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Did you know that the middle class makes up the majority of America’s population? According to the Pew Research Center, in 2020, approximately 50% of adults in the United States were considered part of the middle-income tier. Since the 1970s, this number has gradually decreased as more people have been dispersed into the lower-income and upper-income categories. With most Americans in the middle, many surprising facts about middle-class income in America often go unnoticed. What Is the Middle Class? The term “middle class” often refers to a socio-economic group that falls between the upper and lower classes. The income class is generally defined as individuals or families with a moderate income, education, and wealth. What Is Considered Middle-Class Income? There are different ways to calculate middle-class income. For example, there is an average income approach, where the middle class is defined as households earning between 75% and 125% of the median household income in a particular area. Another approach is the percentage approach, where a specific percentage range of the population defines the middle class. According to the US Census Bureau, the median income in 2021 (most recent data) is $70,784, with a range of $47,000 to $141,000 being considered middle class. Middle-Class Income Varies Greatly by Region The cost of living differs significantly from one part of the country to another, resulting in varying middle-class income thresholds. For example, making six figures a year may be considered middle-class income in some regions but could fall into the upper-income category in others. For example, $47,000 (lower-middle class) might allow a relatively comfortable lifestyle in the Midwest. In coastal states, such as California or New York, making ends meet may be challenging (or impossible) even with a higher middle-class income. American vs Global Middle Class: What’s the Difference? While the concept of the middle class may be similar across many countries, its definition and characteristics can vary greatly. For example, in developing countries, a middle-class income could mean having access to basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter. In America, however, the middle class is often associated with a certain standard of living that includes owning a home, having health insurance, and being able to afford luxuries such as vacations and leisure or extracurricular activities. To put this in perspective, a 2021 Pew Research Study illustrates that the global middle class is defined as those living on $10.01-$20 a day or an annual income of about $14,600 to $29,200 for a family of four. The other income groups are as follows: people experiencing poverty live on $2 or less daily, low income on $2.01-$10, upper-middle income on $20.01-$50, and high income on more than $50 per day. Globally, 60% of the population is considered low or poor income level. Thus, American middle-class income makes a household wealthy globally. 8 Surprising Facts About Middle-Class Income in the US With a better understanding of who is middle class, what is regarded as middle-class income, and how it differs globally, let’s dive into
Do you have a hobby? Hobbies are activities we enjoy doing when we have spare time. These activities help us develop skills and talent, make friends with similar interests, reduce stress, and provide an extra stream of income. Many of us begin a hobby for fun and enjoyment, not necessarily for profit. However, many money-making hobbies are win-win for your wallet. It may be time for you to consider monetizing your talent either as a side hustle or full-time. Reasons for a Hobby That Makes Money Follow your passion. Start small to minimize the initial investment. Have skills and talent you want to develop further. Have spare time. Feel satisfaction. Generate an additional income stream. Teach others. Freelance opportunities. Sell your work on Etsy, Fiverr, Upwork, or other businesses. Healthy for your body and soul. 25 Hobbies That Make Money 1. Writing Do you enjoy writing? You just need a pen, paper, and creative ideas to begin writing and publishing. The benefits of picking up writing as a hobby to make money are low cost, a desirable communication skill, easy to start, and you can do it independently. To get started, you need to consider the various niches of writing, such as poetry, short stories, essays, fiction, books, news articles, speeches, or product reviews, and what best fits you. Getting ideas can come from talking to people, walking around your neighborhood, or traveling. Find a time that is most productive for you to write. If you write well, you may want to consider doing it freelance. It takes time to develop your niche, writing skills, and voice for most people. There are many ways to land some writing jobs online as a side hustle. It is easier to have a professional blog to point to your work. However, you can start by doing cold pitches and contacting editors online. When you’re new to freelance writing, check the job board for freelance writers, and ask around if you can guest post. Pay varies per word from pennies up to .00 or more for the most skilled. 2. Photography Do you enjoy photography as a hobby? Why not take it to the next step and pursue what you love doing? Try portraits, family photography, travel, sports, nature, stock photographs, or candid photography. Photography as a hobby can be very gratifying as you capture special moments in beautiful places. I enjoyed photography, taking classes, learning how to develop film, buying camera equipment, lenses, tripods, and such. While it is not a low-cost hobby, I suggest starting with your smartphone and learning some techniques first. Make sure you enjoy photography before investing in gear and don’t buy everything at once. Watch videos, join a photographer community and keep learning. Photography is a great hobby to make money as a side hustle or a career. You can sell or license your photos online or to companies that specialize in your field. Consider listing on Fine Art America or stock photo sites like Getty
TikTok has become much more than just an app for funny videos and trends because many people now use it to earn money online from their content. Students, stay at home moms, freelancers, and even beginners are finding different ways to make extra income through short videos and live streams. One reason TikTok has become […]
This month marked an exciting month for me. We’ll see how long it lasts, the bull market surely has to end sometime, right? Anyway, my portfolio doubled from February 2023. I can’t track my portfolio returns well in Wealthica anymore because I have switched accounts … Read moreMay 2026 Dividend Income Update The post May 2026 Dividend Income Update appeared first on Genymoney.ca.
