A starting teacher’s salary here is $34k. I’m happy to pay $50k in taxes for a $250,000/yr income.
It is a lot to *most people *because the less than 250k/year folk make is 98%$ of America. Middle and upper class distinctions are all kind of relative, though I wouldn’t call myself “rich” if I made 250k. I’d just have better health care, a nicer house, a nicer car, a better education and nicer shoes.