TRENDS: What is “rich”?
Australians agree with Wayne Swan – we do have a class-based society with families on $160,000 a year considered “rich”
Income Level to be Middle Income
Q. What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was “middle income” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Less than $40,000 |
6% |
13% |
4% |
1% |
1% |
3% |
– |
– |
| $40,000-$59,000 |
31% |
35% |
34% |
28% |
7% |
14% |
5% |
2% |
| $60,000-$79,000 |
38% |
32% |
41% |
47% |
21% |
27% |
25% |
15% |
| $80,000-$99,000 |
15% |
12% |
14% |
17% |
28% |
26% |
33% |
29% |
| $100,000-$119,000 |
3% |
2% |
4% |
3% |
20% |
14% |
21% |
26% |
| $120,000-$149,000 |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
11% |
9% |
8% |
17% |
| $150,000-$199,000 |
* |
– |
– |
1% |
5% |
2% |
4% |
10% |
| $200,000 or more |
* |
– |
– |
– |
1% |
– |
– |
1% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
5% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
| median |
$66,000 |
$60,000 |
$65,000 |
$69,000 |
$94,000 |
$83,000 |
$92,000 |
$103,000 |
69% of respondents think that “middle income” for a single person is between $40,00 and $79,000 a year. 38% think it is $60,000-$79,000.
80% of those earning under $1,000 pw think “middle income” for a single person is less than $80,000, while those on more than $1,600 pw are most likely to think it is $60,000-$79,000 (47%). The median (average) income for “middle income” for a single person is $66,000.
Estimates are more broadly spread when it comes to “middle income” families – 69% think it would be between $60,000 and $119,000. 65% think it would be at least $80,000. The median (average) income for “middle income” for a family is $94,000.
Income Level to be Well Off
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “well off” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “well off” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| $40,000 |
9% |
15% |
7% |
5% |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
| $60,000 |
26% |
28% |
31% |
23% |
6% |
13% |
5% |
2% |
| $80,000 |
28% |
25% |
27% |
33% |
15% |
21% |
17% |
10% |
| $100,000 |
19% |
15% |
20% |
24% |
17% |
19% |
19% |
15% |
| $120,000 |
7% |
5% |
6% |
9% |
16% |
12% |
19% |
17% |
| $150,000 |
3% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
21% |
16% |
18% |
29% |
| $200,000 |
1% |
* |
1% |
1% |
12% |
5% |
14% |
18% |
| $300,000 |
1% |
2% |
* |
1% |
3% |
3% |
2% |
5% |
| $500,000 |
* |
* |
1% |
– |
2% |
3% |
1% |
1% |
| $1 million |
1% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
6% |
4% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
1% |
| median |
$69,000 |
$63,000 |
$67,000 |
$73,000 |
$111,000 |
$93,000 |
$107,000 |
$123,000 |
63% think that a single person earning $80,000 would be considered “well off”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “well off” was $69,000.
55% think that a family earning $120,000 would be considered “well off”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “well off” was $111,000.
Income Level to be Wealthy
Q. What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a single person?
What annual income level would you say was the minimum to be “wealthy” for a family of 2 parents and 2 children?
|
Single Person |
Family |
|||||||
|
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
Total |
Income under $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| $40,000 |
2% |
3% |
1% |
– |
1% |
1% |
– |
– |
| $60,000 |
6% |
10% |
4% |
6% |
2% |
2% |
3% |
* |
| $80,000 |
15% |
17% |
20% |
10% |
4% |
7% |
3% |
2% |
| $100,000 |
21% |
19% |
25% |
23% |
9% |
13% |
10% |
5% |
| $120,000 |
14% |
11% |
15% |
17% |
9% |
10% |
13% |
6% |
| $150,000 |
17% |
18% |
13% |
22% |
19% |
17% |
22% |
20% |
| $200,000 |
10% |
8% |
10% |
11% |
22% |
20% |
16% |
32% |
| $300,000 |
4% |
3% |
4% |
4% |
15% |
10% |
15% |
19% |
| $500,000 |
4% |
3% |
6% |
3% |
9% |
9% |
11% |
7% |
| $1 million |
3% |
3% |
1% |
3% |
5% |
4% |
4% |
7% |
| Don’t know |
5% |
4% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
5% |
3% |
1% |
| median |
$106,000 |
$102,000 |
$98,000 |
$113,000 |
$159,000 |
$146,000 |
$147,000 |
$182,000 |
58% think that a single person earning $120,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a single person to be considered “wealthy” was $106,000.
66% think that a family earning $200,000 would be considered “wealthy”. The average (median) minimum income for a family to be considered “wealthy” was $159,000.
Social Class
Q. Do you believe social classes still exist in Australia?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Income under $600pw |
Income $600 – $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Yes |
86% |
87% |
83% |
90% |
84% |
86% |
84% |
87% |
| No |
8% |
8% |
11% |
3% |
5% |
7% |
10% |
8% |
| Don’t know |
7% |
5% |
6% |
7% |
10% |
7% |
7% |
5% |
86% agreed that social class still exists in Australia – only 8% disagreed. There was little difference across demographic groups – more than 80% of all major groups agreed.
Social Class Identification
Q. Do you consider yourself –
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Income under $600pw |
Income $600 – $1,000pw |
Income $1,000 – $1,600pw |
Income $1,600+ |
|
| Working class |
34% |
41% |
30% |
24% |
40% |
44% |
40% |
22% |
| Middle class |
50% |
46% |
54% |
64% |
31% |
36% |
52% |
69% |
| Upper class |
1% |
* |
1% |
– |
* |
– |
1% |
2% |
| None of them |
12% |
11% |
12% |
12% |
27% |
18% |
6% |
5% |
| Don’t know |
3% |
2% |
2% |
– |
1% |
2% |
1% |
1% |
50% of respondents described themselves as “middle class” and 34% as “working class” – only 1% claimed to be “upper class”.
Those on higher incomes were more likely to identify as “middle class” while those on lower incomes were less likely to identify with any of these descriptions.
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