The next time you look at your paycheck, multiply it by two. The figure you arrive at could be what your paycheck looks like in 2050 if income trends follow the same pattern as the past 25 years — at least if you belong to the middle class. Nominal wages (the actual dollar amount) have more than doubled since 2000 for middle-income Americans. Real wages adjusted for inflation have risen as well, though not nearly as much. How does middle class income in 2025 compare to 2000? Here’s a closer look. Middl ...