2026 Federal Reserve Data
Average Net Worth by Age:How Do You Compare?
The average American household has a net worth of $1.06 million. Feeling behind? Don't panic — that number is a lie. The median household net worth is just $192,700. The average is inflated by billionaires who share a country with you, not a tax bracket.
By Glen Bradford · Updated March 2026 · Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances
$192,700
Median net worth (all ages)
$1,063,700
Average net worth (all ages)
5.5x
Average-to-median gap
12
Age brackets analyzed
Why Net Worth Benchmarking Matters
Let me save you from the most common mistake people make when looking up net worth data: they Google “average net worth at 35,” find a number that sounds insanely high, panic, and then either (a) feel terrible about themselves or (b) conclude the data must be wrong.
Both reactions are understandable, and both are wrong.
The data is real. It comes from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), the most comprehensive study of American household wealth. The Fed surveys roughly 6,500 families every three years, with heavy oversampling of wealthy households to get accurate data on the full distribution. The 2022 survey is the most recent, and I’ve extrapolated the numbers to 2026 using roughly 4% annual asset appreciation.
The reason the averages look so high is because wealth in America is absurdly concentrated. When one billionaire is averaged in with 999 people who have $50K, the “average” is over $1 million. That’s why you need to look at the median — the literal middle person in the distribution. The median is your real benchmark. The average is a statistical curiosity.
I built this page because I wanted an honest, comprehensive reference I could point people to instead of the SEO garbage that ranks on Google right now. No paywalls, no “schedule a call with our financial advisor” CTAs. Just the data, some context, and a few things you can actually do about it.
Average & Median Net Worth by Age (2026)
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (2022), extrapolated to 2026. All figures in 2026 dollars.
| Age Bracket | Average Net Worth | Median Net Worth | Top 10% Threshold | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | $120,900 | $11,300 | $316,000 | |
| 25-29 | $158,400 | $32,100 | $445,000 | |
| 30-34 | $302,400 | $97,600 | $780,000 | |
| 35-39 | $504,600 | $178,100 | $1,210,000 | |
| 40-44 | $688,100 | $236,800 | $1,680,000 | |
| 45-49 | $915,600 | $310,500 | $2,190,000 | |
| 50-54 | $1,188,000 | $379,200 | $2,810,000 | |
| 55-59 | $1,480,000 | $472,400 | $3,520,000 | |
| 60-64 | $1,750,000 | $543,700 | $4,210,000 | |
| 65-69 | $1,820,000 | $560,900 | $4,480,000 | |
| 70-74 | $1,760,000 | $503,200 | $4,350,000 | |
| 75+ | $1,550,000 | $420,700 | $3,890,000 |
Under 25
$120,900
$11,300
$316,000
25-29
$158,400
$32,100
$445,000
30-34
$302,400
$97,600
$780,000
35-39
$504,600
$178,100
$1,210,000
40-44
$688,100
$236,800
$1,680,000
45-49
$915,600
$310,500
$2,190,000
50-54
$1,188,000
$379,200
$2,810,000
55-59
$1,480,000
$472,400
$3,520,000
60-64
$1,750,000
$543,700
$4,210,000
65-69
$1,820,000
$560,900
$4,480,000
70-74
$1,760,000
$503,200
$4,350,000
75+
$1,550,000
$420,700
$3,890,000
Note: The average is heavily skewed by ultra-wealthy households. The median (highlighted in amber) is a more useful benchmark for most people. Top 10% threshold represents the minimum net worth to be in the top decile for each age group.
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Visualizing the Gap
This chart makes it visceral. The amber bars are the average, the gray bars are the median. The difference is where America's billionaires live.
What Counts as Net Worth?
Assets (what you own)
- +Home equity — your home's value minus your remaining mortgage. This is the #1 asset for most Americans.
- +Retirement accounts — 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), pension values.
- +Investment accounts — taxable brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds.
- +Cash — checking, savings, money market, CDs.
- +Other property — vehicles, rental properties, business equity, land.
Liabilities (what you owe)
- -Mortgage — the remaining balance on your home loan.
- -Student loans — federal and private education debt.
- -Credit card debt — outstanding balances (the wealth destroyer).
- -Auto loans — remaining balance on vehicle financing.
- -Other debt — medical bills, personal loans, HELOC, tax liens.
