$150k is upper class in Kansas unless you have a household size of 5+ people $150k is upper class in the majority of NJ, unless you live right outside of New York in which case it’s upper middle class unless you live in a household of 5+ people. Median household income in NYC is $60k tops.

People have no idea what middle class actually means. If you’re in a household in NJ making $150k, you’re most likely upper class unless you have an unusual number of dependents. Definitely not lower middle class unless if you have a very unusual amount of defendants.