For a family of four, a household income of around $100000 to $150000 is often considered a good salary, allowing for a decent standard of living, including housing, food, healthcare, transportation, and savings.
California's living wage is $19.41, or $40,371 a year for an individual. A family of four requires $27.42, or $101,378 a year.
Middle-income households – those with an income that is two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income – had incomes ranging from about $56,600 to $169,800 in 2022. Lower-income households had incomes less than $56,600, and upper-income households had incomes greater than $169,800.
According to the most recent data, U.S. households that consist of four people spent an average of $8,640 per month in 2022. In 2021, the average four-person household spent $7749 per month. This works out to average annual expenditures of $101,514 in 2022, up from $92,989 in 2021.
For most individuals and small families, the answer to “Is $100,000 a good salary?” is a resounding “yes.” Cost of living and family size can affect how far $100,000 will go, but generally speaking, you can live comfortably on $100,000 a year.
A single person household spends an average of $4,641 on monthly expenses. Married couples without kids spend an average of $7,390 on monthly expenses. A family of four spends an average of $8,450–9,817 on monthly expenses (depending on kids' ages).
Put another way, if you're making less than $43,350 in your household, you are probably considered a low-income family. If you're making between $43,350 and $130,000, you're considered middle class. If you're earning $130,000 and above, you're likely considered upper class.
Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.
According to the Census Bureau's Income in the United States: 2022 report, the median household income is $74,580 (a 2.3% decline from 2021), while household income levels for each class level are as follows: Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000. Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.
That said, basic expenses for a family of four in all states exceeds what most U.S. households typically earn, which is estimated to be a median of $78,171, according to data consulting firm Motio Research.
Here's a look at the five most-costly states for single workers, based on how much money residents would need to earn each year to live comfortably. Massachusetts: $116,022. Hawaii: $113,693. California: $113,651. New York: $111,738.
Based on this outline, Hawaii is by far the most expensive state for a family of four, but there are 12 states where a household would need to earn over $100,000 to get by: Hawaii: $182,900. Massachusetts: $142,341. California: $130,239.
In high-cost areas or for larger families, this salary might not suffice for a comfortable living. Nationally, $70,000 is above the average salary, but personal financial goals and living costs are key to determining its sufficiency.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in 2022 was $74,580. To reach the upper class in 2024, you'd typically need an income exceeding $153,000 – more than double the national median. Don't Miss: Are you rich?
$520,000. That's how much income Americans think they would need, on average, to feel rich, according to Bankrate's Financial Freedom Survey published in July. That salary would put you comfortably among the top 2% of American earners, according to Census data.
Middle class is defined as income that is two-thirds to double the national median income, or $47,189 and $141,568. By that definition, $100,000 is considered middle class. Keep in mind that those figures are for the nation. Each state has a different range of numbers to be considered middle class.
While the exact threshold fluctuates based on factors such as local cost of living and inflation, those in the upper middle class typically have an estimated household income of $150,000 to $250,000. This income level is much higher than what the average American makes.
For the current 2025 fiscal year, low-income economies are defined as those with a GNI per capita, calculated using the World Bank Atlas method, of $1,145 or less in 2023; lower middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $1,146 and $4,515; upper middle-income economies are those with a GNI per ...
For a single individual, $100,000 would actually put you in the upper-income level in most places. For household sizes between two and four, $100,000 a year would put you squarely in the middle class.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
For a low-cost budget for a family of four, you can plan on spending $246.10 a week or about $1,066.20 a month. Moderate-cost plan. For a moderate budget for a family of four, you would spend $304.30 a week for groceries or $1,318.80 a month. Liberal budget.