What is the average 401(k) balance by age?

In Vanguard's How America Saves 2026 (plan year 2025), average balances were: under 25 — $7,259; ages 25–34 — $50,261; 35–44 — $120,742; 45–54 — $214,991; 55–64 — $305,006; 65+ — $330,186. Averages are pulled up by a small number of large accounts; the median is a better benchmark for most workers.

What is the median 401(k) balance by age?

Vanguard's 2025 data shows median 401(k) balances of $2,234 (under 25), $18,732 (25–34), $46,919 (35–44), $78,730 (45–54), $107,269 (55–64), and $103,202 (65+). The median represents the midpoint — half of participants have more, half have less.

How much should I have in my 401(k) by age?

Fidelity's savings guidelines suggest 1× your salary by age 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, and 10× by 67. On a $75,000 salary, those targets are $75,000 by 30, $225,000 by 40, $450,000 by 50, $600,000 by 60 and $750,000 by 67. Fidelity's multiples count all retirement savings, not just a 401(k).

Is a $100,000 401(k) balance good?

$100,000 is above Vanguard's median for ages 25–34 ($18,732), 35–44 ($46,919) and 45–54 ($78,730), and a little below the median for ages 55–64 ($107,269). Whether it's good depends on your age, salary, years until retirement, and expected Social Security income.

What is the 2026 401(k) contribution limit?

The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500, or $32,500 with the age 50+ catch-up and $35,750 for ages 60–63 under the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up.

Do 401(k) balances include employer match?

Yes. Vanguard's reported balances include employee deferrals, employer contributions and investment gains in the plan. The combined employee-plus-employer annual limit is $72,000 for 2026, not counting catch-up contributions.

401(k) Balance Percentile by Age Calculator 2026 — How Do You Compare?

The median 401(k) balance for Vanguard participants aged 35–44 is $46,919 — but the average is $120,742. That gap exists because a small number of large accounts pull the average upward. The calculator below uses the medians and averages from Vanguard’s How America Saves 2026 (plan year 2025) and a lognormal curve to estimate where your balance falls among Vanguard participants your age.

401(k) Balance Percentile Calculator

percentile

📊 401(k) Benchmarks for Your Age Group

🎯 What It Takes to Reach the Next Level

Fidelity Savings Milestones: 1× salary by 30 · 3× by 40 · 6× by 50 · 8× by 60 · 10× by 67.

401(k) Balances by Age: Median, Average, and Key Percentiles

The table shows Vanguard’s published median and average for each age group, plus modeled percentiles from the calculator.

Age Group	Median (50th)	Average	10th Pct (est.)	25th Pct (est.)	75th Pct (est.)	90th Pct (est.)
Under 25	$2,234	$7,259	$300	$800	$6,300	$16,000
25–34	$18,732	$50,261	$3,100	$7,300	$48,300	$113,400
35–44	$46,919	$120,742	$8,100	$18,600	$118,600	$273,300
45–54	$78,730	$214,991	$12,800	$30,300	$204,700	$484,300
55–64	$107,269	$305,006	$16,800	$40,500	$284,300	$684,200
65+	$103,202	$330,186	$14,600	$36,900	$288,600	$728,800

Source for the median and average: Vanguard “How America Saves 2026” (year-end 2025 data, Vanguard plans). Vanguard doesn’t publish the 10th, 25th, 75th or 90th percentiles by age; those columns are a wealthvieu calculation from a lognormal curve fitted to each median and average, so treat them as rough estimates.

Why does the average exceed the median? 401(k) balances are right-skewed. A participant with $2 million pulls the average up far more than they move the median. For most comparisons, the median is the more useful benchmark.

Why the Median Matters More Than the Average

On a $75,000 salary, the Fidelity rule of thumb says you should have $225,000 (3×) saved by age 40. But the median 35–44 year-old in Vanguard’s data has $46,919. Most participants are not on the Fidelity schedule — and many will supplement 401(k) savings with Social Security, pension income, or part-time work.

The percentile frame is more useful than a single target because it tells you where you actually stand relative to peers — not relative to an idealized benchmark that most people don’t reach.

Fidelity Savings Milestones by Age

Fidelity’s guideline is to accumulate a multiple of your annual salary by key ages, counting all retirement savings:

Age	Savings Target	Rationale
30	1× salary	Establishes a foundation early
40	3× salary	Growth phase, compound interest building
50	6× salary	Peak earning years — catch-up contributions available
60	8× salary	Pre-retirement stretch — final accumulation phase
67	10× salary	Retirement age; combined with Social Security

Worked example: On a $75,000 salary, these targets are $75,000 by 30, $225,000 by 40, $450,000 by 50, $600,000 by 60, and $750,000 by 67.

The 2026 catch-up contribution rules add flexibility for those behind schedule: workers aged 50–59 and 64+ can contribute an extra $8,000/year (total limit $32,500). Workers aged 60–63 get a higher “super catch-up” of $11,250 (total limit: $35,750).

Who the Percentiles Cover

These figures describe participants in Vanguard-administered plans, workers who have a workplace plan. Not every worker has access to one, so the estimate says nothing about a comparison with all US adults, and balances at other plan providers can differ. Savings held in IRAs or a former employer’s plan aren’t counted in a single 401(k) balance either.

How to Increase Your 401(k) Percentile

Maximize the employer match first. If your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary, leaving any match on the table means giving up money your employer would add (subject to your plan’s vesting schedule). Many people treat this as the first step.
Increase your deferral rate by 1% per year. A $75,000-salary earner who increases their contribution from 6% to 10% adds roughly $3,000 per year before employer match.
Use catch-up contributions after 50. The extra $8,000/year ($11,250 for ages 60–63 in 2026) can add significant balance in the final decade before retirement.
Review your asset allocation. Target-date funds automatically shift from growth to preservation as you approach retirement. Many participants with older allocations are too conservative in their 40s and 50s.
Avoid early withdrawals. A $20,000 withdrawal at age 40 can cost you not just the tax and any 10% penalty — it also gives up the growth on that amount. At a constant 7% a year, $20,000 would grow to about $108,500 over 25 years (illustrative, annual compounding).

401(k) vs. Total Retirement Savings

Many workers have savings in multiple accounts: a current 401(k), a former employer’s 401(k), a rollover IRA, a Roth IRA, or a pension. The Vanguard figures above reflect balances in Vanguard-administered plans, not a worker’s total savings.

For a complete retirement picture, add up all tax-advantaged accounts. The net worth percentile calculator lets you benchmark your total household net worth, which includes all assets and debts.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy