Pew defines the upper class as adults whose annual household income is more than double the national median. That's after incomes have been adjusted for household size, since smaller households require less money to support the same lifestyle as larger ones.

Who is considered upper class?

In the United States, those who lived—and continue to live—in leadership roles in society are often considered part of the upper class. These are people whose status has been passed down through generations. According to a 2018 study by Pew Research Center, 19% of American adults were part of upper-class households.

What class are you in if you make 100 000 a year?

The bottom line is: $100,000 is on the middle-class spectrum, but barely: 75 percent of U.S. households make less than that. Others prefer to define middle class by the lifestyle you can afford.