What income is considered middle class in Australia?

By the OECD definition, middle income is 75% to 200% of the median. With median personal income around $61,966, that puts the middle-class band roughly between $46,000 and $124,000 of individual income. Below that is lower income; well above it is high income. Household figures differ — a dual-income couple can each sit in the middle individually while their household sits higher.

Is middle class based on income or wealth?

Most definitions, including the OECD's, use income — but 'middle class' in everyday terms also involves wealth, home ownership, job security and lifestyle. Two people on the same income can feel very differently middle class depending on whether they own a home, their debts, and the cost of living where they are. This calculator uses income as the standard yardstick.

Why doesn't my income feel middle class?

Cost of living is the usual reason. A middle income stretches much further in a regional town than in inner Sydney, where housing alone can swallow a large share of pay. Rising rents and mortgage costs have squeezed many middle-income households, so a 'middle class' income on paper can feel tight in practice.

Am I Middle Class?

Find out where your income sits in Australia — lower, middle or upper — using the OECD's 75%–200%-of-median definition, and how you compare to the typical Australian.

Last verified: 5 May 2026

What income is middle class in Australia?

The OECD calls 75%–200% of the median middle income. With a median personal income around $61,966, that's roughly $46,000 to $124,000. Below is lower income; well above is high income. Source: ABS.

Worked example. On $85,000 you earn about 137% of the median — squarely middle class, heading toward the upper end of the band. Where you live and what you owe decide how middle-class that actually feels.

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with a licensed adviser or the ATO.

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What income is middle class in Australia?

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