# Many Americans count a high earner without a degree as working class

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/many-americans-count-a-high-earner-without-a-degree-as-working-class/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

A majority of Americans (56%) say the person who better fits the description of working class is someone without a college degree in the top 25% of the income distribution, according to an October 2024 Verasight survey.

The other 44% say the label belongs to someone with a graduate degree in the bottom 25% of the income distribution. For most, a missing degree outweighs a high income in deciding who counts as working class.

## Topline

Which of the following people better fits the description of “working class”?

Many Americans count a high earner without a degree as working class.

- Does not have a college degree but is in the top 25% of the income distribution: 56.0%
- Has a graduate degree but is in the bottom 25% of the income distribution: 44.0%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2024-10-01 → 2024-10-11
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.4%
- Module: media_fin
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#definition-of-working-class](https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#definition-of-working-class)

## Citation

Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2024-103, fielded October 1-11, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#definition-of-working-class](https://verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co#definition-of-working-class)