The majority of middle earners consider themselves poor, according to a survey by MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.
Forty four per cent of individuals earning between £25,000 and £50,000 a year do not consider themselves financially comfortable, due to rising living costs and other financial burdens.
Only one in five middle earners considered themselves 'well off', despite some individuals earning almost double the national average wage.
The survey supports the view of the "squeezed middle", the phenomenon which means that those earning more than £40,000 face unintentional poverty traps – the combination of income tax, National Insurance Contributions and the recent withdrawal of previously universal tax credits such as child benefit.
The survey found that individuals on lower incomes of less that £24,000 believed that if they doubled their salary they would be "comfortable".
Mark Pearson, chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk said that he was shocked to find how many middle income earners considered themselves to be financially struggling.
“I must say that I was shocked to see just how many people classed themselves as ‘poor’, particularly from the high and middle income brackets. It was interesting to see that many of those in the lower income salary bracket said they were financially comfortable," he said. -By Emma Wall,29 Sep 2011