Staggering six-figure income now means you’re ‘lower-middle class’ in 12 states — including California

A six-figure income used to mean you’d made it — but those days are long gone for Californians and residents of several other states across the country.

The $100,000 annual salary many had strived for as a status symbol is now barely enough to make ends meet in the 21st Century, according to a new report from Money Lion.

The once-coveted salary is now considered “lower-middle class” in California and 11 other states.

The report based its findings on the Pew Research Center’s definition of “middle class,” where individuals earned between two-thirds to double the median household income.

One is considered “lower-middle class” if they find themselves in the bottom third of the middle class earning range.

California ranks fifth out of the 12 states, with a median household income of $100,149, and the annual cost of necessities, groceries and bills for example, sitting at $81,674.

If you earn more than $111,277 — you qualify for middle class status in the Golden State.

California is one of just five states with a median household income of over $100,000, behind Hawaii ($100,745), Maryland ($102,905), New Jersey ($104,294) and Massachusetts ($104,828).

Hawaii is the only state where the annual cost of necessities ($99,179) is higher than California’s, with the 50th state’s top income for lower-middle class slightly higher than the Golden State’s — at $111,939.

The top three on the list — Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland — all have far lower annual costs for necessities (MA – $73,368, NJ — $63,452 and MD — $54,431) than California and Hawaii.

However, the top income for lower-middle class is slightly higher, with $114,339 for Maryland, $115,882 for New Jersey and $116,476 for Massachusetts.

The other states on the list where $100K is lower-middle class are New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Alaska and Virginia.

Another study from US News and World Report ranked California as the worst of all 50 states in terms of cost of living, affordability and opportunity, though they did rank it #37 in terms of the best states overall.

That report also lists Utah as the #1 state overall, with Arkansas taking the top spot in terms of cost of living and affordability, with Vermont #1 for opportunity.

For those looking for a cheaper place to live, Arkansas is followed in cost of living by Mississippi, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Here’s the full list of states where six-figure salaries no longer means you’re middle class:

• Massachusetts Median household income: $104,828 | Annual cost of necessities: $73,368 | Top income for lower-middle class: $116,476
• New Jersey Median household income: $104,294 | Annual cost of necessities: $63,452 | Top income for lower-middle class: $115,882
• Maryland Median household income: $102,905 | Annual cost of necessities: $54,431 | Top income for lower-middle class: $114,339
• Hawaii Median household income: $100,745 | Annual cost of necessities: $99,179 | Top income for lower-middle class: $111,939
• California Median household income: $100,149 | Annual cost of necessities: $81,674 | Top income for lower-middle class: $111,277
• New Hampshire Median household income: $99,782 | Annual cost of necessities: $59,484 | Top income for lower-middle class: $110,869
• Washington Median household income: $99,389 | Annual cost of necessities: $66,961 | Top income for lower-middle class: $110,432
• Colorado Median household income: $97,113 | Annual cost of necessities: $60,157 | Top income for lower-middle class: $107,903
• Utah Median household income: $96,658 | Annual cost of necessities: $58,737 | Top income for lower-middle class: $107,398
• Connecticut Median household income: $96,049 | Annual cost of necessities: $56,512 | Top income for lower-middle class: $106,721
• Alaska Median household income: $95,665 | Annual cost of necessities: $58,004 | Top income for lower-middle class: $106,294
• Virginia Median household income: $92,090 | Annual cost of necessities: $51,218 | Top income for lower-middle class: $102,322

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