---
title: "Most See Secure Job as Ticket to Middle Class"
description: "Nearly nine-in-ten Americans say a secure job is necessary to be considered part of the middle class"
date: "2012-09-12"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/09/12/most-see-secure-job-as-ticket-to-middle-class/"
---

# Most See Secure Job as Ticket to Middle Class

Americans believe that having a secure job is by far the most important requirement for being in the middle class, easily trumping homeownership and a college education.

Nearly nine-in-ten adults (86%) say a person needs a secure job to be considered part of the middle class, while just 45% say the same about owning a home, 37% about a college education and 28% about financial investments.

Of the five items tested in the survey question, the only other one seen as essential to a middle-class lifestyle by a majority of the public:health insurance. Formany Americans, health insurance comes through one’s job. Two-thirds of adults say it’s an essential ticket to a middle-class life.

The public’s view about what it takes to be in the middle class appears to have changed dramatically over the past two decades. In a 1991 nationwide Time/CNN/Yankelovich survey, seven-in-ten respondents said homeownership was essential to being in the middle class, while just one-third said the same about having “a white collar job.” [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2012/08/31/public-says-a-secure-job-is-the-ticket-to-the-middle-class/)