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A new survey asked, “What annual income would you need to feel rich/attain financial freedom?”
Nearly half of Americans responded indicating that they need to earn a minimum of $100,000 annually to achieve a sense of financial security or comfort, as revealed by a recent survey conducted by Bankrate.
A quarter of the survey participants even stated that they would require a salary of $150,000 to feel comfortable, with 8% of them specifying a range between $200,000 and $499,999, and another 8% mentioning a minimum of $500,000.
Bankrate U.S. Economic Reporter, Sarah Foster, commented on the findings, noting that while getting rich may have been a previous aspiration for many Americans, the current economic climate has shifted the focus towards simply attaining a comfortable living situation, as financial stability has become increasingly challenging to secure.
However, 45% of respondents said they would feel financially secure making less than six figures, with 34% saying they’d be fine making between $50,00 and $99,999.
Regardless, more than half of the respondents (56%) said they would need to earn more than they currently do to feel financially stable.
Among the respondents, 54% of those who are already earning $100,000 said they would need at least $50,000 more each year to feel comfortable and not like they’re just getting by.
Gen X was most likely to say they’d need to earn $150,000 or more to be financially secure (35%), compared to 26% of millennials and 20% of Gen Z.
And with inflation, tariffs and overall economic uncertainty, it’s no surprise that 77% of U.S. adults said they don’t feel “completely financially secure” — and 32% said they don’t think they ever will.
For those who earn $150,000 annually and live in the tri-state area, you’re most likely considered part of the upper-middle class.
People need an annual household income of at least $131,566 to be considered part of this class in New York state — and shockingly, even more in New Jersey and Connecticut, according to a new study by GoBankingRates.
To be considered part of this elite group in the Constitution State, you’ll need to earn $145,849 to qualify and $157,189 in the Garden State.