Is your 401(k) balance good for your age?

Where a retirement balance sits among households the same age, from the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, and what it grows to by 65. Each balance and age has its own page with Vanguard’s figures and Fidelity’s salary guideline.

Updated November 11, 2026 · By Berkay Kolay

Balances by age

At 25 (median $21,000 for ages 25 to 29): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000

At 26 (median $21,000 for ages 25 to 29): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000

At 27 (median $21,000 for ages 25 to 29): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000

At 28 (median $21,000 for ages 25 to 29): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000

At 29 (median $21,000 for ages 25 to 29): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000

At 30 (median $31,500 for ages 30 to 34): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000

At 31 (median $31,500 for ages 30 to 34): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000

At 32 (median $31,500 for ages 30 to 34): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000

At 33 (median $31,500 for ages 30 to 34): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000

At 34 (median $31,500 for ages 30 to 34): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000

At 35 (median $73,000 for ages 35 to 39): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000

At 36 (median $73,000 for ages 35 to 39): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000

At 37 (median $73,000 for ages 35 to 39): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000

At 38 (median $73,000 for ages 35 to 39): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000

At 39 (median $73,000 for ages 35 to 39): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000

At 40 (median $55,700 for ages 40 to 44): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1 million

At 45 (median $145,000 for ages 45 to 49): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1 million

At 50 (median $119,200 for ages 50 to 54): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1 million

At 55 (median $200,000 for ages 55 to 59): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1 million

At 60 (median $252,000 for ages 60 to 64): $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000, $1 million

Figures checked on October 9, 2026 against Federal Reserve, Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2022 to 2025 (October 2026) (PDF) and Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, public data.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good 401(k) balance at 30?

Among households aged 30 to 34 with a retirement account, the median is $31,500 and the top quarter starts at $78,000 (Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025). Fidelity's guideline is one year of salary by 30.

What is a good 401(k) balance at 40?

Among households aged 40 to 44 with a retirement account, the median is $55,700 and the top quarter starts at $200,000. Fidelity's guideline is three times salary by 40.

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