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.[1] 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[1] but also a high degree of autonomy in their work, leading to higher job satisfaction.[2] The main occupational tasks of upper middle class individuals tend to center on conceptualizing, consulting, and instruction.[3]
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 physicians, 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. [1]
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.