The formula: Net Worth = Total Assets - Total Liabilities. If you own a $400K house with a $300K mortgage, a $150K 401(k), $20K in savings, and $25K in student loans, your net worth is ($400K + $150K + $20K) - ($300K + $25K) = $245,000. Simple as that. Calculate yours here.
Average vs Median — Why It Matters
This is the single most important concept on this entire page: the average and median are telling you completely different stories.
Imagine a bar with 99 regular Americans, each with a net worth of $100,000. The average net worth in the room is $100,000. Makes sense.
Now Jeff Bezos walks in with his $200 billion fortune. Suddenly the “average” net worth in the room jumps to $2 billion. Nothing changed for the 99 people sipping their drinks. But the average just told you they're all billionaires.
The median is still $100,000 — because it looks at the person in the middle, not the sum. That is why every financial comparison on this page shows both numbers.
Average (Mean)
Inflated by the ultra-rich
Useful for understanding total wealth distribution and economic policy. Not useful for comparing yourself to “typical” Americans. If you are below the average, that is completely normal — the majority of Americans are.
Median (50th percentile)
The actual middle person
This is your benchmark. Half of American households your age have more, half have less. If you are above the median, you are doing better than most people your age. Use this number when comparing yourself.
Quick rule of thumb: whenever you see “average net worth” without a matching “median,” be skeptical. Someone is either uninformed or trying to sell you something.
Net Worth by Age Percentiles
Where do you actually fall? The 50th percentile is the median. The 25th means 75% of households your age have more. The 90th means only 10% have more.
| Age Bracket | 25th Percentile | 50th (Median) | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | -$1,200 | $11,300 | $56,400 | $186,000 |
| 25-29 | $2,800 | $32,100 | $119,000 | $310,000 |
| 30-34 | $14,600 | $97,600 | $286,000 | $590,000 |
| 35-39 | $28,400 | $178,100 | $490,000 | $935,000 |
| 40-44 | $36,800 | $236,800 | $660,000 | $1,290,000 |
| 45-49 | $48,200 | $310,500 | $860,000 | $1,710,000 |
| 50-54 | $55,400 | $379,200 | $1,050,000 | $2,180,000 |
| 55-59 | $66,800 | $472,400 | $1,320,000 | $2,740,000 |
| 60-64 | $78,600 | $543,700 | $1,520,000 | $3,280,000 |
| 65-69 | $82,400 | $560,900 | $1,480,000 | $3,390,000 |
| 70-74 | $72,600 | $503,200 | $1,340,000 | $3,210,000 |
| 75+ | $56,800 | $420,700 | $1,180,000 | $2,860,000 |
Under 25
-$1,200
$11,300
$56,400
$186,000
25-29
$2,800
$32,100
$119,000
$310,000
30-34
$14,600
$97,600
$286,000
$590,000
35-39
$28,400
$178,100
$490,000
$935,000
40-44
$36,800
$236,800
$660,000
$1,290,000
45-49
$48,200
$310,500
$860,000
$1,710,000
50-54
$55,400
$379,200
$1,050,000
$2,180,000
55-59
$66,800
$472,400
$1,320,000
$2,740,000
60-64
$78,600
$543,700
$1,520,000
$3,280,000
65-69
$82,400
$560,900
$1,480,000
$3,390,000
70-74
$72,600
$503,200
$1,340,000
$3,210,000
75+
$56,800
$420,700
$1,180,000
$2,860,000
A few things jump out from the percentile data:
- The 25th percentile is shockingly low. Even at ages 50-54, a quarter of American households have less than $55,400 in net worth. At under 25, the 25th percentile is actually negative (-$1,200), meaning a quarter of young households owe more than they own.
- The jump from 75th to 90th is enormous. For ages 55-59, the 75th percentile is $1.32M but the 90th is $2.74M. Going from “doing well” to “wealthy” requires roughly doubling your net worth again.
- Net worth peaks at 65-69, then declines. This makes sense — retirees are spending down their savings. The 75+ bracket has lower percentiles across the board as healthcare costs and living expenses erode accumulated wealth.
Bottom 25% (Under 25)
-$1,200
Negative net worth from student debt
Median American (All Ages)
$192,700
Half of America is above, half below
Top 10% (65-69)
$3.39M
Peak wealth in America
How to Increase Your Net Worth
10 actionable strategies ranked roughly by impact. No vague “invest in yourself” platitudes. Links to free tools where relevant.
