What Middle-Class Income Has Looked Like Every Year Since 1980
If you earn a middle-class income in 2024, you’re undoubtedly making more money now than what was considered to be middle class five, 10 and more than 20 years ago.
To determine what income amount was considered middle class for Americans, GOBankingRates used the Current Population Survey to find the median household income every year from 1980 onwards. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI inflation calculator, the middle-class income in the United States was then found in current dollars and in 2024 dollars.
Keep reading to find out which household income since 1980 has been considered middle class.
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1980
In 1980 dollars:
Median household income: $17,710
Lowest end of middle-class income: $11,807
Highest end of middle-class income: $35,420
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $67,146
Lowest end of middle-class income: $44,764
Highest end of middle-class income: $134,291
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1981
In 1981 dollars:
Median household income: $19,070
Lowest end of middle-class income: $12,713
Highest end of middle-class income: $38,140
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $65,997
Lowest end of middle-class income: $43,998
Highest end of middle-class income: $131,995
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1982
In 1982 dollars:
Median household income: $20,170
Lowest end of middle-class income: $13,447
Highest end of middle-class income: $40,340
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $65,199
Lowest end of middle-class income: $43,466
Highest end of middle-class income: $130,397
1983
In 1983 dollars:
Median household income: $20,890
Lowest end of middle-class income: $13,927
Highest end of middle-class income: $41,780
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $65,829
Lowest end of middle-class income: $43,886
Highest end of middle-class income: $131,659
1984
In 1984 dollars:
Median household income: $22,420
Lowest end of middle-class income: $14,947
Highest end of middle-class income: $44,840
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $67,789
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,193
Highest end of middle-class income: $135,579
1985
In 1985 dollars:
Median household income: $23,620
Lowest end of middle-class income: $15,747
Highest end of middle-class income: $47,240
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $68,829
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,886
Highest end of middle-class income: $137,658
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1986
In 1986 dollars:
Median household income: $24,900
Lowest end of middle-class income: $16,600
Highest end of middle-class income: $49,800
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $71,300
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,533
Highest end of middle-class income: $142,600
1987
In 1987 dollars:
Median household income: $26,060
Lowest end of middle-class income: $17,373
Highest end of middle-class income: $52,120
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $71,992
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,994
Highest end of middle-class income: $143,983
1988
In 1988 dollars:
Median household income: $27,230
Lowest end of middle-class income: $18,153
Highest end of middle-class income: $54,460
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $72,355
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,237
Highest end of middle-class income: $144,710
1989
In 1989 dollars:
Median household income: $28,910
Lowest end of middle-class income: $19,273
Highest end of middle-class income: $57,820
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $73,043
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,696
Highest end of middle-class income: $146,087
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1990
In 1990 dollars:
Median household income: $29,940
Lowest end of middle-class income: $19,960
Highest end of middle-class income: $59,880
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $72,268
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,179
Highest end of middle-class income: $144,536
1991
In 1991 dollars:
Median household income: $30,130
Lowest end of middle-class income: $20,087
Highest end of middle-class income: $60,260
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $69,465
Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,310
Highest end of middle-class income: $138,929
1992
In 1992 dollars:
Median household income: $30,640
Lowest end of middle-class income: $20,427
Highest end of middle-class income: $61,280
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $68,524
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,683
Highest end of middle-class income: $137,049
1993
In 1993 dollars:
Median household income: $31,240
Lowest end of middle-class income: $20,827
Highest end of middle-class income: $62,480
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $67,834
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,223
Highest end of middle-class income: $135,668
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1994
In 1994 dollars:
Median household income: $32,260
Lowest end of middle-class income: $21,507
Highest end of middle-class income: $64,520
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $68,345
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,563
Highest end of middle-class income: $136,690
1995
In 1995 dollars:
Median household income: $34,080
Lowest end of middle-class income: $22,720
Highest end of middle-class income: $68,160
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $70,070
Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,714
Highest end of middle-class income: $140,141
1996
In 1996 dollars:
Median household income: $35,490
Lowest end of middle-class income: $23,660
Highest end of middle-class income: $70,980
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $71,014
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,342
Highest end of middle-class income: $142,027
1997
In 1997 dollars:
Median household income: $37,010
Lowest end of middle-class income: $24,673
Highest end of middle-class income: $74,020
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $72,392
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,261
Highest end of middle-class income: $144,784
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1998
In 1998 dollars:
Median household income: $38,890
Lowest end of middle-class income: $25,927
Highest end of middle-class income: $77,780
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $74,809
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,873
Highest end of middle-class income: $149,618
1999
In 1999 dollars:
Median household income: $40,700
Lowest end of middle-class income: $27,133
Highest end of middle-class income: $81,400
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $76,783
Lowest end of middle-class income: $51,189
Highest end of middle-class income: $153,567
2000
In 2000 dollars:
Median household income: $41,990
Lowest end of middle-class income: $27,993
Highest end of middle-class income: $83,980
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $76,368
Lowest end of middle-class income: $50,912
Highest end of middle-class income: $152,736
2001
In 2001 dollars:
Median household income: $42,230
