How Much Do You Have to Make in Arizona to Be Considered Middle Class?

To Be or Not To Be ... Middle Class in Arizona

With the price of everything skyrocketing right now, there's a good chance the information in this article will be obsolete within a year—maybe sooner.

Depending on where you've lived in the past, Arizona is either a very inexpensive state or extremely cheap. Either way, how much does your household income need to be in order to be classified as middle class in our state?

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There's a fairly wide range, so exactly how middle class you might be depends not only on what you make but also on where you live in Arizona.

How Much Do You Have to Make to Be Middle-Class in Arizona?

Let’s dive into the numbers and see what’s up. Being “middle class” can mean different things to different people. But, for the sake of simplicity, let’s go with the Pew Research Center’s definition, which says your middle class if you’re earning between 67% and 200% of your state’s median income.

READ: Moving? Here are the 3 Most Affordable Cities to Live in Arizona

In Arizona, the salaries that hit the middle-class sweet spot are between $45,935 and $137,804. In that range, you’re not exactly rolling in dough, but you’re also not necessarily living paycheck to paycheck. The good news is that nearly half of the households in Arizona sit near this range.

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How Middle Class You are Depends on Where You Live in Arizona

We know the cost of living not only varies from state to state, but it can change depending on where in Arizona you live. Maricopa County is a bit pricier than most of Arizona.

To be considered middle class in Maricopa County, you'll need to make between $51,015 and $153,046. According to Business Insider, the median middle-class income across the state is about $61,699.

These numbers don’t account for the cost of living changes or how much you’ve got stashed away. But if you want to live a comfortable, middle-of-the-road lifestyle in the Grand Canyon State, this is a good place to begin.