More than half of Americans do not have any retirement savings. Of those who do, the average saved is $65,000.
Compare Savings Accounts
Click Here to Compare Savings Accounts
Facts And Figures At A Glance
Of those with retirement savings, here are the average savings statistics:
- The average household has $65,000 saved for retirement.
- The average 30 year old has $45,000 saved.
- The average 40 year old has $63,000 saved.
- The average 50 year old has $117,000 saved.
- The average 60 year old has $172,000 saved.
The average American is not hitting the recommended retirement savings benchmarks.
Millennials seem more prepared than any other generation for retirement, as a majority of millennials with a retirement account started their savings at the age of 24. With the average retirement age today of 63, millennials can save for just shy of 40 years.
Keep reading to learn more shocking details about American's lack of savings.
- The Average Retirement Account
- Average Savings By Age
- How Much Should You Save By Each Age
- Average Retirement Statistics
Tip: Track your net worth with the free app Empower. Manage your multiple financial accounts in one place. Get the complete picture of your bank, investments, retirement, mortgage, and credit card accounts. Read this review of Empower to learn how it can help you grow your net worth.
Build your savings now for a brighter future.Save smarter with an online savings account. Select your state to get started!
The Average Retirement Account
- How much does the average family have saved for retirement?
The average family has $65,000 saved for retirement. But only 50% of Americans have a retirement savings account at all.The Census Bureau qualifies a family as any household with at least one working adult between 32 and 61 years old.
- What is the average savings in an employer-sponsored 401(k)?
Today, the average balance in a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan is $109,600. Of those who have been invested for over 15 years, the average savings is $433,100. The average contribution amount by workers is $7,270. - What is the average savings in an IRA?
The average person with an IRA has $117,700 saved in an IRA. The average contribution amount is $4,100 - $4,300 per year.
How much do you have saved for retirement?
Related: How Much Should I Save?
Average Retirement Savings By Age
- How much does the average millennial have saved for retirement?
Millennials just starting out in the working world are trying to figure out how to save, let alone how much to save. The average millennial has an average of $23,000 saved for retirement. But 25% of Millennials have less than $5,000 saved for retirement.The average millennial with a retirement account started their retirement savings at the young age of 24.
- How much does the average Generation X'er have saved for retirement?
The average retirement savings among Generation X'ers is $66,000. 25% have less than $10,000 saved, while 24% have at least $250,000 saved for retirement. - How much does the average Baby Boomer have saved for retirement?
Baby boomers have slightly more saved for retirement, with a median savings of $152,000. But still 15% have less than $10,000, while 39% have at least $250,000 saved. More than half of Baby Boomers don't plan to stop working even after they retire. - How much does the average 25-year-old have saved?
The average 25-year-old with a retirement account established has $16,000 saved. While that doesn't seem like a lot, they have a great head start since they started saving early. Since 81% of millennials worry about the availability of Social Security when they retire, almost 70% of millennials have started some type of savings for retirement. - How much does the average 30-year-old have saved?
The average 30-year-old with retirement savings has $45,000 saved. Of those saving for retirement in their 30's, 30% contribute at least 10% of their pay towards retirement. - How much does the average 40-year-old have saved?
The average 40-year-old with a retirement account set up has $63,000 saved for retirement. More than 80% of those in their 40's who have a 401(k) plan available to them participate in the plan. However, those in their forties put an average of 7% of their income towards retirement. - How much does the average 50-year-old have saved?
The average 50-year-old with an established retirement account has $117,000 saved for retirement. Almost 50% of those in their 50s are not confident that they will have enough for retirement at this point. - How much does the average 60-year-old have saved?
The average 60-year-old with a retirement account has $172,000 in retirement savings. Almost half of the people between 60 and 70 years old plan to rely on their Social Security benefits during retirement.
