WSJ What’s News Why America’s Upper Middle Class Is Growing
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Apr 6, 2026 New research shows the upper middle class has grown dramatically and explores what income thresholds, education and marriage mean for mobility. Tensions with Iran and U.S. plans around the Strait of Hormuz create geopolitical and market ripples. The finances behind major AI companies face huge compute costs as they prepare public offerings. NASA’s Artemis II sets a new distance record from Earth.
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Upper Middle Class Growth Driven By White Collar Wage Gains
- The upper middle class has expanded because white-collar wages rose faster than prices, lifting many households into higher income brackets.
- The study defines upper middle class as $133,000–$400,000 annual income and credits degrees and being partnered as the clearest routes upward.
College And Partnership Are Key Predictors Of Upper Middle Class
- Educational attainment and being married or partnered are the strongest predictors of joining or staying in the upper middle class.
- A bachelor's degree helps, while graduate degrees and cohabiting partnerships further increase the likelihood of higher income status.
Engineer Randy Schilling Shows Classic Upward Mobility Path
- Randy Schilling rose from parents without college to an engineering job and homeownership that appreciated, illustrating upward mobility into the upper middle class.
- His path highlights education, a stable job at a chemical plant, and early home purchase as concrete drivers of financial improvement.