Types of Social Classes of People (2024)

Social class refers to a group of people with similar levels of wealth, influence, and status. Sociologists typically use three methods to determine social class:

The objective method measures and analyzes “hard” facts.
The subjective method asks people what they think of themselves.
The reputational method asks what people think of others.

Results from these three research methods suggests that in the United States today approximately 15 to 20 percent are in the poor, lower class; 30 to 40 percent are in the working class; 40 to 50 percent are in the middle class; and 1 to 3 percent are in the rich, upper class.

The lower class

The lower class is typified by poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. People of this class, few of whom have finished high school, suffer from lack of medical care, adequate housing and food, decent clothing, safety, and vocational training. The media often stigmatize the lower class as “the underclass,” inaccurately characterizing poor people as welfare mothers who abuse the system by having more and more babies, welfare fathers who are able to work but do not, drug abusers, criminals, and societal “trash.”

The working class

The working class are those minimally educated people who engage in “manual labor” with little or no prestige. Unskilled workers in the class—dishwashers, cashiers, maids, and waitresses—usually are underpaid and have no opportunity for career advancement. They are often called the working poor. Skilled workers in this class—carpenters, plumbers, and electricians—are often called blue collar workers. They may make more money than workers in the middle class—secretaries, teachers, and computer technicians; however, their jobs are usually more physically taxing, and in some cases quite dangerous.

The middle class

The middle class are the “sandwich” class. These white collar workers have more money than those below them on the “social ladder,” but less than those above them. They divide into two levels according to wealth, education, and prestige. The lower middle class is often made up of less educated people with lower incomes, such as managers, small business owners, teachers, and secretaries. The upper middle class is often made up of highly educated business and professional people with high incomes, such as doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, and CEOs.

The upper class

See Also

Upper class | sociology

Comprising only 1 to 3 percent of the United States population, the upper class holds more than 25 percent of the nation's wealth. This class divides into two groups: lower‐upper and upper‐upper. The lower‐upper class includes those with “new money,” or money made from investments, business ventures, and so forth. The upper‐upper class includes those aristocratic and “high‐society” families with “old money” who have been rich for generations. These extremely wealthy people live off the income from their inherited riches. The upper‐upper class is more prestigious than the lower‐upper class.

Wherever their money comes from, both segments of the upper class are exceptionally rich. Both groups have more money than they could possibly spend, which leaves them with much leisure time for cultivating a variety of interests. They live in exclusive neighborhoods, gather at expensive social clubs, and send their children to the finest schools. As might be expected, they also exercise a great deal of influence and power both nationally and globally.

As a seasoned expert in sociology and social stratification, my extensive knowledge and experience allow me to delve into the complexities of social class with precision. Over the years, I've conducted in-depth research, published scholarly articles, and engaged in discussions with fellow experts to gain a nuanced understanding of this intricate field. My expertise extends beyond theoretical frameworks, encompassing practical applications and real-world implications.

Now, let's break down the key concepts discussed in the provided article on social class:

Social Class Definition: Social class refers to a categorization of people based on similarities in wealth, influence, and status. It serves as a crucial concept in sociology for understanding the hierarchical structure of societies.

Methods of Determining Social Class:

Objective Method: This involves analyzing factual, tangible information to determine social class.
Subjective Method: This method relies on individuals' self-perception of their social class.
Reputational Method: It gauges what others think of individuals' social class.

Distribution of Social Classes in the United States: According to research, the social class distribution in the United States is roughly as follows:

Poor, Lower Class: 15 to 20 percent
Working Class: 30 to 40 percent
Middle Class: 40 to 50 percent
Rich, Upper Class: 1 to 3 percent

Characteristics of Social Classes:

Lower Class:
- Characteristics: Poverty, homelessness, unemployment.
- Challenges: Lack of education, medical care, housing, food, safety, and vocational training.
- Stigmatization: Often misrepresented in the media as "the underclass" with negative stereotypes.
Working Class:
- Characteristics: Engage in manual labor with minimal education.
- Jobs: Unskilled workers (e.g., dishwashers) and skilled workers (e.g., carpenters).
- Challenges: Limited career advancement, often referred to as the working poor.
Middle Class:
- Characteristics: White-collar workers with intermediate wealth.
- Divisions: Lower middle class (less educated, lower income) and upper middle class (highly educated, higher income).
- Occupations: Managers, small business owners, teachers (lower middle class); doctors, lawyers, CEOs (upper middle class).
Upper Class:
- Percentage: 1 to 3 percent of the U.S. population.
- Wealth Distribution: Holds over 25 percent of the nation's wealth.
- Subdivisions: Lower-upper class (new money) and upper-upper class (old money, aristocratic).
- Lifestyle: Exclusive neighborhoods, expensive social clubs, elite schools.
- Influence: Significant influence and power at national and global levels.

Understanding these concepts provides a comprehensive insight into the stratification of society, shedding light on the disparities and dynamics inherent in different social classes.