In the 25 largest U.S. cities, the salary required to be considered middle class can exceed $250,000, with San Francisco leading the way.

Depending on the location, a middle class lifestyle can manifest in various ways. In one city, it might entail owning a house and a car, while in another, it could mean merely being able to rent a place on your own.

According to the 2022 Census Bureau American Community Survey data, a household in the San Francisco area with an annual income of $250,000 would be considered middle earners.

In the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California metro area, the Census Bureau defines the middle class as households earning between two-thirds and double the median income, which is $128,151. This translates to middle class households earning between $85,434 and $256,302 annually.

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Three other U.S. metro areas have median household incomes over $100,000 a year and include $200,000 households in their middle classes: Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Boston.

Seattle and Boston, in addition to San Francisco, are significant tech hubs in the United States. These high-paying jobs can increase the average wages in the local area. Washington D.C. is known for its high-paid lawyers, politicians, and consultants.

The 25 largest U.S. metros have a range of middle class incomes.

Although San Francisco is the highest-earning metro, its high cost of living means that a middle income may not provide a comfortable lifestyle as imagined.

As per Census Bureau data from 2022, approximately 1 in 3 households in San Francisco were housing cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than the recommended 30% of their income on housing expenses.

As of May 2024, the average rent price in San Francisco is among the highest in the country at $3,139.

The cost of owning a home has increased, with median sale prices exceeding $1 million in June, according to Redfin. To afford a median-priced home with monthly mortgage costs at or below 28% of your income, you would need to earn at least $228,085 annually, assuming a 20% down payment and 7% mortgage rate.

In San Francisco County, households in the top 20% of earners make a median of $218,000 a year, while those in the bottom 20% earn a median of $35,161, according to a 2021 Metropolitan Transportation Commission analysis of Census Bureau data.

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