<P> Household income is one of the most commonly used measures of income and, therefore, also one of the most prominent indicators of social class . Household income and education do not, however, always reflect perceived class status correctly . Sociologist Dennis Gilbert acknowledges that "...the class structure...does not exactly match the distribution of household income" with "the mismatch (being) greatest in the middle ..." (Gilbert, 1998: 92) As social classes commonly overlap, it is not possible to define exact class boundaries . </P> <P> According to Leonard Beeghley a household income of roughly $95,000 would be typical of a dual - earner middle class household while $60,000 would be typical of a dual - earner working class household and $18,000 typical for an impoverished household . William Thompson and Joseph Hickey see common incomes for the upper class as those exceeding $500,000 with upper middle class incomes ranging from the high 5 - figures to most commonly in excess of $100,000 . They claim the lower middle class ranges from $35,000 to $75,000; $16,000 to $30,000 for the working class and less than $2,000 for the lower class . </P> <Table> Academic class models <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Dennis Gilbert, 2002 </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005 </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Leonard Beeghley, 2004 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Class </Th> <Th> Typical characteristics </Th> <Th> Class </Th> <Th> Typical characteristics </Th> <Th> Class </Th> <Th> Typical characteristics </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Capitalist class (1%) </Th> <Td> Top - level executives, high - rung politicians, heirs . Ivy League education common . </Td> <Th> Upper class (1%) </Th> <Td> Top - level executives, celebrities, heirs; income of $500,000 + common . Ivy league education common . </Td> <Th> The super-rich (0.9%) </Th> <Td> Multi-millionaires whose incomes commonly exceed $350,000; includes celebrities and powerful executives / politicians . Ivy League education common . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Upper middle class (15%) </Th> <Td> Highly - educated (often with graduate degrees), most commonly salaried, professionals and middle management with large work autonomy . </Td> <Th> Upper middle class (15%) </Th> <Td> Highly - educated (often with graduate degrees) professionals & managers with household incomes varying from the high 5 - figure range to commonly above $100,000 . </Td> <Th> The rich (5%) </Th> <Td> Households with net worth of $1 million or more; largely in the form of home equity . Generally have college degrees . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Middle class (plurality / majority?; ca . 46%) </Th> <Td> College - educated workers with considerably higher - than - average incomes and compensation; a man making $57,000 and a woman making $40,000 may be typical . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Lower middle class (30%) </Th> <Td> Semi-professionals and craftsmen with a roughly average standard of living . Most have some college education and are white - collar . </Td> <Th> Lower middle class (32%) </Th> <Td> Semi-professionals and craftsmen with some work autonomy; household incomes commonly range from $35,000 to $75,000 . Typically, some college education . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Working class (30%) </Th> <Td> Clerical and most blue - collar workers whose work is highly routinized . Standard of living varies depending on number of income earners, but is commonly just adequate . High school education . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Working class (32%) </Th> <Td> Clerical, pink - and blue - collar workers with often low job security; common household incomes range from $16,000 to $30,000 . High school education . </Td> <Th> Working class (ca . 40--45%) </Th> <Td> Blue - collar workers and those whose jobs are highly routinized with low economic security; a man making $40,000 and a woman making $26,000 may be typical . High school education . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Working poor (13%) </Th> <Td> Service, low - rung clerical and some blue - collar workers . High economic insecurity and risk of poverty . Some high school education . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Lower class (ca . 14--20%) </Th> <Td> Those who occupy poorly - paid positions or rely on government transfers . Some high school education . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Underclass (12%) </Th> <Td> Those with limited or no participation in the labor force . Reliant on government transfers . Some high school education . </Td> <Th> The poor (ca . 12%) </Th> <Td> Those living below the poverty line with limited to no participation in the labor force; a household income of $18,000 may be typical . Some high school education . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="6"> <Dl> <Dd> References: Gilbert, D. (2002) The American Class Structure: In An Age of Growing Inequality . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, ISBN 0534541100 . (see also Gilbert Model); </Dd> </Dl> <P> Thompson, W. & Hickey, J. (2005). Society in Focus . Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon; Beeghley, L. (2004). The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States . Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon . </P> <Dl> <Dd> The upper middle class may also be referred to as "Professional class" Ehrenreich, B. (1989). The Inner Life of the Middle Class . NY, NY: Harper - Collins . </Dd> </Dl> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Dennis Gilbert, 2002 </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005 </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Leonard Beeghley, 2004 </Th> </Tr>

What percentage of american households make over 150k