How much should you have saved by age? Savings by age, 25 to 60
Two answers for each age: the guideline from a published plan, and what families actually hold, from the Federal Reserve's 2025 survey.
Checked October 26, 2026
Retirement savings goals by age
Fidelity sets its milestones as a multiple of your yearly pay. They assume you save 15% of pay a year from age 25, employer match included, keep more than half in stocks on average, and retire at 67 needing savings to cover 45% of your pre-retirement income, with no pension.
| By age | Times your salary | On $60,000 a year |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1x | $60,000 |
| 40 | 3x | $180,000 |
| 50 | 6x | $360,000 |
| 60 | 8x | $480,000 |
| 67 | 10x | $600,000 |
Average savings by age
From the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, by the age of the family's head. Retirement and cash figures count only families that have that kind of account.
| Age | Have a retirement account | Retirement, median | Retirement, mean | Checking and savings, median | Net worth, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 48.8% | $21,000 | $48,450 | $5,000 | $32,820 |
| 35 to 44 | 59.6% | $61,000 | $182,430 | $6,600 | $156,000 |
| 45 to 54 | 63% | $133,000 | $415,780 | $9,400 | $254,670 |
| 55 to 64 | 63.1% | $239,000 | $670,250 | $10,000 | $411,340 |
The median is the middle family; the mean is pulled up by a few very large accounts. Compare yourself with the median.
Pick your age
- How much should I have saved by 25?
- How much should I have saved by 30?
- How much should I have saved by 35?
- How much should I have saved by 40?
- How much should I have saved by 45?
- How much should I have saved by 50?
- How much should I have saved by 55?
- How much should I have saved by 60?
On top of retirement: a cushion
Fidelity suggests an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, starting with $1,000, kept apart from retirement money. See how much to keep in one.
Questions people ask
How much should you have saved by age?
On Fidelity's guideline, 1 times your salary by 30, 3 times by 40, 6 times by 50, 8 times by 60 and 10 times by 67, counting retirement accounts. It assumes you save 15% of your pay from 25, employer match included, and retire at 67.
What are average retirement savings by age?
In the Federal Reserve's 2025 survey, families with a retirement account hold a median of $21,000 under 35, $61,000 at 35 to 44, $133,000 at 45 to 54 and $239,000 at 55 to 64. The means are much higher because a few very large accounts pull them up.
Why are the guideline and the real numbers so far apart?
The guideline is a plan that starts at 25 and never misses a year. The survey is real families, many of whom started later, changed jobs or have a pension the accounts don't show. Use the guideline for direction and the median to see where most people are.
Does savings by age include an emergency fund?
Fidelity's milestones count retirement savings. An emergency fund comes on top: Fidelity suggests 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, starting with $1,000.
What if I'm behind?
Most people are. Set the rate rather than chasing the balance: Fidelity's plan saves 15% of pay, match included. In 2026 you can put up to $24,500 in a 401(k) and $7,500 in an IRA, with more allowed from 50.
Sources
5 sources · read October 26, 2026
Every number on this page comes from fidelity.com, federalreserve.gov and irs.gov. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
- 1Fidelity: How much do I need to retire? (September 25, 2026)fidelity.com
- 2Federal Reserve: 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, historical tables (Table 4, net worth; Table 6, financial assets, by age)federalreserve.gov
- 3Federal Reserve: Survey of Consumer Financesfederalreserve.gov
- 4Fidelity: How much emergency fund do you needfidelity.com
- 5IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 (IR-2025-111)irs.gov
Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.