Americans estimate average family of four needs minimum $85,000 annual income to get by: poll

A U.S. family of four needs to earn a minimum of $85,000 a year on average to "get by," which is nearly three times the federal poverty line and $27,000 more than the estimated needed annual average 10 years ago, according to a new poll

When asked, "What is the smallest amount of money a family of four needs to make each year to get by in your community?", the average answer respondents gave was $85,000, according to a Gallup Poll released Friday. In 2013, the average answer was $58,000 annually. 

The poll also found that 30% of respondents said a family of four needs an income of more than $100,000 a year to get by, while 31% said they need to make between $50,000-$75,000 annually.

Midwest residents have the lowest estimate of $75,740 as the cost necessary for a family of four to survive, while people in the East have the highest at $98,340.  

For comparison, the federal poverty line for a family of four is $30,000.

The poll was conducted April 3-25 with 1,013 adults and has a 4% error margin.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.