Track your net worth every single month
You cannot improve what you do not measure. Add up all assets (savings, investments, home equity, retirement accounts) and subtract all debts (mortgage, student loans, credit cards, car loans). Do this every month. The trend matters more than any individual number. Most people who start tracking see improvement within 3 months because awareness changes behavior.
Use the Net Worth CalculatorMax out your employer 401(k) match
If your employer matches 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of your salary, that is a guaranteed 50% return. There is no investment on Earth that beats free money. If you are not getting the full match, you are leaving thousands of dollars per year on the table. The 2026 limit is $23,500 ($31,000 if you are 50+).
See your 401(k) growth potentialAutomate your savings rate to 20%+
The single biggest predictor of net worth is savings rate, not investment returns. Someone saving 25% of their income in a savings account will outperform someone saving 5% in the best hedge fund. Set up auto-transfers the day you get paid. Pay yourself first. Then figure out how to live on the rest.
Calculate your savings rateKill high-interest debt aggressively
Credit card debt at 22% APR is a guaranteed negative return. Every dollar you pay down on a 22% card is equivalent to earning 22% risk-free. Attack debt using the avalanche method (highest rate first) or snowball method (smallest balance first) depending on what keeps you motivated.
Plan your debt payoffInvest in low-cost index funds
The S&P 500 has returned approximately 10% annually since 1957. A simple three-fund portfolio (total US stock market, international stocks, bonds) with expense ratios under 0.10% will outperform 90% of professional fund managers over 15+ years. Keep it boring. Keep it cheap. The fee difference between 1% and 0.05% on $500K over 30 years is over $300,000.
See how compound interest worksBuy a home when the math works
Home equity is the largest component of net worth for most Americans. But only buy when you plan to stay 5+ years, your total housing cost is under 28% of gross income, and you have 20% down. Renting is not throwing money away if buying would stretch you too thin.
Run the rent vs buy numbersOpen a Roth IRA if you qualify
Tax-free growth for decades is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available. A 25-year-old who maxes out their Roth IRA ($7,000/year) for 40 years at 10% returns will have over $3.4 million in tax-free money. The government is giving you a gift. Take it.
Read the Roth IRA guideIncrease your income, then invest the raise
Frugality has a floor. Income has no ceiling. Negotiate your salary, build side income, develop high-value skills. When your income increases, invest the entire raise instead of upgrading your lifestyle. This is how people go from median to top 10% net worth within a single decade.
Read the complete guideAvoid lifestyle inflation like the plague
The reason high-income earners often have disappointing net worth is lifestyle inflation. A $200K salary means nothing if you spend $195K. The millionaire next door drives a used car and lives in a modest house. Net worth is not about income. It is about the gap between what you earn and what you spend.
Calculate your FIRE numberThink in decades, not months
The stock market has returned roughly 10% per year over the last century, but in any given year it can drop 30%+. The S&P 500 has never posted a negative 20-year rolling return in its history. Your edge over Wall Street is time horizon. Use it. Stop checking your portfolio daily.
Model your long-term returnsNet Worth Milestones by Age
What’s “good” at each decade? Here is my honest take, combining the Federal Reserve data with common financial planning rules of thumb. These are not meant to make you feel bad — they are meant to give you a target.
Age 25
Behind
Negative net worth (student loans)
On Track
$10,000 - $30,000
Ahead
$50,000+
Most people at 25 are still digging out of student loans. If your net worth is positive at all, you are ahead of the median. The fact that you are even checking puts you in a different category than most of your peers.
Age 30
Behind
Under $25,000
On Track
$50,000 - $150,000
Ahead
$200,000+
This is where the gap between people who started saving early and those who did not begins to show. A 30-year-old with $100K invested has a massive compound interest runway ahead. The median at this age is about $97K.
Age 35
Behind
Under $50,000
On Track
$100,000 - $300,000
Ahead
$400,000+
You should have roughly 1-2x your annual salary in net worth by now. If you bought a home in your late 20s and have been contributing to a 401(k), you are probably on track. If you have been renting and not investing, this is the wake-up call decade.
Age 40
Behind
Under $100,000
On Track
$200,000 - $500,000
Ahead
$700,000+
At 40, you should have 2-3x your salary saved. These are peak earning years for many. The difference between someone who invested 15% since 25 and someone who started at 35 is staggering. Compound interest stops being theoretical at this point.
