In Canada, the upper class generally refers to households with an annual income exceeding roughly $250,000–$300,000, often placing them within the top 1% to 5% of earners. This group holds significant wealth, with median net worths often exceeding $3 million, and is characterized by high income, substantial investments, and, in some cases, inherited wealth.
In order to be considered wealthy in Canada, you should have a net worth of at least $1 million. That being said, a lot of Canadians who are considered wealthy live a relatively normal life. Most of their net worth is in their primary residence, investments, retirement packages, or even a mix of the three.
Top 10% The top 10% percent of income earners are those who are considered to be upper middle class as well. The threshold amount for the top 10% is $125,945. This amount is only slightly higher than the top threshold for middle-class income, which is $106,717.
Below, the major divisions of Canadian social class and their key subcategories are developed in more detail.
Defining the Classes
Lower middle class (25th to 50th percentile): $29,300 to $209,000 net worth. Upper middle class (50th to 75th percentile): $209,000 to $714,000 net worth. Upper class (75th to 90th percentile): $714,000 to $2.1 million net worth. Wealthy (90th percentile and above): Over $2.1 million net worth.
A gross salary of $130,000 places someone solidly in the upper-middle class. It is significantly higher than the average salaries in Ontario: Average individual salary in Ontario: $53,950. Average household income in Ontario: $106,500.
The report revealed that, on average, a net worth of around $2.3 million is required to be considered "wealthy," while a net worth of $839,000 is sufficient to be "financially comfortable." These numbers also varied by generation.
Being considered "rich" is subjective but generally points to a high net worth or income, often cited around $2.3 to $2.5 million in net worth by Americans, though this varies greatly by location, age, and lifestyle, with some defining it as financial freedom or a high income (like top 1% earners, around $60k+ monthly).
Based on this data, approximately less than 10% of Canadians aged 55 to 64 have $1,000,000 or more saved up to carry them into retirement. However, there are ways to improve your odds of getting to $1-million-plus in retirement savings, but it will take work.
9 Signs of Wealth to Look Out For
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.
In 2023, there were 4.4 million families in Canada with net wealth above one million dollars and 108,000 families with net wealth above 10 million dollars.
Then comes the line that defines what wealthy looks like for people approaching retirement. The top 10% ages 55 to 64 sit at roughly $2,960,900. That's the benchmark for upper class status at that stage of life.
39% of Canadians aged 55-64 have less than $5,000 in savings (-5 pts); 73% have $100,000 or less in savings. More than one in three (36%) women aged 55-64 have no savings at all, compared to one in five (22%) men.
A high-net-worth individual typically has at least $1 million in liquid financial assets. North America had a record number of HNWIs, at 8.4 million people as of December 2024. HNWIs can be subclassified based on their net worth, such as an ultra-high-net-worth individual with over $30 million in liquid assets.
At 40, a common guideline suggests your net worth should be 2 to 3 times your annual salary, while the median US household net worth is around $135,000 to $150,000, though this varies greatly by income, location, and lifestyle. For early retirement, you might aim for significantly higher, like 25 times annual expenses, but a realistic goal focuses on consistent saving and reaching income multiples.
On a £120,000 salary, your take home pay will be £76,157.40 after tax and National Insurance. This equates to £6,346.45 per month and £1,464.57 per week. If you work 5 days per week, this is £292.91 per day, or £36.61 per hour at 40 hours per week.
Options like retirement benefits and 401(k) matching provide further peace of mind as they help employees save for retirement. In other words, benefits provide stability and regularity that a higher salary alone cannot provide.
The Top 1% Threshold: To enter the top 1% in Canada, an individual must earn approximately $315,911 per year. The average income among the top 1% is $512,000, while the median is around $349,900.