Um, 'middle class' is squarely in the $10-15/hr range in the US today. That's about $25-30k per parent, with 2 working parents. That's 'average' in most of the US.
I’m not in the position of supporting a family, but is that really enough to support a mortgage, car(s), daycare (if we’re assuming both parents are working), putting kids though university, buying supplementary insurance, etc?
I get the sense that “average” is no longer middle class unless you really loosen the definition of middle class.
I get the sense that “average” is no longer middle class unless you really loosen the definition of middle class.