Defining the middle class is a complex task, especially in a time of rising inflation. A new report by SmartAsset attempts to clarify the matter by using the Pew Research Center’s definition of “middle income” to analyze data from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the report, the middle class in 2022 was determined to be earning between two-thirds to double the area’s median salary. Nationally, this translates to a range of $49,271 to $147,828.