The
upper middle class is a sociological concept referring to the
social group constituted by higher-status members of the
middle class. This is in contrast to the term
lower middle class used for the group at the opposite end of the middle class stratum and the regular
middle class. There is considerable debate as to how the upper middle class might be defined. According to sociologist
Max Weber the upper middle class consists of well-educated professionals with
graduate degrees and comfortable incomes.
The
American upper middle class is defined similarly using
income,
education and occupation as main indicators.
In the United States, the upper middle class is defined as mostly consisting of
white collar professionals who not only have above-average
personal incomes and advanced
educational degrees but also a high degree of autonomy in their work, leading to higher job satisfaction.
The main occupational tasks of upper middle class individuals tend to center on conceptualizing, consulting, and instruction.
Professions
Certain professions can be deemed as "upper middle class" in nature although any such measurement remains somewhat subjective because of differing perceptions of class. Most people in the upper-middle class strata are highly educated white collar
professionals such as doctors (
physicians US),
economists,
accountants,
university professors (
lecturers UK),
architects,
consultants,
scientists,
engineers,
dentists, non-corporate business owners, upper management
civil servants and the
intelligentsia. Generally, people in these professions have earned an advanced post-secondary education and a comfortable standard of living. In most cases household incomes can range from $150,000 to $250,000 a year or more.
Values
Those encompassing this station in life statistically espouse high regard for higher education, striving for themselves and their children to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In the U.S., the upper middle class is rather divided in terms of political ideology. Statistically,
education increases the chance of a person's subscribing to
liberal beliefs once they have reached the college level.
In terms of income, liberals tend to be tied with pro-business conservatives.
Most
mass affluent households tend to be more
right wing-leaning on fiscal issues but more
left wing-leaning on social issues.
The majority, between 50% and 60%, of households with incomes above $50,000 overall, not all of whom are upper middle class,
supported the
Republican Party in the 2000, 2004 and 2006 elections.
Nevertheless, those with graduate degrees overall favor the
Democratic Party.
In 2005, 72% of surveyed full-time faculty members at four-year institutions, the majority of whom would be considered upper middle class,
identified themselves as liberal.
Education plays a major role in determining tastes and ideologies in this class. A
graduate degree, and often even higher education, is a prerequisite to work in one of the traditional "professions" and as a result this segment of the upper middle class is statistically more liberal in their political ideologies and more urbane in their tastes. Corporate members of the upper middle class, on the other hand, may have a less advanced higher education (they may have worked their way up to their current social station from an entry-level corporate position). It should be noted, however, that many business persons do have advanced
post-secondary education, most notably those with
MBAs. Furthermore, in some cases professionals such as chemists or economists may be employed by private businesses and have managerial duties aside from their professional research duties.
The upper middle class is often the group that shapes society and brings
social movements to the forefront. Movements such as the
Peace Movement, The
Anti-Nuclear Movement,
Environmentalism, the
Anti-smoking movement, and even in the past with
Blue laws and the
Temperance movement are all products of the upper middle class. Some claim this is because this is the largest class (and the lowest class) with any true political power for positive change, while others claim some of the more restrictive social movements (such as with smoking and drinking) are based upon "saving people from themselves."
American upper middle class
Advanced education is one of the most distinguishing features of the upper middle class.
The American upper middle class consists mostly of salaried white collar professionals.
In the United States the term
middle class and its subdivisions are an extremely vague concept as neither economists nor sociologists have precisely defined the term.
There are several perceptions of the upper middle class and what the term means. In academic models the term applies to highly educated salaried professionals whose work is largely self-directed. Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly may exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners earning incomes in the high 5-figure range.
In addition to having autonomy in their work, above-average incomes, and advanced educations, the upper middle class also tends to be influential, setting trends and largely shaping public opinion.
Overall, members of this class are also secure from economic down-turns and, unlike their counterparts in the
statistical middle class, do not need to fear downsizing, corporate cost-cutting, or outsourcing -- an economic benefit largely attributable to their
graduate degrees and
comfortable incomes, likely in the
top income quintile or
top third.
Typical professions for this class include
professors,
accountants,
architects, attorneys,
urban planners,
engineers,
economists,
physicians,
political scientists,
pharmacists and
civilian contractors.
Income
While many Americans cite
income as the prime determinant of class, occupational status,
educational attainment, and value systems are equally important variables. Income is in part determined by the scarcity of certain skill sets.
As a result an occupation that requires a scarce skill, the attainment of which is often achieved through an
educational degree, and entrusts its occupant with a high degree of influence will usually offer high economic compensation. The high
income is meant to ensure that individuals obtain the necessary skills (e.g. medical or graduate school) and complete their tasks with the necessary valor.
There are also differences between
household and
individual income. In 2005, 42% of US households (76% among the
top quintile) had two or more
income earners; as a result, 18% of households but only 5% of individuals had
six figure incomes.
To illustrate, two nurses each making $55,000 per year can out-earn, in a household sense, a single attorney who makes a median of $95,000 annually.
Sociologists Dennis Gilbert, Willam Thompson and Joseph Hickey estimate the upper middle class to constitute roughly 15% of the population. Using the 15% figure one may conclude that the American upper middle class consists, strictly in an income sense, of professionals with
personal incomes in excess of $62,500, who commonly reside in households with six figure incomes.
The difference between personal and household income can be explained by considering that 76% of households with incomes exceeding $90,000 (the top 20%) had two or more income earners.
See also
