The
upper middle class is a sociological concept referring to the
social group constituted by higher-status members of the
middle class. This is in contrast to the term "
lower middle class", which is used for the group at the opposite end of the middle class stratum, and to the broader term "
middle class". There is considerable debate as to how the upper middle class might be defined. According to sociologist
Max Weber the upper middle class consists of well-educated professionals with
graduate degrees and comfortable incomes.