- The definition of “rich” might vary from person to person, but the Pew Research Center has set more more explicit boundaries.
- According to a Pew Research Center report, only 19% of American adults are considered “upper class,” and that group had a median income of $187,872 in 2016.
- “Upper class” is defined as households who make over double the median.
- Here is the amount of money you need to earn in 42 different major US cities in order to be considered “upper class,” or rich.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
A 2018 Pew Research Center report found that only 19% of American households were considered upper class. That group of upper class households had a median income of $187,872.
In order to be considered “upper class,” according to CNBC, a household must earn over double the median household income. The median household income nationwide in 2018 was $63,179, according to the US Census Bureau’s September 2019 report.
However, the threshold for being considered “upper class” varies from city to city, depending on the local median income.
Keep scrolling to find out what it takes to be considered upper class, or rich, in the 42 largest metro areas in the US, plus what income is needed to be in the top 1% in those states.
Note: Population size and median area income have been sourced from Data USA. Top 1% minimum income estimates have been previously determined by Business Insider using Economic Policy Institute Data.
To be considered rich in the Memphis, Tennessee, metro area, you need to make over $101,968.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Tennessee: $332,913
Median income in Memphis area: $50,984
Metro-area population: 1.35 million
To be considered rich in the Tampa, Florida, metro area, you need to make over $104,424.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Florida: $417,587
Median income in Tampa: $52,212
Metro-area population: 3.09 million
To be considered rich in the Miami, Florida, metro area, you need to make over $108,568.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Florida: $417,587
Median income in Miami area: $54,284
Metro-area population: 6.16 million
To be considered rich in the Cleveland, Ohio, metro area, you need to make over $104,978.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Ohio: $334,979
Median income in Cleveland area: $52,489
Metro-area population: 2.06 million
To be considered rich in the Orlando, Florida, metro area, you need to make over $110,178.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Florida: $417,587
Median income in Orlando area: $55,089
Metro-area population: 2.51 million
To be considered rich in the Las Vegas, Nevada, metro area, you need to make over $114,378.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Nevada: $341,335
Median income in Las Vegas: $57,189
Metro-area population: 2.2 million
To be considered rich in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, metro area, you need to make over $112,520.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Oklahoma: $333,139
Median income in Oklahoma City: $56,260
Metro-area population: 1.38 million
To be considered rich in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, metro area, you need to make over $117,042.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Pennsylvania: $388,593
Median income in Pittsburgh: $58,521
Metro-area population: 2.33 million
To be considered rich in the San Antonio, Texas, metro area, you need to make over $113,548.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Texas: $440,758
Median income in San Antonio: $56,774
Metro-area population: 2.47 million
To be considered rich in the Detroit, Michigan, metro area, you need to make over $116,822.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Michigan: $328,649
Median income in Detroit: $58,411
Metro-area population: 4.31 million
To be considered rich in the Indianapolis, Indiana, metro area, you need to make over $119,132.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Indiana: $316,756
Median income in Indianapolis: $59,566
Metro-area population: 2.03 million
To be considered rich in the Jacksonville, Florida, metro area, you need to make over $117,418.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Florida: $417,587
Median income in Jacksonville: $58,709
Metro-area population: 1.5 million
To be considered rich in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, metro area, you need to make over $118,896.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Wisconsin: $349,905
Median income in Milwaukee: $59,448
Metro-area population: 1.58 million
To be considered rich in the Phoenix, Arizona, metro area, you need to make over $123,012.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Arizona: $331,074
Median income in Phoenix: $61,506
Metro-area population: 4.74 million
To be considered rich in the Riverside, California, metro area, you need to make over $123,988.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in California: $514,694
Median income in Riverside: $61,994
Metro-area population: 4.58 million
To be considered rich in the St. Louis, Missouri, metro area, you need to make over $123,142.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Missouri: $326,839
Median income in St. Louis: $61,571
Metro-area population: 2.81 million
To be considered rich in the Charlotte, North Carolina, metro area, you need to make over $122,312.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in North Carolina: $343,066
Median income in Charlotte: $61,156
Metro-area population: 2.53 million
To be considered rich in the Nashville, Tennessee, metro area, you need to make over $127,878.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Tennessee: $332,913
Median income in Nashville: $63,939
