More Americans think of themselves as working class, even as they make more money

Some define the working class as blue-collar roles. Teera Konakan/Getty Images More Americans view themselves as working class, especially middle-income earners. A new survey from Pew finds that workers with a savings net and bills paid still feel working-class. Political views also affect working-class identity, with Republicans more likely to use the label. A majority of Americans hear themselves in Dolly Parton's "9-to-5." Sixty percent of Americans identify as working class, according to a Pew Research analysis of a January 2026 survey. That's up from 54% in 2024. And the label, historically applied to lower-earning workers, resonates across earnings levels. Middle-income families, who make between $51,900 to $155,600 depending on family size and location, identify especially with the term "working class." More surprisingly, half of high-income families, who earn more than $155,600, identify that way.