Upper middle class

Upper middle class is a sub-label sometimes applied by sociologists to the social group of wealthier or more priviledged members of the middle class. This is in contrast to the term lower middle class used for the group at the other end of the middle class scale. People whose net worth are between $250,000 and $500,000 are generally upper middle class. However, there is considerable debate as to how the upper middle class might be defined (whether by education, wealth, or the prestige or skill level of their profession) and whether these sub-labels are useful at all (especially whether "lower middle class" simply refers to relatively materially wealthy members of the lower class, in which case the term "upper middle class" may simply represent the true middle class, or conversely when "lower middle class refers to people who are a station above the working class, and thus the real middle class and the upper middle class meaning something much more affluent).

Related Topics:
Sociologists - Social group - Middle class - Lower middle class - Education - Wealth - Prestige - Skill - Profession

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One can easily assert that certain professions can be safely judged as "upper middle class" stations in life, such as: Physician, Lawyer, University Professor, Corporate Executive, Architect, Entrapraneur, mid to large Business Owner, and of course, high level Civil Servants. Generally these people earn a comfortable living that is usually well into six figures per annum in American terms. Most own large homes in affluent suburbs of major cities, or reside in smart urban residences usually near major universities. People from this station in life have an enormously high regard for higher education, and probably more than any other socio-economic class, strive to educate themselves and their children at only the most prestigious universities available at home or abroad. They place a high value on foreign travel, the arts, and high culture in general. The majority regard themselves as Liberal on social issues, but some are Conservative when it comes to fiscal matters. This should be noted is the reverse of how most working class people view the world, which explains why these two groups clash more than say the lower middle class and the working class.

Related Topics:
Physician - Lawyer - University - Professor - Corporate Executive - Architect - Entrapraneur - Business Owner - Civil Servants - High culture - Working class

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Material items of high prestige within this class are foreign made luxury automobiles, fine tailoring, high-end furniture, memberships to country clubs or other exclusive organizations, and restaurants specializing in haute-cuisine. Most sociologists maintain that one should make the distinction of two seperate sets within the upper middle class, and they are a Professional Class and a Managerial Class. The Professional Class is composed of highly educated specialists such as Doctors, Lawyers and Academics, while the Managerial Class is made up mostly of mid to high level Corporate Executives. The professionals generally are more liberal in their outlook and much more urban and chic in their tastes, while the managers tend to be more conservative, materialistic and suburban in their preferences.

Related Topics:
Professional Class - Managerial Class

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