Here in 2009 where do you see class levels

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I'd like to see how people view the class breakdowns for 2009. Since this is a family site lets assume household income for 2 earners in dollars.

Here is mine:

Top Tier = +4,000,000

Upper Class= 300,000 - 3,999,999

Lower Upper Class= 200,000 - 299,999

Upper Middle Class=125,000 - 199,999

Middle of the Road= ~85,000

Lower Middle Class=70,000 - 124,999

Working Class=30,000 - 69,999

Poor/Poverty=29,999 and below.

[helwardman 1]

Class has nothing to do with income level.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Well thats how we define income levels in the US.

[Jenn! 918]

There would have to be separate breakdowns regionally - too much variation in COL.

I wouldn't consider 124K "lower middle class" though. I actually wouldn't have thought that working class and lower middle class were separate.

This is 2005 (courtesy of Wikipedia):

Edited August 21, 2009 by Jenn!

[Ban Hammer 13,643]

There would have to be separate breakdowns regionally - too much variation in COL.

I wouldn't consider 124K "lower middle class" though. I actually wouldn't have thought that working class and lower middle class were separate.

perhaps base it off of the median income based on the county one lives in, with a percentage scale above and below that median income level?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

This is true lets assume that these are national averages so lower then say what is needed for San Francisco or New York but higher then is needed for say Kansas City or Detroit.

I think lower middle class is typically defined as white collar but with little freedom autonomy ie. sales etc. Working class would be factory blue collar.

[Jenn! 918]

There would have to be separate breakdowns regionally - too much variation in COL.

I wouldn't consider 124K "lower middle class" though. I actually wouldn't have thought that working class and lower middle class were separate.

perhaps base it off of the median income based on the county one lives in, with a percentage scale above and below that median income level?

Right.

The graphic I posted above would suggest that class is determined by more than just household income - the type of profession and level of education factor in as well.

[Ban Hammer 13,643]

There would have to be separate breakdowns regionally - too much variation in COL.

I wouldn't consider 124K "lower middle class" though. I actually wouldn't have thought that working class and lower middle class were separate.

perhaps base it off of the median income based on the county one lives in, with a percentage scale above and below that median income level?

Right.

The graphic I posted above would suggest that class is determined by more than just household income - the type of profession and level of education factor in as well.

but according to that graphic i'm in the money range of upper middle class yet i don't have a graduate degree.

[Jenn! 918]

There would have to be separate breakdowns regionally - too much variation in COL.

I wouldn't consider 124K "lower middle class" though. I actually wouldn't have thought that working class and lower middle class were separate.

perhaps base it off of the median income based on the county one lives in, with a percentage scale above and below that median income level?

Right.

The graphic I posted above would suggest that class is determined by more than just household income - the type of profession and level of education factor in as well.

but according to that graphic i'm in the money range of upper middle class yet i don't have a graduate degree.

Well, me too. I think the cutoffs are somewhat fluid.

There are apparently several models for this. Here is one:

Thompson & Hickey

The Thompson & Hickey model found in their 2005 book, Society in Focus. In their 2005 sociology textbook, Society in Focus, sociologists William Thompson and Joseph Hickey present a five class model in which the middle class is divided into two sections and the term working class is applied to clerical and pink collar workers. Their class system goes as follows:^[8]

• Upper class, (ca. 1%-5%) individuals with considerable power over the nation's economic and political institutions. This group owns a disproportionate share of the nation's resources. The top 1% had incomes exceeding $250,000 with the top 5% having household incomes exceeding $140,000. This group features strong group solidarity and is largely constituted by the heirs to multi-generational fortunes. Prominent government officials, CEOs and successful entrepreneurs are among the upper class even if not of elite background.^[8]
• Upper middle class, (ca. 15%) white collar professionals with advanced post-secondary education such as physicians, professors, lawyers, corporate executives, and other management. While households commonly have six figure incomes in this group, the majority of income earners do not. Only 6% of persons had six figure incomes while 15% were upper middle class. While high educational attainment commonly serves as the staple mark of this group, entrepreneurs and business owners may also be upper middle class even if lacking advanced educational attainment.^[8]
• Lower middle class, (ca. 33%) individuals who worked their way through college and commonly have a Bachelor's degree or some college education. School teachers, sales-employees and lower to mid level supervisors rank among those in this particular group. Household income is generally in the range of $30,000 to $75,000. Workers in this group are mostly white collar but have less autonomy in their work than do upper middle class professionals. Members of this class often attempt to emulate those in the two higher classes and have recently become overly indebted by their desire to have a comfortable lifestyle.^[8]
• Working class, (ca. 30%) individuals who occupy both blue and white collar occupations. Pink collar workers in predominantly female clerical positions are common in this class. Job security tends to be low for this group and unemployment as well as losing health insurance remain potent economic threats. Household incomes typically range from $16,000 to $30,000.^[8]
• Lower class, repeated cycles of unemployment, working multiple low-level part-time jobs are common among this group. Many families fall below the poverty line from time to time when employment opportunities are scarce.^[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The funny thing about this one is there is a gap in the middle and I'm in it. That means i'm a member of the GAP class. (But I don't even shop there )

Edited August 21, 2009 by lancer1655

[Jenn! 918]

I'm just gonna consider myself middle class until I make CEO.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'd like to see how people view the class breakdowns for 2009. Since this is a family site lets assume household income for 2 earners in dollars.

Here is mine:

Top Tier = +4,000,000

Upper Class= 300,000 - 3,999,999

Lower Upper Class= 200,000 - 299,999

Upper Middle Class=125,000 - 199,999

Middle of the Road= ~85,000

Lower Middle Class=70,000 - 124,999

Working Class=30,000 - 69,999

Poor/Poverty=29,999 and below.

What's the percentages per class?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

From a median or from the population?

Population wise its probably:

1% top tier, 3% Upper Class, 5% Lower Upper Class, 15 Percent Upper Middle, 25 Lower Middle, 35 Working and all the rest at the bottom.