It wasn’t too long ago when earning six figures felt like achieving the American Dream: luxury sports cars parked in front of mansions, fridges stocked with food, and enough money in the bank to feel secure. But now even top earners are feeling the pinch in a cost-of-living crisis, and sparkly $100,000 salaries have lost their shine.
Nearly 60% of six-figure earners no longer feel financially successful, according to a recent report from Clarify Capital. Women were slightly more likely than men to answer this way at that income level, with 60% saying they don’t feel like they’re thriving monetarily compared to 56% of their male counterparts.
And now, for these high-paid professionals to feel comfortable with their finances, they have to bring in a staggering $500,000—the most common figure chosen by 24% of six-figure earners. Unfortunately, these sky-high salaries are not easy to come by. Only one in 127 jobs in the U.S. pays $500,000 or more, representing about 0.8% of roles, according to an analysis from ADP.
The surging cost of living is driving financial unease across the board; about 85% of six-figure earners said they feel stressed and anxious due to rising prices, according to the Clarify Capital report. And highly curated, idealized luxury lifestyles flaunted on social media aren’t helping the situation. Many top earners report feeling lifestyle envy and pressure to keep up, with Gen Z (79%) and women (63%) being the most likely to be impacted.
“In today’s economy, income alone doesn’t guarantee financial peace of mind. High earners are feeling squeezed by inflation, stressed by social pressure, and more mindful about what it really means to be well-off,” the Clarify Capital report notes. “As spending habits shift and priorities change, one thing is clear: real wealth is about security, not just status.”
The financial comfort dilemma: rising food and rent costs, inflation anxiety, and devalued assets
Just 20 years ago, what it meant to be “rich” doesn’t even come close to the salary that six-figure earners need today to simply feel comfortable.
In 2005, the income needed to be classed as upper class was $169,800 annually, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data analyzed by the Nasdaq—a staggering $330,000 less than what top-earners say they need today to feel financially settled amid raging living costs.
Food prices are so high that seven in 10 six-figure earners are now being forced to shop at discount grocery stores to save on daily essentials, according to the Clarify Capital report. And housing is a whole other issue; rent is up more than 25% since 2020, rising fastest for lower-priced homes, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Living has become so costly that nearly a quarter of Americans said they’re actively worried that the state of their finances could lead to homelessness, according to a 2024 report from Acorns. And young people are feeling the strain in particular—about a third of Gen Z and millennials expressed the concern, compared to just 11% of boomers.
“The everyday American is facing a deluge of bad financial news, from persistent increases in inflation to cost of living, all against a backdrop of global war and turmoil,” Noah Kerner, CEO of Acorns, wrote in the report.
But even older Americans, with a lifetime of savings at their disposal, aren’t sitting pretty in the current U.S. economy. About 92% of retirees said they are worried about inflation lessening the value of their assets—the top concern listed—and an increase from 89% in 2024, according to a 2025 study from Schroders. Around 45% of these older respondents also report that their living expenses in retirement are higher than what they anticipated.
