How Wide Is the Gap Between the Middle Class and the Top 5% in Every State?
The difference between “high end of middle class” and “low end of the top 5%” varies widely from state to state. That’s according to a GOBankingRates analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2022, the most recent year available.
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Making the jump in North Carolina requires nearly $118,000 more in annual income – the largest disparity in the U.S. That’s based on the Tar Heel State’s minimum figure to crack the top 5% ($250,000 a year) minus its top figure to still qualify as middle class ($132,372 a year). The average member of the top 5% club in North Carolina brings in $429,071 annually, compared to the state’s median annual income of just over $66,000.
Maryland has the smallest gap between middle class and top 5% at about $53,000 a year.
To define “middle class,” GBR used the Pew Research Center’s definition: two-thirds to double the average income of a given area.
Here’s our state-by-state list, including median household income, earning ranges for middle class, lowest figure for the top 5% and average income for the top 5%.
Also see the line between middle class and upper middle class in every state.
Alabama
Median household income: $59,609
Low end of middle-class income: $39,735
High end of middle-class income: $119,218
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $220,548
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,330
Average income for the top 5%: $370,977
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Alaska
Median household income: $86,370
Low end of middle-class income: $57,574
High end of middle-class income: $172,740
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $77,260
Average income for the top 5%: $424,278
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Arizona
Median household income: $72,581
Low end of middle-class income: $48,382
High end of middle-class income: $145,162
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $104,838
Average income for the top 5%: $435,414
Arkansas
Median household income: $56,335
Low end of middle-class income: $37,553
High end of middle-class income: $112,670
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $210,755
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $98,085
Average income for the top 5%: $377,043
California
Median household income: $91,905
Low end of middle-class income: $61,264
High end of middle-class income: $183,810
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $66,190
Average income for the top 5%: $613,602
Colorado
Median household income: $87,598
Low end of middle-class income: $58,393
High end of middle-class income: $175,196
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $74,804
Average income for the top 5%: $507,181
Connecticut
Median household income: $90,213
Low end of middle-class income: $60,136
High end of middle-class income: $180,426
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $69,574
Average income for the top 5%: $656,438
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Delaware
Median household income: $79,325
Low end of middle-class income: $52,878
High end of middle-class income: $158,650
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $91,350
Average income for the top 5%: $442,860
Florida
Median household income: $67,917
Low end of middle-class income: $45,273
High end of middle-class income: $135,834
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $114,166
Average income for the top 5%: $476,546
Georgia
Median household income: $71,355
Low end of middle-class income: $47,565
High end of middle-class income: $142,710
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $107,290
Average income for the top 5%: $455,439
Hawaii
Median household income: $94,814
Low end of middle-class income: $63,203
High end of middle-class income: $189,628
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $60,372
Average income for the top 5%: $500,183
Idaho
Median household income: $70,214
Low end of middle-class income: $46,805
High end of middle-class income: $140,428
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $234,748
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $94,320
Average income for the top 5%: $402,743
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Illinois
Median household income: $78,433
Low end of middle-class income: $52,283
High end of middle-class income: $156,866
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $93,134
Average income for the top 5%: $503,970
Indiana
Median household income: $67,173
Low end of middle-class income: $44,778
High end of middle-class income: $134,346
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $223,312
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $88,966
Average income for the top 5%: $381,422
Iowa
Median household income: $70,571
Low end of middle-class income: $47,043
High end of middle-class income: $141,142
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $228,362
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,220
Average income for the top 5%: $386,152
Kansas
Median household income: $69,747
Low end of middle-class income: $46,493
High end of middle-class income: $139,494
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $239,514
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $100,020
Average income for the top 5%: $415,875
Kentucky
Median household income: $60,183
Low end of middle-class income: $40,118
High end of middle-class income: $120,366
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $215,866
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $95,500
Average income for the top 5%: $380,726
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Louisiana
Median household income: $57,852
Low end of middle-class income: $38,564
High end of middle-class income: $115,704
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $226,420
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $110,716
Average income for the top 5%: $384,432
Maine
Median household income: $68,251
Low end of middle-class income: $45,496
High end of middle-class income: $136,502
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $234,090
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $97,588
Average income for the top 5%: $396,205
Maryland
Median household income: $98,461
Low end of middle-class income: $65,634
High end of middle-class income: $196,922
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $53,078
Average income for the top 5%: $540,934
Massachusetts
Median household income: $96,505
Low end of middle-class income: $64,330
High end of middle-class income: $193,010
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $56,990
Average income for the top 5%: $617,199
Michigan
Median household income: $68,505
Low end of middle-class income: $45,665
High end of middle-class income: $137,010
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $241,528
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $104,518
Average income for the top 5%: $406,657
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Minnesota
Median household income: $84,313
Low end of middle-class income: $56,203
High end of middle-class income: $168,626
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $81,374
Average income for the top 5%: $476,290
Mississippi
Median household income: $52,985
Low end of middle-class income: $35,320
High end of middle-class income: $105,970
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $194,721
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $88,751
