Academic class models
Top-level executives, high-rung politicians, heirs. Ivy League education common.
Upper middle class(15%)
Highly-educated (often with graduate degrees), most commonly salaried, professionals and middle management with large work autonomy.
Lower middle class (30%)
Semi-professionals and craftsmen with a roughly average standard of living. Most have some college education and are white-collar.
Working class (30%)
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.
Working poor (13%)
Service, low-rung clerical and some blue-collar workers. High economic insecurity and risk of poverty. Some high school education.
Underclass (12%)
Those with limited or no participation in the labor force. Reliant on government transfers. Some high school education.
References: Gilbert, D. (2002) The American Class Structure: In An Age of Growing Inequality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, ISBN 0534541100. (see also Gilbert Model);
Top-level executives, celebrities, heirs; income of $500,000+ common. Ivy league education common.
Upper middle class/Professional Class (15%)
Highly-educated (often with graduate degrees) professionals & managers with household incomes varying from the high 5-figure range to commonly above $100,000.
Lower middle class (32%)
Semi-professionals and craftsmen with some work autonomy; household incomes commonly range from $35,000 to $75,000. Typically, some college education.
Dennis Gilbert, 2002
Capitalist class (1%)Top-level executives, high-rung politicians, heirs. Ivy League education common.
Upper middle class(15%)
Highly-educated (often with graduate degrees), most commonly salaried, professionals and middle management with large work autonomy.
Lower middle class (30%)
Semi-professionals and craftsmen with a roughly average standard of living. Most have some college education and are white-collar.
Working class (30%)
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.
Working poor (13%)
Service, low-rung clerical and some blue-collar workers. High economic insecurity and risk of poverty. Some high school education.
Underclass (12%)
Those with limited or no participation in the labor force. Reliant on government transfers. Some high school education.
References: Gilbert, D. (2002) The American Class Structure: In An Age of Growing Inequality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, ISBN 0534541100. (see also Gilbert Model);
William Thompson & Joseph Hickey, 2005
Upper class (1%)Top-level executives, celebrities, heirs; income of $500,000+ common. Ivy league education common.
Upper middle class/Professional Class (15%)
Highly-educated (often with graduate degrees) professionals & managers with household incomes varying from the high 5-figure range to commonly above $100,000.
Lower middle class (32%)
Semi-professionals and craftsmen with some work autonomy; household incomes commonly range from $35,000 to $75,000. Typically, some college education.
Working class (32%)
Clerical, pink- and blue-collar workers with often low job security; common household incomes range from $16,000 to $30,000. High school education.
Lower class (ca. 14–20%)
Those who occupy poorly-paid positions or rely on government transfers. Some high school education.
Those who occupy poorly-paid positions or rely on government transfers. Some high school education.
Thompson, W. & Hickey, J. (2005). Society in Focus. Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon; Leonard
Beeghley, 2004
The super-rich (0.9%)
Multi-millionaires whose incomes commonly exceed $350,000; includes celebrities and powerful executives/politicians. Ivy League education common.
The rich (5%)
Households with net worth of $1 million or more; largely in the form of home equity. Generally have college degrees.
Middle class (plurality/majority?; ca. 46%)
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.
Multi-millionaires whose incomes commonly exceed $350,000; includes celebrities and powerful executives/politicians. Ivy League education common.
The rich (5%)
Households with net worth of $1 million or more; largely in the form of home equity. Generally have college degrees.
Middle class (plurality/majority?; ca. 46%)
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.
Working class (ca. 40–45%)
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.
The poor (ca. 12%)
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.
Beeghley, L. (2004). The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States. Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon.
Households or extended family holdings with net worth of over $20 million.These elites have access to diversified wealth and the sophisticated financial technology necessary to manage it. Rather than building businesses, their focus is how to increase the value of their assets, and obtain control of the assets through business deals, ties to government, or other influence. The Kleptocratic class focuses on networking with other in their class, in order to identify, arrange and execute the business dealings that most effectively grow their wealth. Financial mechanisms include stock manipulation, buybacks, acquisitions, speculation, takeovers, mergers, privatization, tax avoidance and offshore banking. Will often have exclusive use of a private jet and multiple vehicles. Often collect art or valuable vehicles as status symbols. Usually own multiple homes in multiple countries. Incomes range from $10 million per year upwards, and can vary dramatically from year to year as their investments shift in value.
