How Much Should I Have Saved by 30, 40, 50? Savings Benchmarks by Age
By Wealthvieu · Updated
How much should you have saved at your age? This guide provides clear benchmarks for retirement savings, emergency funds, and total net worth — plus how to catch up if you’re behind.
Retirement Savings Benchmarks by Age
The Fidelity Guideline (Multiples of Salary)
Age
Savings Target
Example ($75k Salary)
25
0.25x salary
$18,750
30
1x salary
$75,000
35
2x salary
$150,000
40
3x salary
$225,000
45
4x salary
$300,000
50
6x salary
$450,000
55
7x salary
$525,000
60
8x salary
$600,000
67
10x salary
$750,000
Based on saving 15% of salary starting at age 25, retiring at 67.
Alternative Benchmark: Dollar Amounts
Age
Conservative Target
Aggressive Target
25
$15,000
$30,000
30
$60,000
$100,000
35
$120,000
$200,000
40
$200,000
$350,000
45
$300,000
$500,000
50
$450,000
$750,000
55
$600,000
$1,000,000
60
$800,000
$1,300,000
65
$1,000,000
$1,700,000
How Americans Actually Compare
Median vs. Recommended (All Retirement Accounts)
Age
Median Saved
Recommended
Gap
25-29
$9,400
$20,000
-$10,600
30-34
$21,000
$75,000
-$54,000
35-39
$43,000
$150,000
-$107,000
40-44
$78,000
$225,000
-$147,000
45-49
$115,000
$300,000
-$185,000
50-54
$143,000
$450,000
-$307,000
55-59
$168,000
$525,000
-$357,000
60-64
$182,000
$600,000
-$418,000
65+
$200,000
$750,000+
-$550,000
Median includes retirement savers only. Many Americans have $0 saved.
What Percentile Are You?
At Age 30:
Percentile
Retirement Savings
90th
$160,000+
75th
$75,000
50th (Median)
$21,000
25th
$6,000
10th
$0
At Age 40:
Percentile
Retirement Savings
90th
$450,000+
75th
$180,000
50th (Median)
$78,000
25th
$20,000
10th
$0
At Age 50:
Percentile
Retirement Savings
90th
$800,000+
75th
$350,000
50th (Median)
$143,000
25th
$40,000
10th
$0
Emergency Fund Benchmarks
Recommended Emergency Fund by Age
Life Stage
Recommended
Why
Early career (20s)
3 months expenses
Building phase, more flexibility
Established (30s)
3-6 months expenses
Dependents, mortgage may start
Peak earning (40s-50s)
6 months expenses
Higher lifestyle, harder to replace income
Pre-retirement (60s)
6-12 months expenses
Longer job search if needed
Emergency Fund by Monthly Expenses
Monthly Expenses
3 Months
6 Months
12 Months
$3,000
$9,000
$18,000
$36,000
$4,000
$12,000
$24,000
$48,000
$5,000
$15,000
$30,000
$60,000
$6,000
$18,000
$36,000
$72,000
$8,000
$24,000
$48,000
$96,000
$10,000
$30,000
$60,000
$120,000
Net Worth Benchmarks by Age
Total Net Worth Targets
Age
Low Target
Average Target
Stretch Target
25
$10,000
$25,000
$50,000
30
$50,000
$100,000
$200,000
35
$125,000
$200,000
$400,000
40
$225,000
$400,000
$700,000
45
$350,000
$600,000
$1,000,000
50
$500,000
$900,000
$1,500,000
55
$700,000
$1,200,000
$2,000,000
60
$900,000
$1,500,000
$2,500,000
65
$1,100,000
$1,900,000
$3,000,000
Includes retirement accounts, home equity, taxable investments, minus debts.
Net Worth Formula Check
“Prodigious Accumulator of Wealth” Formula (from The Millionaire Next Door):
Expected Net Worth = Age × Pre-Tax Income ÷ 10
Age
Income
Expected Net Worth
30
$70,000
$210,000
40
$100,000
$400,000
50
$120,000
$600,000
60
$130,000
$780,000
If your net worth is 2x+ this formula, you’re an exceptional saver.
