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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DCUM middle class or actual middle class? [/quote]

Actual middle class. Assume a single person with mild disabilities who might not ever marry or have children. Some aspects of lifestyle would be:
Working just a single job with no need to have a part-time gig.
Yard service and possibly house cleaner once a month.
Ability to put money away for retirement. 
No expensive hobbies.
Some charitable giving on a regular basis.
Can afford a mid-level very gently used car every 5-7 years.
1 week beach or mountain vacation every year.
Dine out or order in 1-2 a week.
As a pet owner, able to easily afford regular and emergency vet care. 
[/quote]

I don't know how "mild" the mild disabilities are, so I am going to assume this person will only qualify for minimum wage employment for their entire life.  Assuming this person works 40 hours a week for minimum wage, in the state of Maryland, this person would earn $21,995 a year after taxes.  That is working 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year.
That is probably enough to pay for utilities and groceries on an 1100 square foot house.  Nothing else.

Yard service and house cleaner -- another $3,000 a year.
Put money away for retirement -- varies, but let's say $5,000 a year.
Charitable giving -- 10 percent of the person's income would be $2,000 a year. 
New car every five years means car payments for the rest of this person's life.  $500 monthly for car payment, $150 for insurance, $50 for vehicle maintenance, $200 monthly for gas, $200 annually for taxes and registration.  -- $12,000 a year. 
One week beach or mountain vacation yearly -- $4,000
Dining out or takeout twice a week equals $80 weekly.  That is $4,000 a year. 
Pet owner . . . let's assume two dogs.  $6,000 a year.

That house is going to need maintenance.  New roof, new water heater, etc. There's always something.  -- $6,000 a year.
There has been no money allocated for extra stuff like new shoes, a new TV, going bowling, haircut, etc.  $2,000 a year for that.
Oh, and that minimum wage job doesn't earn enough money to pay for property tax or homeowner insurance.  $4,000 a year for that. 
What about health insurance and dental insurance?  Minimum wage jobs don't provide for that.  That would be another $6,000 a year.

So that comes to $54,000 a year.

If you are wanting to set this person up for life, then:
Assume for inflation of 5 percent a year.  
Assume the person will live to age 95.  [/quote]

I am the person who posted all this.  I meant that this person will need $54,000 a year in addition to their $22,000 in salary.  So all told they will need $76,000 a year.  [/quote]

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