Upper Middle and Lower Income Brackets Defined: How Much Income Counts for Each Category

Key Takeaways The median U.S. household income of $83,730 per year serves as the benchmark for defining income tiers. Households earning about $55,820 to $167,460 fall within the broad middle-income range. Earning more than $169,800 generally places a household in the upper-income bracket, with those earning over $251,040 entering the top 10%. Curious to know how your income compares to other Americans? Using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau and research benchmarks, it’s possible to d ...