How Much Should You Have Saved for Retirement by Age? (2026 USA Guide)
The most widely cited benchmark comes from Fidelity: save 10x your annual salary by age 67 to maintain your pre-retirement lifestyle. The milestones along the way: 1x by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60.
But these benchmarks assume you want to replace 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement. They also assume Social Security covers about 30-40% of that. Here is what the numbers actually look like across income levels.
Use our [401k Calculator](/calculators/finance/401k-calculator) to project your retirement balance with employer match.
Fidelity Retirement Benchmarks by Annual Salary
| Age | $50K Salary | $75K Salary | $100K Salary | $150K Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 (1x salary) | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| 35 (2x) | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 |
| 40 (3x) | $150,000 | $225,000 | $300,000 | $450,000 |
| 45 (4x) | $200,000 | $300,000 | $400,000 | $600,000 |
| 50 (6x) | $300,000 | $450,000 | $600,000 | $900,000 |
| 55 (7x) | $350,000 | $525,000 | $700,000 | $1,050,000 |
| 60 (8x) | $400,000 | $600,000 | $800,000 | $1,200,000 |
| 67 (10x) | $500,000 | $750,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 |
Reality Check: What Americans Actually Have Saved
| Age Group | Median 401k/IRA Balance | Fidelity Target (avg salary) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | $37,000 | $58,000 (1x of $58K median) | $21,000 behind |
| 35-44 | $91,000 | $174,000 (3x) | $83,000 behind |
| 45-54 | $168,000 | $348,000 (6x) | $180,000 behind |
| 55-64 | $208,000 | $464,000 (8x) | $256,000 behind |
Most Americans are significantly behind these benchmarks. The good news: starting to catch up is more effective than you think, because compound growth accelerates dramatically in the final 10-15 years before retirement.
How Much to Contribute to Hit the Benchmarks
Assume 7% annual return, employer match of 3%:
| Starting Age | Monthly Needed (to retire with $1M at 67) |
|---|---|
| 25 | $376/month |
| 30 | $562/month |
| 35 | $844/month |
| 40 | $1,316/month |
| 45 | $2,179/month |
| 50 | $4,012/month |
Use our [Roth IRA Calculator](/calculators/finance/roth-ira-calculator) and [401k Calculator](/calculators/finance/401k-calculator) to model your specific scenario.
The 4% Rule: How Much is "Enough"?
The 4% rule (Trinity Study) says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually in retirement with high probability of it lasting 30+ years.
Your FIRE number = 25 x annual expenses:
- Annual retirement spending $40,000 -> Need $1,000,000
- Annual retirement spending $60,000 -> Need $1,500,000
- Annual retirement spending $80,000 -> Need $2,000,000
- Annual retirement spending $100,000 -> Need $2,500,000
Social Security average benefit (2026): $1,907/month = $22,884/year. This reduces your required portfolio by $22,884 / 4% = $572,100.
Use our [Savings Rate Calculator](/calculators/finance/savings-rate-calculator) to see exactly how your current savings rate maps to a retirement timeline.