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  • South Carolina’s middle-class income range is $45,198 to $135,608, with a median income of $67,804.
  • Massachusetts has become the most expensive state for middle-class living, requiring an income between $66,565 and $199,716.

Living costs have climbed in recent years, and with it comes the redefining of what it means to be a part of America’s middle class.

When you add shifting wages and inflation into the equation, the lines between low and middle class are even more blurry.

To determine how much Americans need to earn to maintain middle class status, SmartAsset calculated middle class income ranges for 100 major cities across all 50 states using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Pew Research’s definition of middle income (two-thirds to double the median household income).

Here’s how much you need to earn in South Carolina to be considered middle class.

What is considered middle class in SC in 2025?

Residents who live in the Palmetto State will be happy to know they don’t need to make as much money to be middle class in comparison to other states.

In SmartAsset’s ranking of middle class income ranges in U.S. states, S.C. landed in spot No. 40.

Here is a breakdown of of how much you need to earn to be a part of the state’s middle class:

∎ Lower middle class: $45,198

∎ High end of middle class: $135,608

∎ Median household income: $67,804

Middle class income in big cities up from a year ago

The current middle class income in big cities ranges from $49,478 to $71,359, based on the latest Census Bureau data, with a median household income of $74,225 across 100 of the largest U.S. cities, per SmartAsset. This is up from a year earlier, when the middle class income range was between $47,568 to $142,718, with a media income of $71,359.

What state is the most expensive for middle class living?

New Jersey has been dethroned as the priciest state for middle class living. Now, Massachusetts is taking the crown, where households need to earn between $66,565 and $199,716 to be considered middle class. This is an increase from $62,986 to $188,976 the year before.

What city has the lowest income range to be considered middle class?

Households in Detroit need to earn between $25,384 and $76,160 to be part of the middle class, making it the city with the lowest entry bracket.

SmartAsset’s Top 10 most expensive states for maintaining middle class status in 2025

∎ No. 1: Massachusetts

∘ Lower end of middle class: $66,565

∘ High end of middle class: $199,716

∘ Median household income: $99,858

∎ No. 2: New Jersey

∘ Lower end of middle class: $66,514

∘ High end of middle class: $199,562

∘ Median household income: $99,781

∎ No. 3: Maryland

∘ Lower end of middle class: $65,779

∘ High end of middle class: $65,779

∘ Median household income: $98,678

∎ No. 4: New Hampshire

∘ Lower end of middle class: $64,552

∘ High end of middle class: $193,676

∘ Median household income: $96,838

∎ No. 5: California

∘ Lower end of middle class: $63,674

∘ High end of middle class: $191,042

∘ Median household income: $95,521

∎ No. 6: Hawaii

∎ Lower end of middle class: $63,542

∎ High end of middle class: $190,644

∘ Median household income: $95,322

∎ No. 7: Washington

∘ Lower end of middle class: $63,064

∘ High end of middle class: $189,210

∘ Median household income: $94,605

∎ No. 8: Utah

∎ Lower end of middle class: $62,274

∎ High end of middle class: $186,842

∎ Median household income: $93,421

∎ No. 9: Colorado

∘ Lower end of middle class: $61,934

∘ High end of middle class: $185,822

∘ Median household income: $92,911

∎ No. 10: Connecticut

∎ Lower end of middle class: $61,104

∎ High end of middle class: $183,330

∎ Median household income: $91,665

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

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