Super Rich(0.09%)
Households or extended family holdings with net worth of over $20 - 100 million. These elites have usually business founders, CEOs of large companies, work in finance or technology. They may also have inherited substantial family fortunes. May have exclusive use of a private company jet if there are the CEO. Usually own multiple homes or own multiple investment properties. Investments are diversified mixture of property and company stock. Incomes range from $1 - 10 million per year, and can vary dramatically from year to year as their investments shift in value.
Investor Class 0.9%
Households with net worth of $10 million - $20 million. The investor class gains most of their income from investment returns and equity in businesses rather than salary as an employee. They may not work in the traditional sense or receive a salary. They include CEO of very large organizations, public figures with ownership of a successful personal brand, founders of companies. In the finance and technology industries, they may be still employees. Usually own at least two larger homes, with one being in a international resort, tax haven or location chosen for recreation or culture. Typically have multiple vehicles provided by their corporation or company and may have private jet sharing or smaller jet. Household incomes are typically $400,000 - $1,000,000 per year.
Rich 9%
Households with net worth of around $1 million - 10 million. Typically graduate salaried professionals who have increased their net worth through stock options, home equity, or inheritance. Typically management level position in large corporations, founder/CEO at a smaller corporations or owner of a private company. They are often residential estate investors for tax advantages and equity growth. Typically own one larger family home and a often a smaller second vacation home or apartment in a resort or recreation location within driving distance of the primary home. They may lease multiple new cars on a regular basis or have at least one vehicle provided by their company. Household incomes from $200,000 - $400,000 per year.
Upper middle class(10%)
Households with net worth from $500,000 to $1 million. Highly-educated (often with graduate degrees), most commonly salaried professionals and middle management with large work autonomy. Their net worth is typically home equity and retirement funds such as 401Ks. Those with real estate investments and prudent financial management or long continuous employment may move into the Rich class over time, although this sort of moving is decreasing. May lease new vehicles or finance second hand late model vehicles. May own a timeshare or small vacation home or cottage. Household incomes range from $100,000 - $200,000.
Lower middle class (30%)
Households with net worth from $100,000 to $500,000. Semi-professionals, clerical and skilled trades with a roughly average standard of living. Most have some college education and are white-collar. Many are home owners but may struggle with payments and lose their equity due to foreclosure due to job loss or other changes in circumstances, even slipping downwards to the working class as a result. Usually finance older model vehicles second hand or buy inexpensive second hand vehicles privately. Household incomes range from $50,000 - $100,000.
Working class (30%)
Households with net worth from $20,000 to $100,000. Clerical and mostly 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. When they own homes, they are in low income and undesirable areas where low economic status predominates, with high risk of loss to foreclosure. Vehicles are either low cost and brought privately, or older vehicles that they maintain themselves using skills found in their network of friends. Homes are often poorly maintained due to lack of income for basic maintenance. Household income from $25,000 - $75,000
Working poor (13%)
Net worth from zero to $20,000. Service, low-rung clerical and some blue-collar workers. High economic insecurity and risk of poverty. Some high school education. Rarely own their home but may do if they in a area with low or depressed real estate values, with constant risk of foreclosure due to wage insecurity. Sometimes own vehicles which are at risk of loss due to lack of income for maintenance, payments or insurance. Loss of homes to foreclosure frequent due to wage insecurity. lack of cashflow and predatory banking practices. Household income generally under $25,000
Underclass (12%)
Usually zero or negative net worth. Those with limited or no participation in the labor force. Reliant on government transfers. Some high school education. Income generally under $10,000 and may rely on non-income charity for basic needs. i.e. soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Do not own the residence they live in. Unlikely to own a vehicle, if they do, it is likely to be unregistered or uninsured.
