Efficient Dollar

Retirement Savings Percentile Calculator by Age

Only 54% of U.S. households have any retirement savings at all. Among those who do, the median balance is $86,600 — but that masks enormous variation by age, education, and income. Enter your retirement savings below to see your percentile nationally, then filter by your demographics to compare against people actually like you.

Total value of all IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and similar accounts

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Project your retirement balance

See how your savings could grow by age 67 at 7% annual return, and whether you're on track for the Fidelity 10× salary benchmark.

Total value of all IRAs, 401(k)s, and similar accounts

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Used to calculate your Fidelity 10× target

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What you plan to add each month going forward

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Retirement savings by age: medians and averages

Retirement savings typically build slowly in your 20s and 30s, accelerate through your 40s and 50s, and peak around ages 55–74 before drawing down in retirement. The medians below include all households — even those with $0.

Age group Median (all) Median (savers) % with savings
Under 35 $0 $18,894 50%
35-44 $9,400 $45,000 62%
45-54 $20,280 $116,600 62%
55-64 $16,600 $181,000 57%
65-74 $5,500 $197,400 51%
75+ $0 $139,600 42%

Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022–2023

Retirement savings percentile by age group

The table below shows the full retirement savings distribution within each age group. All figures include every household — even those with $0 — so the 25th and 50th percentile values are $0 for younger age groups where most households have no savings yet.

Age group 25th pct 50th (median) 75th pct 90th pct 99th pct
Under 35 $0 $0 $18,398 $80,000 $300,000
35-44 $0 $9,400 $64,860 $279,200 $883,800
45-54 $0 $20,280 $183,200 $545,400 $2,128,000
55-64 $0 $16,600 $236,400 $915,000 $3,192,200
65-74 $0 $5,500 $204,200 $805,500 $4,013,520
75+ $0 $0 $94,700 $459,000 $3,300,000

Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022–2023 · All U.S. households including those with $0 in retirement accounts

Am I on track for retirement? Fidelity benchmarks vs. reality

The most widely used rule of thumb: save 1× your salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, and 10× by 67 (Fidelity's guidelines). These targets assume a ~15% savings rate starting around age 25 with most of the portfolio in stocks. How does the typical American stack up?

Age milestone Fidelity target Example ($75k salary) Actual median (savers)
By 30 1× $75,000 $18,894
By 40 3× $225,000 $45,000
By 50 6× $450,000 $116,600
By 60 8× $600,000 $181,000
By 67 10× $750,000 $197,400

Fidelity guidelines assume ~15% savings rate from age 25 · Federal Reserve SCF medians are among households with any savings

At every milestone, the median American saver falls significantly short of the benchmark. The gap is widest at 40 and 50 — prime earning years where compounding matters most. If you're behind, the IRS allows catch-up contributions starting at age 50: an extra $7,500/year in a 401(k) and an extra $1,000/year in an IRA. Those catch-up years are some of the highest-leverage contribution windows available.

Retirement savings percentile thresholds

Percentile Retirement savings More than...
25th $0 25% of households
50th (median) $4,260 Half of all households
75th $101,000 75% of households
90th $463,000 90% of households
95th $923,400 95% of households
99th $2,650,000 99% of households

Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022–2023

The retirement savings gap by education and race

Retirement savings are among the most unequal financial measures in America. College graduates hold $143,340 at the median — more than 3× what high school graduates hold ($42,700). Racial gaps are similarly stark: 61% of White non-Hispanic households have any retirement savings, compared to 35% of Black and 30% of Hispanic households. These gaps reflect decades of structural differences in access to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Group % with savings Median (savers)
By education
No HS diploma 17% $49,800
HS diploma 38% $42,700
Some college 50% $52,600
College degree 75% $143,340
By race/ethnicity
White non-Hispanic 61% $99,400
Black non-Hispanic 35% $36,940
Hispanic 30% $48,160
Other 64% $113,560

Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022–2023 · Medians among households with any savings

Retirement savings by income level

Income is the strongest predictor of retirement savings. Higher-income households are more likely to have employer-sponsored plans, more capacity to contribute, and more years of compounding at higher balances. The gaps are stark at every level.

