Social Class in the U.S.

Most social scientists agree that American society is stratified into social classes, based on wealth, education, and occupation.

Individual and household income remains one of the most prominent indicators of class status within the United States.

Wealth is commonly measured in terms of net worth, which is the sum of all assets, including home equity, minus all liabilities.

In the U.S., educational attainment is strongly correlated to income and occupation, and therefore to social class.

In the United States, occupation and occupational prestige are primary indicators of social class, along with income, wealth, and education.