Lower middle class 1832268 199030723 2008-03-18T06:01:01Z Maardvark89 4610093 Missing word {{Expand|date=July 2007}} {{globalize}} In developed nations across the earth, the lower middle class, is, much like the [[upper middle class]], a sub-division of the greater [[middle class]] which constitutes by far the largest socio-economic class. Universally the term refers to the group of middle class households or individuals who are not categorized as having attained status associated with the higher realms of the middle class, hence the name. ==United States== {{main|American middle class}} In American society, the [[American middle class|middle class]] may be divided into two or three sub-groups. When divided into two parts, the lower middle class, also sometimes simply referred to as "middle class," consists of roughly one third of households, roughly twice as large as the [[American middle class#The Professional/Managerial middle class|upper middle class]]. Common occupation fields are semi-professionals, such as school teachers or accountants, small business owners and skilled craftsmen. These individuals commonly have [[Educational attainment in the United States|some college education]] or perhaps a [[Bachelor's degree]] and earn a [[Income in the United States|comfortable living]]. Already among the largest social classes, rivaled only by the working class, the American lower middle class is diverse and growing.<ref name="Gilbert">Gilbert, D. (1998). ''The American Class Structure''. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.</ref><ref name="Thompson & Hickey">Thompson, W. & Hickey, J. (2005). ''Society in Focus''. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Pearson.</ref> Though, not common in sociological models, the middle class may be divided into three sections in vernacular language usage. In this system the term lower middle class referes to the demographic referred to as working class in most sociological models. Yet, some class models, such as those by sociologist [[Leonard Beeghley]] suggest the middle class to be one cohisive socio-economic demographic, including the demographics otherwise referred to as lower, simply middle or upper middle class in one group comprising about 45% of households.<ref name="Beeghley">Beeghley, L. (2004). ''The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States''. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Pearson.</ref> ===Social class in the US at a glance=== {{main|Social class in the United States}} {{Social class in the US}} ==See also== *[[Underclass]] *[[Working class]] *[[Middle class]] *[[Upper middle class]] *[[Upper class]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Socialclass}} [[Category:Social classes]] [[sh:Niža srednja klasa]]