Member FDIC
Discover Online Savings - $200 Cash Bonus
To get your $150 or $200 Bonus: What to do: Apply for your first Discover Online Savings Account, online, in the Discover App or by phone. Enter Offer Code CY124 when applying. Deposit into your account a total of at least $15,000 to earn a $150 Bonus or deposit a total of at least $25,000 to earn a $200 Bonus. Deposit must be posted to account within 30 days of account open date. Maximum bonus eligibility is $200.
What to know: Offer not valid for existing or prior Discover savings customers or existing or prior customers with savings accounts that are co-branded, or affinity accounts provided by Discover. Eligibility is based on primary account owner. Account must be open when bonus is credited. Bonus will be credited to the account within 60 days of the account qualifying for the bonus. Bonus is interest and subject to reporting on Form 1099-INT. Offer ends 03/14/24, 11:59 PM ET. Offer may be modified or withdrawn without notice. See advertiser website for full details.
Click Here to Get Deal
Expires 3/14/2024
Benchmarks by Age
- How much should you have saved for retirement by age 30?
Try to aim to have the equivalent of your annual salary saved by age 30. If you make $40,000, you should have $40,000 saved. This can be a combination of your fully vested 401(k) balance, emergency savings, and other investments.The truth is, it's only going to get harder. Responsibilities pile up. Life throws curveballs. You don't know what's coming next. We want you to be prepared: Download our FREE guide on how to build wealth in your 20s.
- How much should you have saved for retirement by age 40?
By the time you are in your 40s, you should have triple your annual salary saved. While this seems lofty, consider compound interest. The earlier you start saving, the easier this goal becomes. If you make $60,000, you'll need $180,000 saved. - How much should you have saved for retirement by age 50?
By age fifty, you'll need five times your annual salary saved in order to have a comfortable retirement. - How much should you have saved for retirement by age 60?
By age 60, you'll want to save 7 times your annual salary. Assuming the standard rate of inflation and consistent raises through the years, you could need as much as $700,000 saved between ages 40 and 60, based on a starting salary of $60,000 at age 40. - How much should you have saved for retirement by age 65?
By age 65, you'll want 8 times your annual salary, as then you'll be at retirement age. But, if you are like the 52% of other 60-something year olds, you'll continue working. - How much should you save each month?
We like the 50/30/20 rule. You budget 50% of your income for your fixed expenses and reserve 30% of your income for variable costs. The remaining 20% is what you should strive to save from each paycheck. Of course, this won't happen overnight, but if you start now, you can work your way towards this goal.
Improve Your Chances of Retirement Success
Find out if you're on track for retirement with Empower. Click below to get started.
Get Free Tools
Average Emergency Savings by Age
- How much does the average millennial have saved for emergencies?
The median emergency savings for Millennials is $2,000. This means half of Millennials have less than $2,000 saved and half have more. 24% have less than $1,000 saved, while 11% have over $25,000. - How much does the average Generation X'er have saved for emergencies?
The average generation X'ers have $5,000 saved in their emergency fund. 18% have less than $1,000, while 16% have over $25,000 saved. - How much does the average Baby Boomer have saved for emergencies?
Baby boomers are more prepared for the unexpected, with a median emergency savings of $10,000. 26% have over $25,000 saved. But there are still 10% of baby boomers with less than $1,000.
How Much to Save for Emergencies
At the very least, you should save between 3 and 6 months of your monthly expenses in an emergency fund. This helps protect you in case of disaster.
Here are some guidelines for how much you should save for emergencies by every age.
| Age | Emergency Savings Minimum | High Goal |
|---|---|---|
| By 25 | $7,100 | $14,200 |
| By 35 | $10,300 | $20,600 |
| By 45 | $13,200 | $26,400 |
| By 55 | $13,200 | $26,400 |
| By 65 | $11,800 | $23,600 |
| Over 65 | $9,600 | $19,200 |
Savings goals are calculated from Bureau of Labor Statistics average annual expenditures data for each age group. We have only taken into account the necessary expenses you will still need to pay if you lose your job, such as food, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
Once you have at least 6 months put aside, you can focus your savings efforts on more long-term goals, such as retirement.
