In the mid-50s, retirement moves from abstract to scheduled. Households headed by someone aged 55–59 have a median net worth of $252,000 and an average of $1,608,700, much of it in home equity and retirement accounts. Our net worth percentile calculator shows where your figure ranks.
Net Worth at 55 by Percentile
| Households Headed by Someone Aged 55-59 | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $34,500 |
| Median | $252,000 |
| Average (mean) | $1,608,700 |
| 75th percentile | $1,304,300 |
| 90th percentile | $3,255,300 |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2025 dollars). Families grouped by the age of the household head; percentiles computed from the survey's weighted records. Based on about 393 surveyed families, so treat single-band figures as approximate.
Is Your Net Worth Good at 55?
| Net Worth | Share of Households Aged 55-59 With Less | Where That Puts You |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 19% | Below the median |
| $50,000 | 27% | Below the median |
| $100,000 | 34% | Below the median |
| $200,000 | 44% | Below the median |
| $250,000 | 49% | Below the median |
| $500,000 | 59% | Above the median |
| $1,000,000 | 70% | Above the median |
| $2,000,000 | 84% | Top 25% |
| $3,000,000 | 89% | Top 25% |
| $5,000,000 | 93% | Top 10% |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2025 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 393 surveyed families.
Is $1 million good at 55? $1 million is more than about 70% of households aged 55-59 have. That’s above the typical household your age.
Is $2 million good at 55? $2 million is more than about 84% of households aged 55-59 have. That’s a strong position for your age.
Salary benchmark
With Fidelity’s guideline at 6× salary by 50 and 8× by 60, a checkpoint of about 7× salary fits 55: $700,000 in retirement savings for someone earning $100,000.
Late 50s: The Pre-Retirement Sprint
These are typically peak earning and saving years. It’s the time to test a retirement budget, plan Social Security timing (each year of delay past full retirement age, up to 70, adds 8% to the monthly benefit), and reduce investment risk gradually rather than all at once.
Compare Other Ages
- Average net worth at 50
- Average net worth at 60
- 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” (2025 public data). federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm
- Fidelity Investments. “How much do I need to retire?” fidelity.com
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