Among families aged 45–54 that have a retirement account, the median balance is $133,000, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances; for those aged 55–64, it is $239,000. Both figures combine all retirement accounts — 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA and similar. About 37% of families in each of these age groups have no retirement account; the calculator includes them, so its percentiles compare you with every family your age.
Enter your total retirement savings and age group below to see exactly where you rank.
Last updated: October 14, 2026.
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How does this differ from the 401(k) balance percentile calculator? That tool uses Vanguard data covering only 401(k) plan participants — a self-selected group. This calculator uses Federal Reserve data covering all US households, including those with no retirement savings at all, giving a more accurate picture of where the typical American stands.
Median Retirement Savings by Age (2025 Survey)
| Age Group | Share With an Account | Median (Families With an Account) | Average (Families With an Account) | Median (All Families) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 48.8% | $21,000 | $48,400 | $0 |
| 35–44 | 59.6% | $61,000 | $182,400 | $7,000 |
| 45–54 | 63% | $133,000 | $415,800 | $37,000 |
| 55–64 | 63.1% | $239,000 | $670,200 | $45,000 |
| 65–74 | 49% | $257,000 | $767,500 | $0 |
| 75+ | 44.6% | $257,000 | $798,700 | $0 |
Source: Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data (2025 dollars), our calculation by age of the household head. Figures combine all account-type retirement savings. The average is substantially higher than the median because wealth is heavily concentrated in the top 10–20% of savers.
The gap between mean and median is the clearest sign of retirement inequality in the US. Among 55–64 year-olds with an account, the average is over $670,000 while the median is $239,000 — meaning a small number of very wealthy households pull the average up significantly for everyone else.
What Percentage of Americans Have No Retirement Savings?
Roughly 45% of US families have no retirement account, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (our calculation from the public data). The share varies by age:
- Under 35: ~51% have no retirement account
- 35–44: ~40%
- 45–54: ~37%
- 55–64: ~37%
- 65–74: ~51% have no dedicated retirement account (many rely on pensions, have annuitized or spent down balances, or never had one)
- 75 and older: ~55%
If you have any retirement savings, you are already ahead of a substantial share of Americans your age. That context matters when interpreting your percentile.
How Much Should You Have Saved? The Fidelity Benchmarks
Fidelity’s widely cited retirement savings guidelines provide age-based targets as a multiple of your current salary:
| Age | Savings Target (× salary) | At $60,000 salary | At $90,000 salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1× | $60,000 | $90,000 |
| 40 | 3× | $180,000 | $270,000 |
| 50 | 6× | $360,000 | $540,000 |
| 60 | 8× | $480,000 | $720,000 |
| 67 | 10× | $600,000 | $900,000 |
These targets assume Social Security covers part of pre-retirement income, and that you withdraw at a 4–5% annual rate. They are a rule of thumb, not a personalised plan.
Worked Example: Is $150,000 Good at Age 45?
Scenario: Maria is 48, earns $75,000 per year, and has $150,000 across her 401(k) and a Roth IRA.
Percentile result: $150,000 at age 45–54 is approximately the 70th percentile — Maria has more retirement savings than about 70% of families her age (including those with no account).
Fidelity benchmark check: At 6× her salary, she should target $450,000 by age 50. At $150,000, she’s at 2× — below the milestone but with 17+ years of compound growth ahead.
What this means in practice: Maria needs to close a gap of roughly $300,000 over the next two years to hit the Fidelity 50-year benchmark. Increasing her 401(k) contribution from 6% to 15% of salary (saving roughly $11,250 per year extra), combined with a 7% average annual return, would add approximately $510,000 by age 65 — more than enough to close the gap.
Why Is Total Retirement Savings Better Than 401(k)-Only?
The most cited benchmarks — Vanguard’s “How America Saves” and Fidelity’s data — cover only 401(k) plan participants. This understates savings for two groups:
- IRA holders — Many Americans, especially the self-employed and higher earners, accumulate substantial wealth in traditional and Roth IRAs outside of employer plans
- Pension holders — Public employees with defined benefit pensions have substantial retirement wealth that doesn’t appear in 401(k) data
The Federal Reserve SCF captures all of this. For a complete picture of your retirement position, total retirement savings across all account types is the right metric.
2026 Contribution Limits: How to Build Faster
| Account | 2026 Limit | Catch-Up (50+) | Total with Catch-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), 457 | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 |
| 401(k) ages 60–63 | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 |
| Traditional / Roth IRA | $7,500 | $1,100 | $8,600 |
| SEP-IRA | $72,000 | — | $72,000 |
| SIMPLE IRA | $17,000 | $4,000 | $21,000 |
If you’re behind on retirement savings, the catch-up contribution rules allow workers aged 50 and older to contribute significantly more than younger savers.
Related Calculators and Guides
- 401(k) balance percentile by age calculator — 401(k)-specific data from Vanguard
- Net worth percentile calculator — where your total wealth ranks
- How much to retire calculator — personalised projection
- Average retirement savings by age — detailed breakdowns
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