For a long time, earning $100,000 a year was seen as a major financial milestone. It sounded like enough to pay the bills, put money into savings, and still have something left for vacations, hobbies, and other things you enjoy.

That isn’t always the case anymore.

A recent analysis from MoneyLion found that households earning $100,000 can still fall within the lower-middle-class income range in 12 states. Many of these states have high housing costs and expensive everyday necessities, which can make a six-figure salary feel much less impressive.

Where $100K Still Falls Short

Massachusetts tops the list. MoneyLion’s analysis puts the upper income limit for the lower-middle-class range at $116,476, meaning a household earning $100,000 would still fall below that figure.

New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, and California are also on the list. High housing costs and everyday expenses in these states can leave households with less money to save or spend after covering their monthly bills.

The other states included are New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Connecticut, Alaska, and Virginia.

A $100,000 salary may look generous on paper, but what a household can afford depends heavily on where it lives. Housing, groceries, transportation, insurance, healthcare, and other regular expenses can take up very different portions of the same paycheck from one state to another.

Why $100,000 Doesn’t Go as Far Anymore

A salary figure doesn’t tell the whole story about someone’s finances.

In an expensive area, rent or a mortgage can consume a large share of a household’s income. Add groceries, utilities, car payments, insurance, medical bills, and other expenses, and there may be little left for savings or unexpected costs.

Hawaii is a clear example in the MoneyLion analysis. The estimated yearly cost of basic necessities is just over $99,000, nearly matching an entire $100,000 salary.

That leaves very little room for retirement savings, emergency funds, travel, home repairs, or other expenses that come up throughout the year. A household earning that amount could find itself watching every dollar after the basics are paid.

Housing costs make the situation harder in many of the other states, too. Where rents and home prices are high, even households with six-figure incomes may spend a large portion of their paychecks just to maintain a place to live.

You can read the full figures and details in MoneyLion’s analysis.

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The Middle Class Looks Different From State to State

There isn’t one salary that automatically puts every household in the middle class. Income ranges vary based on where people live and how many people depend on that income.

The Pew Research Center defines middle-income households as those earning between two-thirds and twice the median household income, with adjustments for household size and local costs. That means the income range can be quite different from one state to another.

Pew explains its definition and provides an income calculator here.

Several states on MoneyLion’s list have median household incomes around or above $100,000. When the median income is higher, the range used to identify middle-income households also rises.

Family size makes a difference, too. A single person earning $100,000 may have a very different budget from a family of four bringing in the same amount.

Six Figures Can Still Feel Tight

For many households, earning $100,000 a year is still a strong income. The problem is that the salary alone doesn’t show how much money remains after the bills are paid.

Someone earning that amount in an affordable area may have room to save, travel, and work toward other financial goals. A household with the same income in a high-cost state may spend much more on housing, food, transportation, and healthcare.

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That’s why a six-figure salary can mean very different things depending on where someone lives. The idea that earning $100,000 automatically brings financial comfort doesn’t hold true for every household.

In some states, people making that amount still have to watch their spending and think carefully before taking on major expenses. A salary may look impressive on a job offer, but the amount left after housing, food, bills, and other necessities tells a much better story.