Half of Rich Americans Still Claim Blue-Collar Badge Like It’s a Free Hoodie
KEY POINTS
- •Pew Research found 60% of Americans identified as working class in January 2026, rising from 54% in 2024.
- •Middle-income families making $51,900-$155,600 and even half of high-income earners above $155,600 embraced the working class label.
- •Political affiliation shapes identity, with upper-income Republicans more likely to call themselves working class than their Democratic peers.
In a stunning revelation from Pew's January 2026 survey, 60% of Americans now proudly identify as working class, up from 54% in 2024. Shockingly, this isn't just a badge worn by minimum wage earners but also by half of the high-income crowd making over $155,600 annually. Middle-income families earning $51,900 to $155,600 are also waving the dusty blue-collar flag despite growing median wages by 8.4% since early 2024. Political lines blur as upper-income Republicans are likelier to label themselves working class than liberals. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered the most inflation-proof definition: if you work to pay bills, congrats, you’re working class—even if you don’t wear overalls.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)Plot twist: Half of the rich think 'working class' is a subscription service you can still afford. Meanwhile, everyone’s juggling bills like flaming chainsaws.
Turns out the working class label is like unfashionable socks—everyone hates it, but nobody wants to admit they don’t own a pair.
Here's the 2026 plot twist: High earners saying they're working class is like billionaires calling Trader Joe's 'gourmet.'
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 9/1/2026 | Author: Juliana Kaplan
More Articles in US News
Apple CEO Tim Cook Finally Quits, Leaves Billion-Dollar Fruit Salad to John Ternus
JBL’s New $230 Speakers Proudly Require Power Cords in 2026
House GOP Condemns Socialism, But Only If Voter ID Joins the Party
Schumer Proposes Bill to Undo Tariffs While Everyone Pretends It Will Happen
USPS Builds Ballot-Rejecting Supercomputer in Time Trump Didn't Have, Court Says No
Mother of Four Finally Hands Over PTA Reins, Escapes Pencil Duty
Couple Negotiates Moving To Kentucky Like It’s A Peace Treaty With LA
Trump Commands Apple to Rename Lake Ontario 'Lake America' Because Why Stop There