Household income % with savings Median (all) Median (savers)
Under $31,000 13% $0 $17,800
$31,000–$54,000 35% $0 $20,000
$54,000–$91,000 56% $4,220 $39,000
$91,000–$151,000 75% $33,280 $75,300
$151,000–$249,000 89% $159,400 $198,300
Over $249,000 93% $510,000 $562,000

Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022–2023

Why average retirement savings is misleading

The average U.S. household retirement savings of $181,548 is nearly 2× the median among savers ($86,600). This massive gap exists because retirement account balances are extremely right-skewed: a small number of households with $1M+ accounts pull the average up dramatically. The median — the point where exactly half of households are above and half below — is a far more useful benchmark for where a typical household stands. Use your percentile, not the average, to assess your progress.

How retirement savings fits into your financial picture

Retirement savings is one piece of your overall financial position. A household with $200,000 in retirement accounts but $150,000 in student debt is in a very different position than one with the same retirement savings and no debt. For the most complete picture, combine your retirement percentile with your net worth percentile (which includes all assets and all debts) and your income percentile .

Frequently asked questions

What is the average retirement savings in America?
The average (mean) retirement savings among U.S. households is $181,548, but this number is heavily skewed upward by a small number of very large account holders. The median — the point where half of households have more and half have less — is just $4,260 when including households with $0. Among the 54% of households that actually have any retirement savings, the median balance is $86,600.
How much should I have saved for retirement by age?
Common benchmarks vary, but Federal Reserve data shows what Americans actually have saved. Among households with any retirement savings, the median is: Under 35: $18,894. Ages 35–44: $45,000. Ages 45–54: $116,600. Ages 55–64: $181,000. Ages 65–74: $197,400. These are medians among savers — about half of Americans have $0.
What percentage of Americans have no retirement savings?
About 46% of U.S. households have $0 in retirement accounts (IRAs, 401ks, and similar). Only 54% of households have any retirement savings at all, according to the 2022 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. This gap is especially pronounced among lower-income households and those without college degrees.
What retirement savings puts you in the top 10%?
To be in the top 10% of U.S. households by retirement savings, you need at least $463,000. The top 5% starts at $923,400, and the top 1% requires $2,650,000 or more. These thresholds include all households — even those with $0 — so a household with $463,000 is saving more than 90% of all U.S. households.
How does education affect retirement savings?
Education level has a significant impact on retirement savings. Among households with any retirement savings, the median balance is: No high school diploma: $49,800. High school diploma: $42,700. Some college: $52,600. College degree or higher: $143,340. College graduates are also more likely to have any savings at all.
What counts as retirement savings in this calculator?
This calculator uses the strict definition from the Federal Reserve SCF: the total value of all retirement accounts including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, thrift savings plans, and Keogh plans. It does not include defined benefit pension plan values, Social Security benefits, home equity, or non-retirement investment accounts.
Do married couples save more for retirement?
Yes — married or partnered households tend to have significantly more retirement savings. Among savers, the median retirement balance is $114,600 for married/partnered households versus $41,800 for single households. Married couples often benefit from dual incomes, dual 401(k) contribution limits, and spousal IRA contributions.
Am I on track for retirement?
A common benchmark: save 1× your annual salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, and 10× by 67 (Fidelity's guidelines). By this measure, most Americans are significantly behind. The Federal Reserve SCF shows the median saver aged 35–44 has $45,000 — well short of 3× most salaries. Among all 35–44-year-old households including those with nothing, the median is $9,400. These benchmarks assume a 15% savings rate starting at 25, with the majority invested in stocks. If you started saving later, earn a lower income, or plan to retire early or late, your target will differ.