Metro-area population: 1.9 million
To be considered rich in the Cincinnati, Ohio, metro area, you need to make over $213,306.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Ohio: $334,979
Median income in Cincinnati: $61,653
Metro-area population: 2.18 million
To be considered rich in the Columbus, Ohio, metro area, you need to make over $127,528.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Ohio: $334,979
Median income in Columbus: $63,764
Metro-area population: 2.08 million
To be considered rich in the Kansas City, Missouri, metro area, you need to make over $126,808.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Missouri: $326,839
Median income in Kansas City: $63,404
Metro-area population: 2.13 million
To be considered rich in the Houston, Texas, metro area, you need to make over $127,604.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Texas: $440,758
Median income in Houston: $63,802
Metro-area population: 6.89 million
To be considered rich in the Virginia Beach, Virginia, metro area, you need to make over $128,510.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Virginia: $425,144
Median income in Virginia Beach: $64,255
Metro-area population: 1.72 million
To be considered rich in the Providence, Rhode Island, metro area, you need to make over $130,452.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Rhode Island: $346,657
Median income in Providence: $65,226
Metro-area population: 1.62 million
To be considered rich in the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area, you need to make over $130,762.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Georgia: $371,811
Median income in Atlanta: $65,381
Metro-area population: 5.88 million
To be considered rich in the Dallas, Texas, metro area, you need to make over $134,746.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Texas: $440,758
Median income in Dallas: $67,382
Metro-area population: 7.4 million
To be considered rich in the Sacramento, California, metro area, you need to make over $135,804.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in California: $514,694
Median income in Sacramento: $67,902
Metro-area population: 2.32 million
To be considered rich in the Los Angeles, California, metro area, you need to make over $139,984.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in California: $514,694
Median income in Los Angeles: $69,992
Metro-area population: 13.4 million
To be considered rich in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metro area, you need to make over $137,144.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Pennsylvania: $388,593
Median income in Philadelphia: $68,572
Metro-area population: 6.1 million
To be considered rich in the Chicago, Illinois, metro area, you need to make over $136,806.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Illinois: $456,377
Median income in Chicago: $68,403
Metro-area population: 9.53 million
To be considered rich in the Portland, Oregon, metro area, you need to make over $143,862.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Oregon: $358,937
Median income in Portland: $71,931
Metro-area population: 2.4 million
To be considered rich in the San Diego, California, metro area, you need to make over $152,414.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in California: $514,694
Median income in San Diego: $76,207
Metro-area population: 3.34 million
To be considered rich in the Austin, Texas, metro area, you need to make over $174,600.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Texas: $440,758
Median income in Austin: $73,800
Metro-area population: 2.12 million
To be considered rich in the New York City metro area, you need to make over $150,736.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in New York: $550,174
Median income in New York City: $75,368
Metro-area population: 20.3 million
To be considered rich in the Denver, Colorado, metro area you need to make over $153,286.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Colorado: $458,576
Median income in Denver: $76,643
Metro-area population: 2.89 million
To be considered rich in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, metro area, you need to make over $153,712.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Minnesota: $443,118
Median income in Minneapolis: $76,856
Metro-area population: 3.6 million
To be considered rich in the Baltimore, Maryland, metro area you need to make over $154,788.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Maryland: $445,783
Median income in Baltimore: $77,394
Metro-area population: 2.81 million
To be considered rich in the Seattle, Washington, metro area you need to make over $164,266.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Washington: $451,395
Median income in Seattle: $82,133
Metro-area population: 3.87 million
To be considered rich in the Boston, Massachusetts, metro area, you need to make over $171,382.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Massachusetts: $582,774
Median income in Boston: $85,691
Metro-area population: 4.84 million
To be considered rich in the Washington, DC, metro area, you need to make over $199,338.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in Washington, DC: $598,155
Median income in DC: $99,669
Metro-area population: 6.22 million
To be considered rich in the San Francisco, California, metro area, you need to make over $203,428.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in California: $514,694
Median income in San Francisco: $101,714
Metro-area population: 4.73 million
To be considered rich in the San Jose, California, metro area, you need to make over $234,948.
How much money it takes to be in the top 1% in California: $514,694
Median income in San Jose: $117,474
Metro-area population: 2 million