It’s imperative that retirees embrace an optimized retirement cash flow plan. Over decades, these plans can often “find” tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars of income. And out of the gate, a retirement cash flow plan addresses a retiree’s number one concern – the fear of running out of money. The cash flow plan makes the best effort to ensure that does not happen. The plans optimize taxes, demonstrates how to take full advantage […]
Earning money online is no longer limited to becoming an influencer, posting daily vlogs, or making constant appearances on social media, it is more about putting your skills and creativity to work and earning an income without having to show your face. If you’re shy, an introvert, or simply feel uncomfortable revealing your face on […]
You’re doing the math again. One paycheck. The rent, the groceries, the utilities, the minimum payments. By the time you get to the bottom of the list, there’s almost nothing left. And somehow, everyone online seems to be talking about “extra money” you’re supposed to have lying around for debt payoff or savings. It doesn’t feel real from where you’re standing. Budgeting on a single income is not the same as budgeting on two. The […]
eBay has over 134M buyers and clocked over $3.1B in revenue in Q1 2026 alone. With such a massive marketplace, it’s no surprise that it’s a good place to sell items for extra cash. (Even GameStop wanted to acquire eBay). Whether you’re decluttering your home or looking to make money online, selling on eBay could… Read More The post 20 Profitable Things to Sell on eBay That Actually Make Money appeared first on FinSavvy Panda.
There is a question I hear often from women who have been saving for decades, doing everything right, maxing out their 401(k), watching the balance climb, and then suddenly, somewhere in their late 40s or early 50s, they start to wonder: is this actually enough? And more importantly, do I actually know how this turns out? The number in the account is not what keeps them up at night. What keeps them up is not […]
123rf For many couples in 2026, ChatGPT has become more than just a fun AI tool to ask random questions. It’s quietly turning into a second set of hands that helps households earn extra money, organize ideas faster, and finally launch projects they’ve been putting off for years. What started as curiosity for many people has evolved into something much more practical: a way to create financial breathing room during a time when groceries, insurance, […]
April 2026 delivered another major milestone for the portfolio. We posted an insane 80% year over year increase. In this article, we provide Bert’s April Dividend Income Report and breakdown his dividend income in greater detail April is usually a quiet dividend income month for me. In fact, historically, the first month of every single quarter has been my lowest dividend income month. However, that changed with my April dividend income! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || […]
Every month, I write an article that shows my passive income and my growth toward my life goals. We’re very late in May, and I’m just starting to review April. It usually only takes me a few days to begin this article, and April feels like a distant memory. For that reason, this update may be a little shorter in some places. In the past, I’ve done some personal/family updates, but I’ve started writing this […]
Hey everyone, welcome to another monthly dividend income update. Since creating this blog, I have posted these monthly dividend income updates to chronicle our journey toward financial independence through dividend investing. If you look at … Read more