How much should I have saved for retirement at 35?
By age 35, Fidelity recommends having saved 1–2× your annual salary. For someone earning $75,000, that's $75,000–$150,000. In practice, the median retirement savings among 35–44-year-old households with any savings is $45,000, and only 62% of 35–44-year-old households have any retirement savings at all. Having $45,000 saved by 35 puts you at the median among savers your age, but well below the benchmark for most incomes.
How much should I have saved for retirement at 45?
By age 45, Fidelity recommends having saved 3–4× your annual salary — $225,000–$300,000 for someone earning $75,000. In practice, the median 45–54-year-old household with any retirement savings has $116,600, and 62% of households in this age group have any savings at all. Age 45 is often a wake-up call: IRS catch-up contributions (an extra $7,500/year in a 401(k) for those 50 and older) become available in just five years, and the decade from 45–55 is typically peak earning years with the most capacity to save.
How much should I have saved for retirement at 50?
By age 50, Fidelity recommends having saved 6× your annual salary — $450,000 for someone earning $75,000. Federal Reserve data shows the median 45–54-year-old saver has $116,600, roughly 1.6× a $75,000 salary — far short of the 6× target. If you're behind at 50, ages 50–59 are your highest-earning years. The IRS allows catch-up contributions of an extra $7,500/year in a 401(k) and an extra $1,000/year in an IRA for those 50 and older.
How much should I have saved for retirement at 55?
By age 55, Fidelity recommends having saved 7–8× your annual salary — $525,000–$600,000 for someone earning $75,000. Federal Reserve data shows the median 55–64-year-old household with any retirement savings has $181,000. If you're significantly behind at 55, the decade from 55 to 65 is your last major savings window before typical retirement age. IRS catch-up contributions allow an extra $7,500/year in a 401(k) and an extra $1,000/year in an IRA. Maximizing both over 10 years adds roughly $85,000 in contributions alone, plus compounded growth.
What is the average 401(k) balance by age?
The Federal Reserve SCF tracks all retirement accounts together — IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and thrift savings plans — rather than 401(k)s in isolation. Among households with any retirement savings, the median total retirement balance is: Under 35: $18,894. Ages 35–44: $45,000. Ages 45–54: $116,600. Ages 55–64: $181,000. Ages 65–74: $197,400. Mean (average) balances are significantly higher due to high-balance outliers at the top.
What percentage of Americans have $1 million saved for retirement?
About 5% of U.S. households have $1 million or more in retirement accounts, based on the 2022 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. The 95th percentile of retirement savings is $923,400, meaning $1 million falls just above the 95th percentile. The 99th percentile is $2,650,000. These figures include all households — the 46% with $0 savings are part of the denominator.
Is $500,000 enough to retire?
$500,000 in retirement savings generates roughly $20,000 per year under the 4% withdrawal rule. Combined with the average Social Security benefit (~$22,800/year in 2024), total annual retirement income would be around $42,800 — below the median U.S. household income but livable in lower cost-of-living areas. From a percentile standpoint, $500,000 puts you at approximately the 90th percentile of all U.S. households by retirement savings — more than 90% of Americans. Whether it's enough depends entirely on your expected expenses, health costs, and retirement age.
Is $300,000 enough to retire?
$300,000 in retirement savings generates roughly $12,000 per year under the 4% withdrawal rule. Combined with the average Social Security benefit (~$22,800/year in 2024), total income would be around $34,800 — enough for a frugal retirement in low-cost areas but tight in most of the country. From a percentile standpoint, $300,000 puts you at approximately the 86th percentile of all U.S. households — more than 86% of Americans. Whether it's enough depends heavily on your expected expenses, where you live, your health costs, and at what age you retire.
How often is this data updated?
This calculator uses data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), conducted every three years. The most recent survey was conducted in 2022–2023. The next survey is expected to be published around 2025–2026.