class, Essential Report, peter lewis, Polling, polls, rich, Social Class, society, trending, trends, wealthy
Australians agree with Wayne Swan – we do have a class-based society with families on $160,000 a year considered “rich”
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, class, income, Middle class, middle income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealth
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.
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, Australian society, class, finances, income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealthy, 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.
12 March 2012, 120312, annual income, class, finances, income, Polling, polls, society, wealth, 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.
12 March 2012, 120312, class, class difference, income, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, wealth
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.
12 March 2012, 120312, class, higher incomes, incomes, lower incomes, Middle class, Polling, polls, Social Class, society, Upper class, Working class
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.