Savings Rate Required to Catch Up
If Starting at Age 25
Savings Rate
Balance at 67
Monthly Savings ($75k salary)
10%
$870,000
$625
15%
$1,300,000
$938
20%
$1,740,000
$1,250
Assumes 7% annual return.
If Starting at Age 35
Savings Rate
Balance at 67
Monthly Savings ($90k salary)
15%
$680,000
$1,125
20%
$905,000
$1,500
25%
$1,130,000
$1,875
If Starting at Age 45
Savings Rate
Balance at 67
Monthly Savings ($110k salary)
20%
$435,000
$1,833
25%
$545,000
$2,292
30%
$655,000
$2,750
Later starters need higher rates AND may benefit from working longer.
How Much Should I Have Saved for Specific Goals?
By Age 30
Category
Target
Purpose
Retirement
1x salary ($75,000)
On track for 67
Emergency fund
3-6 months ($12,000-$24,000)
Job loss protection
Down payment
20% of target home
Avoid PMI
Suggested total
$100,000-$150,000
Well-positioned
By Age 40
Category
Target
Purpose
Retirement
3x salary ($270,000)
On track for 67
Emergency fund
6 months ($30,000)
Full protection
529 plans
$40,000-$80,000 per child
College funding
Suggested total
$350,000-$500,000
Including home equity
By Age 50
Category
Target
Purpose
Retirement
6x salary ($600,000)
On track for 67
Emergency fund
6-12 months ($40,000-$80,000)
Extended runway
Taxable investments
$100,000+
Flexibility, early retirement option
Suggested total
$800,000-$1,200,000
Strong position
If You’re Behind: Catch-Up Strategies
Immediate Actions
Strategy
Impact
Increase 401(k) contribution by 1%
Adds ~$15,000-$25,000 over 10 years
Get full employer match
50-100% immediate return
Open Roth IRA
Additional $7,000/year capacity
Reduce expensive debt
Frees cash flow
Age 50+ Catch-Up Contributions (2026)
Account
Standard Limit
Catch-Up
Total (50+)
401(k)
$23,500
$7,500
$31,000
401(k) ages 60-63
$23,500
$11,250
$34,750
IRA
$7,000
$1,000
$8,000
Total possible
$30,500
$8,500-$12,250
$39,000-$42,750
Working Longer: The Powerful Option
Retire At
Additional Savings (5 years)
Additional Growth
Social Security Increase
67 vs 62
$100,000-$200,000
~40% more
30-40% higher benefit
70 vs 65
$150,000-$250,000
~35% more
24-32% higher benefit
Savings Benchmarks by Income Level
For $50,000 Income
Age
Retirement Target
Emergency Fund
Total Savings Goal
30
$50,000
$12,000
$62,000
40
$150,000
$18,000
$168,000
50
$300,000
$24,000
$324,000
For $100,000 Income
Age
Retirement Target
Emergency Fund
Total Savings Goal
30
$100,000
$20,000
$120,000
40
$300,000
$30,000
$330,000
50
$600,000
$40,000
$640,000
For $150,000 Income
Age
Retirement Target
Emergency Fund
Total Savings Goal
30
$150,000
$30,000
$180,000
40
$450,000
$45,000
$495,000
50
$900,000
$60,000
$960,000
Common Questions
“Is $X Enough to Retire?”
Saved at 65
Annual Withdrawal (4%)
Enough?
$250,000
$10,000
No — needs Social Security heavily
$500,000
$20,000
Tight — modest lifestyle
$750,000
$30,000
Okay — average lifestyle
$1,000,000
$40,000
Good — comfortable
$1,500,000
$60,000
Very good — flexibility
$2,000,000+
$80,000+
Excellent — options
“What If I Have a Pension?”
Pension Value
Equivalent Savings
$20,000/year
~$500,000
$40,000/year
~$1,000,000
$60,000/year
~$1,500,000
Pensions offset how much you need saved. Add pension value to your retirement account balance when comparing to benchmarks.