Forty is a natural checkpoint: halfway through most careers, with retirement still 25 years off. Households headed by someone aged 40–44 have a median net worth of $134,700 and an average of $590,700. Compare yourself with the median rather than the average, or get your precise rank from the net worth percentile calculator.
Net Worth at 40 by Percentile
| Households Headed by Someone Aged 40-44 | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23,500 |
| Median | $134,700 |
| Average (mean) | $590,700 |
| 75th percentile | $436,400 |
| 90th percentile | $1,189,500 |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2022 dollars). Families grouped by the age of the household head; percentiles computed from the survey's weighted records. Based on about 411 surveyed families, so treat single-band figures as approximate.
Is Your Net Worth Good at 40?
| Net Worth | Share of Households Aged 40-44 With Less | Where That Puts You |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 19% | Below the median |
| $50,000 | 33% | Below the median |
| $100,000 | 44% | Below the median |
| $200,000 | 57% | Above the median |
| $250,000 | 61% | Above the median |
| $500,000 | 77% | Top 25% |
| $1,000,000 | 87% | Top 25% |
| $2,000,000 | 95% | Top 10% |
| $3,000,000 | 97% | Top 10% |
| $5,000,000 | 98% | Top 10% |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2022 dollars). Families grouped by the age of the household head; percentiles computed from the survey's weighted records. Share with a net worth below each amount, from about 411 surveyed families.
Is $500K good at 40? Yes. About 77% of households aged 40–44 have less, so $500K puts you in roughly the top quarter at an age when many families are still building home equity.
Is $1 million good at 40? Very. About 87% of households in their early 40s have less, which puts a $1 million net worth around the top eighth for the age group.
Salary benchmark
At 40, Fidelity’s guideline is about 3× your salary in retirement savings, or $240,000 for someone earning $80,000. Home equity and other savings come on top of that in your net worth.
Early 40s: The Highest-Leverage Decade
Pay is approaching its peak, and investment growth can begin to rival new contributions. If college costs are coming, the standard advice is to fund retirement first: loans exist for college but not for retirement.
Compare Other Ages
- Average net worth at 35
- Average net worth at 45
- Average net worth by age (all ages)
- Net worth percentile by age calculator
- Net worth goals by age
Part of the net worth guide.
Sources
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “Survey of Consumer Finances” (2022 public data). federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm
- Fidelity Investments. “How much do I need to retire?” fidelity.com
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