Even many high-earning Americans don't feel wealthy. Here's why

High earners often feel stuck financially due to rising costs, debt and lifestyle inflation

So-called "HENRYs," or "high earners, not rich yet," may still paycheck to paycheck, or carry credit card debt

Households make $200,000 or more per year, according to 2023 Census data

But a significant salary hasn't translated to big account balances for some of these consumers — which experts have dubbed "HENRYs," or "high earners, not rich yet. "Rising costs, debt and lifestyle creep can leave them feeling stuck, experts say

On the other hand, Other reports have found many six-figure earners still paycheck to paycheck

Nevertheless, "Earning doesn't actually make you feel rich; spending it does," said Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist. "If most people spent 99% of their paycheck, they'd feel quite rich

And it's the paradox here

When we're in accumulation mode, it's very difficult to feel rich

However, "More from Personal Finance:Trump's 'big beautiful bill' created a new student loan plan: What to knowAffordable Care Act health plan enrollees could face 'subsidy cliff' in 2026Trump's 'big beautiful bill' includes these 2025 tax changesAmericans say they would need to make $520,000 a year, on average, to feel rich, according to a 2024 Bankrate survey

The more money people earn, the more they say they need to feel comfortable

Americans making under $50,000 said they needed an average $157,000 a year to comfortably, while those making at least $100,000 said they would need $246,000

Moreover, 'I feel privileged, but I do not feel rich'Marie Incontrera, 39, pictured at her apartment in Manhattan

She then expanded her during the pandemic into a digital marketing consulting agency

However, The career pivot has multiplied her income, in light of current trends

Additionally, "I had a pretty successful career as a musician through most of my 20s," Incontrera told CNBC. "But the thing they don't tell you having a career as a musician in music school is that you can be playing Carnegie Hall, which I was, and I was making $15,000 a year

Nevertheless, "Despite her income going from $15,000 to $300,000 per year, Incontrera still doesn't feel rich (this bears monitoring). "I would have thought back then that the amount of money that I have in the bank right now, I would be rich, right

Nevertheless, I would have just thought, 'Oh, yeah, she's made it'

Nevertheless, And I don't feel that way," she said

On the other hand, "I have more money anxiety, almost, now than I ever did in my 20s. ""I feel very lucky (fascinating analysis)

Nevertheless, I feel privileged, but I do not feel rich," Incontrera said

On the other hand, "I know that I am on a hamster wheel with my (something worth watching)

I actually really love the hamster wheel

I love what I do, but I also realize that I can't stop, in today's market environment. "That's not unusual, experts say, in today's financial world

On the other hand, "It can be pretty easy for someone to feel, I'm making really good money, but I don't have a lot of discretionary income," said Kamila Elliott, CEO of wealth management firm Collective Wealth Partners in Atlanta, and member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council

Nevertheless, "One of the things I focus on with my clients is a budget should be a representation of your values," Elliott said (noteworthy indeed). "The issue is you can't value everything

On the other hand, You have to pick maybe one or two things where you're going to focus your discretionary spending and then take that extra and reroute that to savings so you can start feeling rich (something worth watching). "Watch the above to learn how spending habits can leave even high earners feeling they're on a never-ending hamster wheel