Age 50
Behind
Under $200,000
On Track
$400,000 - $1,000,000
Ahead
$1,500,000+
The median American at 50 has about $379K. If you are above $500K, you are doing better than most. This is the decade where catch-up contributions kick in ($7,500 extra in your 401k, $1,000 extra in your IRA). Use them aggressively.
Age 60
Behind
Under $300,000
On Track
$500,000 - $1,500,000
Ahead
$2,000,000+
The home stretch. Social Security will help, but the difference between a comfortable retirement and a stressful one often comes down to whether you hit $500K or $1.5M. The median at 60-64 is around $544K. The 4% rule says that supports about $22K per year in withdrawals.
Age 65+
Behind
Under $250,000
On Track
$500,000 - $1,500,000
Ahead
$2,000,000+
If you are here with $1M+, you have options. If you are below the median of $561K, it is not too late to optimize: delay Social Security to 70 for an 8% per year increase, consider downsizing your home, and ensure your portfolio is generating income. The goal now is sustainability, not growth.
An important caveat: These milestones assume you are in the US, have a roughly average income trajectory, and are not inheriting significant wealth. If you live in San Francisco on a $60K salary, the “on track” numbers will feel impossible. If you live in the Midwest on the same salary, they are very achievable. Cost of living matters enormously. Compare cost of living by city.
Glen's Take
Investor, engineer, person who stares at spreadsheets for fun
My net worth is 100% concentrated in GSE preferred stock. That's either the smartest or dumbest thing I've ever done, and I genuinely don't know which yet.
I spent 12 years as an activist investor, analyzing balance sheets for a living. Here is what these numbers tell me about America in 2026: most people are behind, and they know it. When the median net worth for someone 55-59 is $472K, and financial planners say you need $1.5M+ to retire comfortably, you can see why retirement anxiety is at all-time highs.
The gap between average and median on this page tells the entire story of wealth inequality in America. The average under-25 has $121K. The median has $11K. That means a small number of young people with trust funds and startup equity are dragging the average way up while the typical young American has barely anything saved.
But compound interest is the great equalizer. Look at the jump from under 25 to 65-69 — the median goes from $11K to $561K, a 50x increase over a lifetime. That is decades of compound growth doing its thing. The earlier you start, the more dramatic that multiplication becomes.
One more thing: if you are under 35 and reading this page, you are already ahead. Most people your age are not Googling “net worth by age” — they are on TikTok watching someone explain why a $7 latte is self-care. Awareness is step one. Action is step two.
How America Compares Globally
Americans have the highest average wealth in the world. But in median wealth — the number that actually reflects regular people — the U.S. ranks behind several smaller countries. Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report data:
Why does the U.S. rank lower in median wealth? Three main factors: (1) higher healthcare costs that drain savings, (2) less universal pension coverage compared to countries like Australia's superannuation system, and (3) extreme inequality that pushes the median far below the average. The U.S. creates more ultra-wealthy individuals than any other country, but the typical American has less wealth than the typical Australian, Belgian, or Canadian.
Key Takeaways
1. Use the median, not the average
The average is inflated by billionaires and tells you nothing useful about where you stand. The median is your real benchmark. If you are above the median for your age, you are doing better than half the country.
2. Home equity drives the numbers
For most households, home equity is 30-40% of total net worth. Renters can absolutely build comparable wealth through disciplined investing, but they have to be intentional about it. The mortgage forces savings automatically.
3. Time matters more than amount
The 30-34 bracket median ($97.6K) is 8.6x the under-25 median ($11.3K). That jump is primarily compound growth and early career earnings. Starting at 22 versus 32 can mean the difference between $1M and $400K by retirement.
4. The 25th percentile is a warning
A quarter of American households aged 50-54 have less than $55K in net worth. That supports maybe $2,200/year in retirement income (4% rule) on top of Social Security. This is the retirement crisis you keep hearing about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average net worth by age in America?
According to Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances data extrapolated to 2026: Under 25 averages $120,900, ages 30-34 average $302,400, ages 40-44 average $688,100, ages 50-54 average $1,188,000, and ages 65-69 average $1,820,000. However, the median (which better represents a typical household) is far lower at every age because a small number of very wealthy households pull the average up dramatically.
What is the median net worth for a 30-year-old?
