I grew up here in the city, and my parents didn’t make all that much. Most of my childhood/early teen years their household income wasn’t above $$85k, but (back then in the 90s and early 2000s) that was plenty to live a decent middle-class life. Today, teachers with their Masters and a few years in will earn $80k alone. Most Worcester fire fighters and cops make around $100,000 or more with OT. While that won’t go too far with inflation, there are indeed lots of jobs that will pay at least $60k plus. Insurance industry is big here as well.