Some jobs with middle-class pay don't require a bachelor's degree.

High-paying jobs include doctors and lawyers, while low-paying jobs are typically found in food service and customer service roles.

The middle class may be more occupationally uncertain due to the wide income range of $49,720 to $149,160 in the U.S., as defined by Pew Research and based on the latest Census Bureau income data.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the middle class is defined by Pew as households with an income between two-thirds and double the median income, which was $74,580 in 2022.

According to Pew, since over half of U.S. households were estimated to be in the middle class as of 2022, it makes sense that jobs that offer middle class incomes would vary. However, some positions and industries tend to have higher shares of middle class workers.

According to Pew's analysis of the Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey data, armed forces workers are the most likely to be middle earners with 65% of their households in that income band.

According to Pew, the 10 occupations with the largest shares of middle class workers are:

1. Armed forces: 65%
2. Maintenance, repair and production: 64%
3. Protective and building maintenance services: 62%
4. Office and administrative support: 62%
5. Education: 61%
6. Transportation and material moving: 59%
7. Construction extraction and farming: 58%
8. Legal, social services, arts, media and related: 55%
9. Health care: 55%
10. Business and finance operations: 54%

Pew analyzed workers' income tiers based on household incomes adjusted for the number of people and local cost of living, with rounded shares.

The majority of workers in the armed forces category are active duty military personnel, making up 82% of that workforce, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The pay for these occupations is determined by the Department of Defense and varies based on rank and years of service.

Members of the armed forces receive basic pay and may be eligible for additional compensation, including housing and living allowances, based on their family size, duties, and location.

Many jobs that may lead to a middle class income do not require a college degree.

While a bachelor's degree or higher may increase your earning potential in most fields, there are still lucrative career options that don't require a degree. For instance, joining the armed forces and working in construction, manufacturing, and maintenance are in-demand and can provide decent salaries, according to a recent PayScale and ZipRecruiter report.

There are various careers that can help you eliminate student loan debt through Public Service Loan Forgiveness, such as those in the military, education, and health care.

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