is a salary of $50000 a year sufficient to maintain a middle class lifestyle for a single male in the USA?

yes that is exactly in the middle of the middle class average

You are getting the average for stating pay for a ChemE.

Yes, you will live comfortably. Very comfortably.

A ChemE degree is one of the top 4 highest paying 4 year college degrees.

This will put you in the top 6% of wage earners for your age (assuming you are young).

Also, this degree offers many pay raises and opportunities to move up.

You may start out at 50K, but you will move up fast in the salary scale.

AfAssuming you have little to no debt then yes very comfortably. I make 50k gross a year in Chicago (semi expensive here) and I am still able to save about half my pay check because I have no debt and no kids. After taxes, insurance, 401k etc., I still take home about 2600-2700 a month.

Howver my friend has to live with mommy at 26 because although she makes 50ish a year she has 70k in student loans. Her payments are 800 a month , third of her take home right there. Thats INSANE to me. Shell be there with mom for 10 plus years....

It will depend on where you plan on living. Different areas across the country have different living costs.

In the Midwest, and probably most non-large, and non- coastal areas, yes, 50000 is plenty to live comfortably on.

I do not live in the US but I am pretty certain that 50k a year will be sufficient as long as you know how to balance your money, such as put rent money aside, and money for bills. Then the rest you can manage through groceries, shopping, etc.

Plus you are just starting out, once you get more experience and become more valueable to a company, your wage will also go up.

Unless you live in an expensive city (like NYC) that is quite sufficient.

definitely