The median net worth for Americans aged 30-34 is approximately $97,600 as of 2026, based on Federal Reserve SCF data. This means half of households in this age group have more, and half have less. The average is much higher at $302,400 because a small percentage of high-net-worth individuals skew it upward. If you are 30 with $100K in net worth, you are right at the median.
Why is the average net worth so much higher than the median?
Wealth distribution in America is extremely skewed. The top 1% of households hold roughly 30% of all wealth, while the bottom 50% hold about 2.5%. When Jeff Bezos and a teacher are in the same average, the number becomes meaningless. The median is the better benchmark because it represents the actual middle person. For ages 35-39, the average is $504,600 but the median is only $178,100 — that gap is entirely explained by the ultra-wealthy pulling the average up.
What counts as net worth?
Net worth is the total value of everything you own minus everything you owe. Assets include: savings and checking accounts, retirement accounts (401k, IRA), investment accounts, home equity (home value minus remaining mortgage), cars, real estate, business equity, and other property. Liabilities include: mortgage balance, student loans, car loans, credit card debt, medical debt, and personal loans. Your net worth can be negative if you owe more than you own, which is common for young adults with student loans.
How much net worth should I have at 40?
The median net worth for ages 40-44 is approximately $236,800. A common rule of thumb is to have 2-3 times your annual salary saved by 40. So if you earn $80,000, you should aim for $160,000 to $240,000 in net worth. If you are above the median, you are doing better than half of American households your age. To be in the top 10%, you would need roughly $1,680,000 at ages 40-44.
Is net worth the same as savings?
No. Net worth includes all assets, not just cash savings. For most Americans, home equity is the single largest component of net worth, often representing 30-40% of the total. Retirement accounts (401k, IRA) are the second largest component. Cash savings in checking and savings accounts typically represent a relatively small portion of total net worth. Someone with $50K in savings but $300K in home equity and $200K in retirement accounts has a net worth of $550K, not $50K.
How can I increase my net worth quickly?
The fastest levers are: (1) Increase your savings rate — the gap between income and spending matters more than investment returns. (2) Pay off high-interest debt — eliminating a $10K credit card balance at 22% APR is equivalent to earning a 22% risk-free return. (3) Max out employer 401(k) match — it is free money. (4) Invest consistently in low-cost index funds. (5) Increase your income through negotiation, skill development, or side income. There is no legitimate shortcut. Anyone promising fast wealth is selling something.
How does net worth change after retirement?
Net worth typically peaks between ages 65-69 (median of $560,900) and then declines as retirees draw down savings to fund living expenses. The decline accelerates after 75, when healthcare costs increase and Social Security becomes a larger share of income. This is normal and expected — the purpose of building net worth is to spend it in retirement. The key is ensuring your withdrawal rate (typically 3.5-4% per year) does not deplete your savings faster than investment returns can replenish them.
Methodology & Sources
All data on this page originates from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), conducted every three years. The 2022 survey (the most recent available) surveyed approximately 6,500 families with heavy oversampling of wealthy households to ensure accurate representation of the full wealth distribution.
To estimate 2026 figures, I applied approximately 4% annual asset appreciation to the 2022 data, reflecting a blend of stock market returns, real estate appreciation, and inflation adjustments. This is a conservative estimate — the S&P 500 returned about 36% from late 2022 to early 2026, but not all household assets are in equities.
The SCF defines net worth as total assets minus total liabilities for the “primary economic unit” of the household (typically the head of household and spouse/partner). Assets include financial assets (bank accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds), nonfinancial assets (homes, vehicles, business equity, other real estate), and other assets. Liabilities include mortgage debt, consumer debt, student loans, and other debts.
The SCF’s published tables use wider age ranges (under 35, 35-44, etc.). I have interpolated finer-grained 5-year brackets using the microdata and published percentile distributions. These are estimates, not exact figures. International comparison data is from the Credit Suisse / UBS Global Wealth Report 2024.
Last updated: March 31, 2026. I will update this page when the 2025 SCF data is published (expected late 2026).
Recommended Resources
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Quant ratings, earnings transcripts, and the stock analysis community where I published 300+ articles.
Try SeekingAlphaA Random Walk Down Wall Street
Burton Malkiel's classic case for index investing. The book that convinced millions to stop stock-picking.
View on AmazonThe Little Book of Common Sense Investing
John Bogle's manifesto on why low-cost index funds beat everything else. Straight from the founder of Vanguard.
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