In sociology, the upper middle class is the social group constituted by higher status members of the middle class, in contrast to the lower middle class. The definition is debated. Max Weber controversially defined it as the group of professionals with postgraduate degrees, but most Americans and Europeans identify income as the prime determiner of class.
The American upper middle class is primarily defined by using income, occupation, and education; it consists mostly of white-collar professionals with above-average personal incomes and a higher degree of autonomy in their work. The main occupational tasks of upper-middle-class individuals tend to center on conceptualizing, consulting, and instruction.