$100,000 can be a good,, livable salary for a family of five, particularly in areas with a lower cost of living, allowing for a comfortable life if you budget carefully. However, it may feel tight in high-cost-of-living areas or with significant debt. While it generally keeps a family in the middle class, it can be challenging to cover all expenses, such as housing and child care, without careful financial planning.
MITs living wage calculator recommends an income of over $100000 for a family of 5.
How much a family of 5 should make varies greatly by location and lifestyle, but generally, an income of $80,000 to over $200,000 can range from just getting by in low-cost areas to comfortable middle-class living in expensive regions, with the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) Family Budget Calculator offering personalized estimates for a modest standard of living, while federal poverty guidelines for 2025 set a minimum of around $37,650.
A $100k salary for a family of four is considered middle-class but its adequacy depends heavily on location, with high-cost areas like California or New York making it tight, requiring sacrifices, while lower-cost states might allow for comfort and even savings. While it covers basic needs and some extras in many places, it's often not enough for true financial security or a lavish lifestyle, especially with rising costs for housing, childcare, and healthcare.
That's because households making $100,000 annually are still considered “middle-class” in every U.S. state, according to a recent analysis of 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data.
The upper bound of what's considered middle class for households exceeds $100,000 in every U.S. state, according to a SmartAsset analysis of 2023 income data, the most recent available from the U.S. Census Bureau.
In 2021, the birth rate in the United States was highest in families that had under 10,000 U.S. dollars in income per year, at 62.75 births per 1,000 women.
In terms of location, Californians believe you need more money to live a wealthy lifestyle ($3-4 million instead of the nationwide average of $2.5 million) while residents of Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas have a lower threshold of what it takes to be considered wealthy, below the national average.
Average Monthly Expenses for a Family of Five or More
For 2023, their average expenses were $100,151, or $8,346 a month. The most common makeup for these households is to have two income-earners and three children under 18.
How much a family of 5 should make varies greatly by location and lifestyle, but generally, an income of $80,000 to over $200,000 can range from just getting by in low-cost areas to comfortable middle-class living in expensive regions, with the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) Family Budget Calculator offering personalized estimates for a modest standard of living, while federal poverty guidelines for 2025 set a minimum of around $37,650.
In California, earning over $100,000 a year can now qualify as “low income”—a reality that underscores just how high the cost of living has become in the state.
Honestly a fam of 4 on 120k makes me nervous. Getting by and not struggling, yes, as long as you're frugal. But thriving, and putting away enough for retirement, no.
A $100k salary for a family of four is considered middle-class but its adequacy depends heavily on location, with high-cost areas like California or New York making it tight, requiring sacrifices, while lower-cost states might allow for comfort and even savings. While it covers basic needs and some extras in many places, it's often not enough for true financial security or a lavish lifestyle, especially with rising costs for housing, childcare, and healthcare.
Over one quarter, 28.5%, of all income was earned by the top 8%, those households earning more than $150,000 a year. The top 3.65%, with incomes over $200,000, earned 17.5%. Households with annual incomes from $50,000 to $75,000, 18.2% of households, earned 16.5% of all income.
Whether you're middle or upper class depends on your household income, location (cost of living), and wealth, but generally, middle class is earning two-thirds to double the median income (around $50k-$170k in 2022), while upper class involves significantly higher earnings and substantial assets, allowing for financial comfort and passive income. Use tools like the Pew Research Center's calculator and consider factors like debt and lifestyle for a full picture, as the upper-middle class often involves professional careers and minimal financial stress.
Median Salary for Ages 25-34
For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $1,150 per week or $59,800 per year. That's a big jump from the median salary for 20- to 24-year-olds. As a general rule, earnings tend to rise in your 20s and 30s as you start to climb the career ladder.
Despite being in the top 4% of UK earners, only one in 10 people earning £100,000 or more would describe themselves as 'wealthy', while only 1% of the UK population identify as such. High earners also place the threshold for wealth much higher, citing £724,000 as the income it takes to be considered wealthy.
Six figures used to mean you'd made it. But in 2025, earning $100,000 puts you in a weird middle zone where you're doing better than most Americans but still nowhere near rich.
But when we speak of the average salary in US per month for 2024 it depends on multiple factors of professions, age, educational credentials, industry type as well as geographical places. As per recent data by the Bureau of Labour and Statistics, the average salary in the US per month is $6,228 or $74,738 per year.