<P> Factors such as nature of work and lack of influence within their jobs leads some theorists to the conclusion that most Americans are working class . They have data that shows the majority of workers are not paid to share their ideas . These workers are closely supervised and do not enjoy independence in their jobs . Also, they are not paid to think . For example: The median annual earnings of salaried dentists were $136,960 in May 2006, indicating a high degree of scarcity for qualified personnel . The opinions and thoughts of dentists, much like those of other professionals, are sought after by their organizations and clients . The dentist creates a diagnosis, consults the patient, and conceptualizes a treatment . In 2009, Dental assistants made roughly $14.40 an hour, about $32,000 annually . Unlike dentists, dental assistants do not have much influence over the treatment of patients . They carry out routine procedures and follow the dentists' instructions . Here we see that a dental assistant being classified as working class . Similar relationships can be observed in other occupations . </P> <P> Some modern theories of political economy consider a large middle class to be a beneficial, stabilizing influence on society, because it has neither the possibly explosive revolutionary tendencies of the lower class, nor the absolutist tendencies of an entrenched upper class . Most sociological definitions of middle class follow Max Weber . Here the middle class is defined as consisting of professionals or business owners who share a culture of domesticity and sub-urbanity and a level of relative security against social crisis, in the form of socially desired skill or wealth . Thus the theory on the middle class by Max Weber can be cited as one that supports the notion of the middle class being composed of a quasi-elite of professionals and managers, who are largely immune to economic downturns and trends such as out - sourcing which affect the statistical middle class . </P> <P> Many social scientists including economist Michael Zweig and sociologist Dennis Gilbert contend that middle class persons usually have above median incomes . As social classes lack clear boundaries and overlap there are no definite income thresholds as for what is considered middle class . In 2004, sociologist Leonard Beeghley identifies a male making $57,000 and a female making $40,000 with a combined households income of $97,000 as a typical middle - class family . In 2005, sociologists William Thompson and Joseph Hickey estimate an income range of roughly $35,000 to $75,000 for the lower middle class and $100,000 or more for the upper middle class . </P> <Table> Median income levels <Tr> <Th_colspan="3"> Households </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Persons, age 25 or older with earnings </Th> <Th_colspan="4"> Household income by race or ethnicity </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> All households </Th> <Th> Dual earner households </Th> <Th> Per household member </Th> <Th> Males </Th> <Th> Females </Th> <Th> Both sexes </Th> <Th> Asian </Th> <Th> Non-Hispanic White </Th> <Th> Hispanic (of any race) </Th> <Th> Black </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> $46,326 </Td> <Td> $67,348 </Td> <Td> $23,535 </Td> <Td> $39,403 </Td> <Td> $26,507 </Td> <Td> $32,140 </Td> <Td> $57,518 </Td> <Td> $48,977 </Td> <Td> $34,241 </Td> <Td> $30,134 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What is middle class income in the united states
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