Average income for the top 5%: $333,597
Missouri
Median household income: $65,920
Low end of middle-class income: $43,942
High end of middle-class income: $131,840
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $233,270
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,430
Average income for the top 5%: $404,080
Montana
Median household income: $66,341
Low end of middle-class income: $44,223
High end of middle-class income: $132,682
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $230,670
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $97,988
Average income for the top 5%: $411,205
Nebraska
Median household income: $71,722
Low end of middle-class income: $47,810
High end of middle-class income: $143,444
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $236,656
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $93,212
Average income for the top 5%: $420,169
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Nevada
Median household income: $71,646
Low end of middle-class income: $47,759
High end of middle-class income: $143,292
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $106,708
Average income for the top 5%: $449,872
New Hampshire
Median household income: $90,845
Low end of middle-class income: $60,557
High end of middle-class income: $181,690
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $68,310
Average income for the top 5%: $485,660
New Jersey
Median household income: $97,126
Low end of middle-class income: $64,744
High end of middle-class income: $194,252
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $55,748
Average income for the top 5%: $613,494
New Mexico
Median household income: $58,722
Low end of middle-class income: $39,144
High end of middle-class income: $117,444
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $215,617
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $98,173
Average income for the top 5%: $353,104
New York
Median household income: $81,386
Low end of middle-class income: $54,252
High end of middle-class income: $162,772
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,228
Average income for the top 5%: $621,301
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North Carolina
Median household income: $66,186
Low end of middle-class income: $44,120
High end of middle-class income: $132,372
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $117,628
Average income for the top 5%: $429,071
North Dakota
Median household income: $73,959
Low end of middle-class income: $49,301
High end of middle-class income: $147,918
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $246,904
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $98,986
Average income for the top 5%: $418,541
Ohio
Median household income: $66,990
Low end of middle-class income: $44,656
High end of middle-class income: $133,980
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $235,112
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,132
Average income for the top 5%: $403,750
Oklahoma
Median household income: $61,364
Low end of middle-class income: $40,905
High end of middle-class income: $122,728
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $219,482
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $96,754
Average income for the top 5%: $377,724
Oregon
Median household income: $76,632
Low end of middle-class income: $51,083
High end of middle-class income: $153,264
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $96,736
Average income for the top 5%: $448,649
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Pennsylvania
Median household income: $73,170
Low end of middle-class income: $48,775
High end of middle-class income: $146,340
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $103,660
Average income for the top 5%: $454,639
Rhode Island
Median household income: $81,370
Low end of middle-class income: $54,241
High end of middle-class income: $162,740
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,260
Average income for the top 5%: $453,192
South Carolina
Median household income: $63,623
Low end of middle-class income: $42,411
High end of middle-class income: $127,246
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $233,194
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $105,948
Average income for the top 5%: $408,138
South Dakota
Median household income: $69,457
Low end of middle-class income: $46,300
High end of middle-class income: $138,914
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $222,099
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $83,185
Average income for the top 5%: $392,724
Tennessee
Median household income: $64,035
Low end of middle-class income: $42,686
High end of middle-class income: $128,070
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $234,549
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $106,479
Average income for the top 5%: $418,421
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Texas
Median household income: $73,035
Low end of middle-class income: $48,685
High end of middle-class income: $146,070
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $103,930
Average income for the top 5%: $464,859
Utah
Median household income: $86,833
Low end of middle-class income: $57,883
High end of middle-class income: $173,666
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $76,334
Average income for the top 5%: $463,437
Vermont
Median household income: $74,014
Low end of middle-class income: $49,338
High end of middle-class income: $148,028
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $249,743
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $101,715
Average income for the top 5%: $405,333
Virginia
Median household income: $87,249
Low end of middle-class income: $58,160
High end of middle-class income: $174,498
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $75,502
Average income for the top 5%: $531,035
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Washington
Median household income: $90,325
Low end of middle-class income: $60,211
High end of middle-class income: $180,650
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $250,000+
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $69,350
Average income for the top 5%: $544,518
West Virginia
Median household income: $55,217
Low end of middle-class income: $36,808
High end of middle-class income: $110,434
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $197,767
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $87,333
Average income for the top 5%: $329,620
Wisconsin
Median household income: $72,458
Low end of middle-class income: $48,301
High end of middle-class income: $144,916
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $233,991
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $89,075
Average income for the top 5%: $403,055
Wyoming
Median household income: $72,495
Low end of middle-class income: $48,325
High end of middle-class income: $144,990
Lowest income to be considered top 5%: $229,463
Gap between high end of middle class and low end of top 5%: $84,473
Average income for the top 5%: $407,646
Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey to learn the median household income, lowest limit to be considered top 5%, and the average income of the top 5% for every state. To determine the range for “middle class,” we use the Pew Research Center’s definition of two-thirds to double the income of a given area. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 10, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Wide Is the Gap Between the Middle Class and the Top 5% in Every State?