Lowest end of middle-class income: $28,153
Highest end of middle-class income: $84,460
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $74,388
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,592
Highest end of middle-class income: $148,777
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2002
In 2002 dollars:
Median household income: $42,410
Lowest end of middle-class income: $28,273
Highest end of middle-class income: $84,820
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $73,916
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,278
Highest end of middle-class income: $147,833
2003
In 2003 dollars:
Median household income: $43,320
Lowest end of middle-class income: $28,880
Highest end of middle-class income: $86,640
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $73,941
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,294
Highest end of middle-class income: $147,881
2004
In 2004 dollars:
Median household income: $44,330
Lowest end of middle-class income: $29,553
Highest end of middle-class income: $88,660
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $73,271
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,848
Highest end of middle-class income: $146,543
2005
In 2005 dollars:
Median household income: $46,330
Lowest end of middle-class income: $30,887
Highest end of middle-class income: $92,660
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $74,687
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,792
Highest end of middle-class income: $149,375
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2006
In 2006 dollars:
Median household income: $48,200
Lowest end of middle-class income: $32,133
Highest end of middle-class income: $96,400
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $74,485
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,657
Highest end of middle-class income: $148,970
2007
In 2007 dollars:
Median household income: $50,230
Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,487
Highest end of middle-class income: $100,460
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $75,591
Lowest end of middle-class income: $50,394
Highest end of middle-class income: $151,182
2008
In 2008 dollars:
Median household income: $50,300
Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,533
Highest end of middle-class income: $100,600
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $72,077
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,051
Highest end of middle-class income: $144,153
2009
In 2009 dollars:
Median household income: $49,780
Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,187
Highest end of middle-class income: $99,560
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $72,364
Lowest end of middle-class income: $48,243
Highest end of middle-class income: $144,728
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2010
In 2010 dollars:
Median household income: $49,280
Lowest end of middle-class income: $32,853
Highest end of middle-class income: $98,560
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $70,890
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,260
Highest end of middle-class income: $141,781
2011
In 2011 dollars:
Median household income: $50,050
Lowest end of middle-class income: $33,367
Highest end of middle-class income: $100,100
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $69,524
Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,349
Highest end of middle-class income: $139,048
2012
In 2012 dollars:
Median household income: $51,020
Lowest end of middle-class income: $34,013
Highest end of middle-class income: $102,040
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $69,711
Lowest end of middle-class income: $46,474
Highest end of middle-class income: $139,423
2013
In 2013 dollars:
Median household income: $53,590
Lowest end of middle-class income: $35,727
Highest end of middle-class income: $107,180
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $71,960
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,974
Highest end of middle-class income: $143,921
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2014
In 2014 dollars:
Median household income: $53,660
Lowest end of middle-class income: $35,773
Highest end of middle-class income: $107,320
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $70,591
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,061
Highest end of middle-class income: $141,183
2015
In 2015 dollars:
Median household income: $56,520
Lowest end of middle-class income: $37,680
Highest end of middle class income: $113,040
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $74,262
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,508
Highest end of middle-class income: $148,524
2016
In 2016 dollars:
Median household income: $59,040
Lowest end of middle-class income: $39,360
Highest end of middle-class income: $118,080
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $76,807
Lowest end of middle-class income: $51,205
Highest end of middle-class income: $153,614
2017
In 2017 dollars:
Median household income: $61,140
Lowest end of middle-class income: $40,760
Highest end of middle-class income: $122,280
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $78,261
Lowest end of middle-class income: $52,174
Highest end of middle-class income: $156,521
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2018
In 2018 dollars:
Median household income: $63,180
Lowest end of middle-class income: $42,120
Highest end of middle-class income: $126,360
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $78,614
Lowest end of middle-class income: $52,410
Highest end of middle-class income: $157,229
2019
In 2019 dollars:
Median household income: $68,700
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,800
Highest end of middle-class income: $137,400
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $84,097
Lowest end of middle-class income: $56,064
Highest end of middle-class income: $168,193
2020
In 2020 dollars:
Median household income: $68,010
Lowest end of middle-class income: $45,340
Highest end of middle-class income: $136,020
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $82,718
Lowest end of middle-class income: $55,145
Highest end of middle-class income: $165,436
2021
In 2021 dollars:
Median household income: $70,780
Lowest end of middle-class income: $47,187
Highest end of middle-class income: $141,560
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $81,683
Lowest end of middle-class income: $54,455
Highest end of middle-class income: $163,366
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2022
In 2022 dollars:
Median household income: $74,580
Lowest end of middle-class income: $49,720
Highest end of middle-class income: $149,160
In 2024 dollars:
Median household income: $78,918
Lowest end of middle-class income: $52,612
Highest end of middle-class income: $157,837
Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used the Current Population Survey as conducted by the US Census Bureau, to find the median household income each year from 1980 onwards. With this information, GOBankingRates found both the middle-class income in the US every year since 1980 in current dollars and in 2024 dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI inflation calculator. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 28, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Middle-Class Income Has Looked Like Every Year Since 1980