Hill, 2016
Kleptocratic Class and Billionaires (0.01%)Households or extended family holdings with net worth of over $20 million.These elites have access to diversified wealth and the sophisticated financial technology necessary to manage it. Rather than building businesses, their focus is how to increase the value of their assets, and obtain control of the assets through business deals, ties to government, or other influence. The Kleptocratic class focuses on networking with other in their class, in order to identify, arrange and execute the business dealings that most effectively grow their wealth. Financial mechanisms include stock manipulation, buybacks, acquisitions, speculation, takeovers, mergers, privatization, tax avoidance and offshore banking. Will often have exclusive use of a private jet and multiple vehicles. Often collect art or valuable vehicles as status symbols. Usually own multiple homes in multiple countries. Incomes range from $10 million per year upwards, and can vary dramatically from year to year as their investments shift in value.
Super Rich(0.09%)
Households or extended family holdings with net worth of over $20 - 100 million. These elites have usually business founders, CEOs of large companies, work in finance or technology. They may also have inherited substantial family fortunes. May have exclusive use of a private company jet if there are the CEO. Usually own multiple homes or own multiple investment properties. Investments are diversified mixture of property and company stock. Incomes range from $1 - 10 million per year, and can vary dramatically from year to year as their investments shift in value.
Investor Class 0.9%
Households with net worth of $10 million - $20 million. The investor class gains most of their income from investment returns and equity in businesses rather than salary as an employee. They may not work in the traditional sense or receive a salary. They include CEO of very large organizations, public figures with ownership of a successful personal brand, founders of companies. In the finance and technology industries, they may be still employees. Usually own at least two larger homes, with one being in a international resort, tax haven or location chosen for recreation or culture. Typically have multiple vehicles provided by their corporation or company and may have private jet sharing or smaller jet. Household incomes are typically $400,000 - $1,000,000 per year.
Rich 9%
Households with net worth of around $1 million - 10 million. Typically graduate salaried professionals who have increased their net worth through stock options, home equity, or inheritance. Typically management level position in large corporations, founder/CEO at a smaller corporations or owner of a private company. They are often residential estate investors for tax advantages and equity growth. Typically own one larger family home and a often a smaller second vacation home or apartment in a resort or recreation location within driving distance of the primary home. They may lease multiple new cars on a regular basis or have at least one vehicle provided by their company. Household incomes from $200,000 - $400,000 per year.
Upper middle class(10%)
Households with net worth from $500,000 to $1 million. Highly-educated (often with graduate degrees), most commonly salaried professionals and middle management with large work autonomy. Their net worth is typically home equity and retirement funds such as 401Ks. Those with real estate investments and prudent financial management or long continuous employment may move into the Rich class over time, although this sort of moving is decreasing. May lease new vehicles or finance second hand late model vehicles. May own a timeshare or small vacation home or cottage. Household incomes range from $100,000 - $200,000.
Lower middle class (30%)
Households with net worth from $100,000 to $500,000. Semi-professionals, clerical and skilled trades with a roughly average standard of living. Most have some college education and are white-collar. Many are home owners but may struggle with payments and lose their equity due to foreclosure due to job loss or other changes in circumstances, even slipping downwards to the working class as a result. Usually finance older model vehicles second hand or buy inexpensive second hand vehicles privately. Household incomes range from $50,000 - $100,000.
Working class (30%)
Households with net worth from $20,000 to $100,000. Clerical and mostly 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. When they own homes, they are in low income and undesirable areas where low economic status predominates, with high risk of loss to foreclosure. Vehicles are either low cost and brought privately, or older vehicles that they maintain themselves using skills found in their network of friends. Homes are often poorly maintained due to lack of income for basic maintenance. Household income from $25,000 - $75,000
Working poor (13%)
Net worth from zero to $20,000. Service, low-rung clerical and some blue-collar workers. High economic insecurity and risk of poverty. Some high school education. Rarely own their home but may do if they in a area with low or depressed real estate values, with constant risk of foreclosure due to wage insecurity. Sometimes own vehicles which are at risk of loss due to lack of income for maintenance, payments or insurance. Loss of homes to foreclosure frequent due to wage insecurity. lack of cashflow and predatory banking practices. Household income generally under $25,000
Underclass (12%)
Usually zero or negative net worth. Those with limited or no participation in the labor force. Reliant on government transfers. Some high school education. Income generally under $10,000 and may rely on non-income charity for basic needs. i.e. soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Do not own the residence they live in. Unlikely to own a vehicle, if they do, it is likely to be unregistered or uninsured.
