class consists, strictly in an income sense, of professionals with personal incomes in excess of $62,500 ($101,000 in 2024 dollars), who commonly reside in households with six-figure incomes.Template:Sfnm The difference between personal and household income can be explained by considering that 76% of households with incomes exceeding $90,000 (the top 20%, $170,000 to cross this threshold in 2020 dollars) had two or more income earners. In 2024, the threshold for entering the top 10% of American household incomes is $230,000

Income statistics (2006)

Data	Top third	Top quarter	Top quintile	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%
Household income
Lower threshold (annual gross income)	$65,000	$80,000	$91,705	$100,000	$118,200	$166,200
Exact percentage of households	34.72%	25.60%	20.00%	17.80%	10.00%	5.00%
Personal income (age 25+)
Lower threshold (annual gross income)	$37,500	$47,500	$52,500	$62,500	$75,000	$100,000
Exact percentage of individuals	33.55%	24.03%	19.74%	14.47%	10.29%	5.63%

Income statistics (2024) (source from 2006, inflation adjusted)

Data	Top third	Top quarter	Top quintile	Top 15%	Top 10%	Top 5%
Household income
Lower threshold (annual gross income)	$103,000	$127,000	$145,000	$158,618	$187,000	$263,000
Exact percentage of households	34.72%	25.60%	20.00%	17.80%	10.00%	5.00%
Personal income (age 25+)
Lower threshold (annual gross income)	$59,000	$75,000	$83,000	$99,000	$119,000	$159,000
Exact percentage of individuals	33.55%	24.03%	19.74%	14.47%	10.29%	5.63%

The above income thresholds may vary greatly based on region due to significant differences in average income based on region and urban, suburban, or rural development. In more expensive suburbs, the threshold for the top 15% of income earners may be much higher. For example, in 2006 the ten highest income counties had median household incomes of $85,000 compared to a national average of about $50,000. The top 15% of all US income earners nationally tend to be more concentrated in these richer suburban counties where the cost of living is also higher. If middle-class households earning between the 50th percentile ($46,000) and the 85th percentile ($62,500) tend to live in lower cost of living areas, then their difference in real income may be smaller than what the differences in nominal income suggest.

Values

Political ideology is not found to be correlated with social class; however, a statistical relationship is seen between the level of one's educational attainment and one's likelihood of subscribing to a particular political ideology. In terms of income, liberals tend to be tied with pro-business conservatives. Most mass affluent households tend to be more right-leaning on fiscal issues but more left-leaning on social issues. The majority, between 50% and 60%, of households with incomes above $50,000 overall, not all of whom are upper middle class,Template:Sfn supported the Republican Party in the 2000, 2004, and 2006 elections. Those with postgraduate degrees who work in academia statistically favor the Democratic Party. For example, in 2005, 72% of surveyed full-time faculty members at four-year institutions, the majority of whom would be considered upper middle class,Template:Sfn identified themselves as liberal.

The upper middle class is often the dominant group to shape society and bring social movements to the forefront. Movements such as the peace movement, the anti-nuclear movement, environmentalism, the anti-smoking movement, and even in the past with blue laws and the temperance movement have been in large part (although not solely), products of the upper middle class. Some claim this is because this is the largest class (and the lowest class) with any true political and economic power for change, while others claim some of the more restrictive social movements (such as with smoking and drinking) are based upon "saving people from themselves."Template:Sfn

British upper middle class

The upper middle class in Britain mostly consists of the professionals who were born into higher-income backgrounds, such as to legal professionals, executives, and surgeons. It traditionally uses Received Pronunciation. Children of this group are usually educated at a preparatory school, until about 13 years of age, and then at one of the British public schools, which will typically charge fees of at least £11,500 per year per pupil.Template:Sfn

See also

• Bildungsbürgertum
• Black elite
• Bourgeoisie
• Chungin
• Grand Burgher
• Hipster (contemporary subculture)
• Professional–managerial class
• Upper class
• Yuppie