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In comparison, only 19% of households are upper class.

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Middle-class households are those who earn two-thirds to double the U.S. median income, currently $80,610.

This means youd be considered middle class is you earn $53,740 to $161,220 annually.

To reach upper class status, however, youd need to earn at least $169,800.

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But income is only part of it.

An example of this would be if youve started your own business and have experienced substantial income growth.

Your Money Mindset Is Changing

You may have also noticed a shift in your financial mindset.

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At first, you might only see minor changes such as how you view money or debts.

Wealth is about assets that appreciate over time, he continued.

This mindset shift is the first big win because wealth-building is a long game.

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Havingmultiple income sourcescan also lead to faster income growth and a reliable safety net.

Youll never see upper-class individuals just rely on a single paycheck.

If so, thats a good sign.

Enhancing skills especially in high-growth fields like technology or healthcare can lead to higher-paying opportunities, said Shirshikov.

This can come in many forms, from pursuing anadvanced degree or certificationto taking workshops or seminars.

Essentially, its anything that makes you stand out from the crowd and brings in higher-paying opportunities.

According to Shirshikov, this could be another sign of where youre heading.

Note that this doesnt necessarily mean you own your own home as many middle-class individuals do.

However, it doesnt hurt to have a mortgage-free property.

Its great if youve been keeping up with your bills and managing debt well.

But if you have enough to start giving back, you could be heading to thenext socioeconomic status.

Someone whos struggling financially cant donate that much money or time without sacrificing their own well-being.

And thats completely understandable because even a lot of middle-class families struggle to donate.

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