Depositing your savings in a high-yield savings account, such as the Discover savings, can help your money grow while you leave it alone.
Average Retirement Statistics
- What is the average retirement age?
The average person retires today at age 63. Women tend to retire at an average age of 62 and men at the age of 64. - What is the average life expectancy of a male?
According to the Social Security administration, men live to an average age of 84.3 today. - What is the average life expectancy of a female?
The Social Security Administration averages the life expectancy of a female to be 86.6, slightly more than 2 years older than men. - Can you retire at age 50?
Retiring at 50 would leave you without any Social Security benefits. It also forces you to give up an average of 13 years of income you could save for retirement. Retiring at 50 would require a lot of planning and much more savings than the $117,000 that the average 50-year-old has saved. - What is the average Social Security payment?
Today, the average monthly Social Security payment is $1,514. Most retirees need much more than this amount to live a comfortable life in retirement.
Bottom Line
The earlier you start saving, the easier it will be to have enough for retirement. Relying on Social Security may not provide the level of financial comfort you desire. Consider your employer's 401(k) as well as other investment vehicles to ensure a happy retirement for you and your spouse.
You've let your savings slip this far. Your time to work is running out, meaning you need to track every penny coming in-and-out. Ready to get a handle on your future? We believe Empower is a smart choice for comprehensive account management. Click here and start tracking your finances.
Sources and References:
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
Empower Personal Wealth, LLC (“EPW”) compensates CREDITDONKEY INC for new leads. CREDITDONKEY INC is not an investment client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation or Empower Advisory Group, LLC.
Subscribe to CreditDonkey
Get updates on the latest deals and keep up with the best money moves.
As someone deeply immersed in the world of personal finance and retirement planning, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the discussion on Americans' retirement savings. My years of experience in this field, coupled with a comprehensive understanding of financial instruments and retirement strategies, allow me to shed light on the stark realities reflected in the provided article.
The evidence presented in the article aligns with broader trends observed in the realm of retirement planning. More than half of Americans lack any retirement savings, a concerning statistic that underscores the pressing need for increased financial literacy and proactive retirement planning. The average savings figures for different age groups reveal both the challenges individuals face and the opportunities for improvement.
Let's delve into the key concepts covered in the article:
-
Average Retirement Savings:
- The average household has $65,000 saved for retirement.
- Only 50% of Americans have a retirement savings account.
- The Census Bureau qualifies a family as any household with at least one working adult between 32 and 61 years old.
-
Retirement Accounts:
- The average balance in a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan is $109,600.
- For those invested for over 15 years, the average savings in such plans is $433,100.
- The average person with an IRA has $117,700 saved, with an annual contribution of $4,100 - $4,300.
-
Savings by Age Group:
- Millennials have an average of $23,000 saved for retirement, with 25% having less than $5,000.
- Generation X'ers average $66,000 in retirement savings.
- Baby boomers, with a median savings of $152,000, still face challenges, as 15% have less than $10,000 saved.
-
Retirement Benchmarks:
- Guidelines for savings by age: triple your annual salary by 40, five times by 50, seven times by 60, and eight times by 65.
- The 50/30/20 rule suggests allocating 20% of income toward savings.
-
Emergency Savings:
- Millennials have a median emergency savings of $2,000.
- Generation X'ers average $5,000 in their emergency fund.
- Baby boomers exhibit greater preparedness with a median emergency savings of $10,000.
-
Average Retirement Statistics:
- The average retirement age is 63, with women retiring at 62 and men at 64.
- Life expectancy is around 84.3 for men and 86.6 for women.
- Retiring at 50 poses challenges, given the absence of Social Security benefits.
-
Social Security:
- The average monthly Social Security payment is $1,514, potentially insufficient for a comfortable retirement.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of early and consistent retirement planning, highlighting the role of employer-sponsored plans, individual retirement accounts, and emergency funds. The presented benchmarks provide practical targets for individuals to strive towards, underlining the need for financial discipline and proactive savings habits.
