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📊 Net Worth by Age: What’s Typical, and What’s Good for You
The short answer: in the United States, the median household net worth ranges from about $39,000 for households under 35 to about $410,000 for households aged 65–74. Those are the Federal Reserve’s figures from its 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the most detailed public data on American household wealth. Below you’ll find the full table, why the average misleads, and a few better yardsticks for judging your own number.
Median net worth by age
| Age of head of household | Median net worth (2022) |
|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,000 |
| 35–44 | $135,600 |
| 45–54 | $247,200 |
| 55–64 | $364,500 |
| 65–74 | $410,000 |
| 75 and older | $335,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve, Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022 (rounded). Figures are per household, not per person.
The median is the household in the middle: half have more, half have less. Net worth usually climbs through the working years, peaks around retirement, then falls gently as people live on their savings.
Median vs. average: why the average misleads
You will often see much larger “average net worth by age” figures. In 2022 the median U.S. household net worth was about $192,900, but the mean (average) was over $1 million. A small number of very wealthy households pull the average far above what a typical family has. If you want to know whether you’re typical for your age, compare yourself with the median.
What is a good net worth for your age?
“Typical” is not the same as “good.” A good net worth depends on your income, since a higher earner can reasonably be expected to have saved more. Three yardsticks help:
- The expected net worth formula. In The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas Stanley and William Danko suggest: age × yearly pre-tax income ÷ 10. A 40-year-old earning $90,000 would “expect” about $360,000. It’s demanding for people under 30, who haven’t had time to accumulate.
- Retirement savings multiples. Fidelity suggests aiming to have saved 1× your salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60 and 10× by 67. These count retirement savings only, not home equity.
- Retirement checkpoints. J.P. Morgan publishes savings checkpoints by age and household income. For example, a 40-year-old household earning $80,000 would aim to have about $190,000 saved.
If you’re at or above the median for your age and on track with one of these yardsticks, you’re in good shape. If not, the direction of travel matters more than the number: a net worth that rises every year is a strong sign at any age.
What to focus on, decade by decade
- 20s: A negative net worth is common because of student loans. Focus on your savings rate, a starter emergency fund, and paying off high-interest debt.
- 30s: Capture any employer retirement match, grow your emergency fund to three to six months of expenses, and let compounding start working.
- 40s and 50s: Usually the peak earning years. Raise contributions as income grows; from age 50, U.S. retirement accounts allow extra “catch-up” contributions.
- 60s and beyond: The goal shifts from growing wealth to making it last. A common planning rule of thumb is to withdraw about 4% of savings in the first year of retirement.
Why your number can look low and still be fine
Survey net worth leaves out some important resources, such as the value of future Social Security benefits and most traditional pensions. Someone with a solid pension may have a modest net worth and a secure retirement. The reverse is also true: a high net worth tied up entirely in a home can leave little cash for emergencies.
That’s why net worth is one measure among several. For the full picture, see How Wealthy Am I?
Related guides
Sources
- Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances — Federal Reserve Board, 2023
- The Millionaire Next Door — Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, 1996 (book)
- How much do I need to retire? — Fidelity
- Checkpoints: How to know retirement savings are on track — J.P. Morgan Asset Management
- Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data — Bengen, Journal of Financial Planning, 1994 (reprint)
This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, medical, legal, or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Compare your net worth with what’s expected for your age and income →