Net worth at 38, from the bottom to the top 1%
Half of households headed by someone aged 36 to 40 hold less than $133,100. The middle half holds between $13,600 and $377,300; the top 10% starts at $1,071,000.
| Point in the line | Net worth |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | -$3,600 |
| 25th percentile | $13,600 |
| Median | $133,100 |
| 75th percentile | $377,300 |
| 90th percentile (top 10%) | $1,071,000 |
| 95th percentile (top 5%) | $1,784,200 |
| 99th percentile (top 1%) | $6,175,700 |
| Average | $584,800 |
Where common amounts rank at 38
| Net worth | Rank at 38 |
|---|---|
| $50,000 | 35th percentile |
| $100,000 | 45th percentile |
| $250,000 | 66th percentile |
| $500,000 | 78th percentile |
| $1,000,000 | 88th percentile |
| $2,000,000 | 95th percentile |
| $5,000,000 | 97th percentile |
Pages for amounts at 38: $1 million, $2 million.
For retirement accounts alone, see 401(k) balances at 38: $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, $300,000, $500,000, $750,000.
Net worth at nearby ages
| Age | Median | Average | Top 10% starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | $76,600 | $272,700 | $516,700 |
| 34 | $86,000 | $319,900 | $645,200 |
| 35 | $106,100 | $390,500 | $910,300 |
| 36 | $97,500 | $513,000 | $948,700 |
| 37 | $127,200 | $588,200 | $1,133,800 |
| 38 | $133,100 | $584,800 | $1,071,000 |
| 39 | $155,000 | $639,300 | $1,110,000 |
| 40 | $182,200 | $708,400 | $1,152,000 |
| 41 | $202,700 | $705,200 | $1,189,800 |
| 42 | $181,000 | $757,900 | $1,447,600 |
| 43 | $205,600 | $889,600 | $1,614,500 |
Why the average is so much higher than the median
The average at 38, $584,800, is 4.4 times the median. A small number of very wealthy households pull it up, so it sits around the 80th percentile: most households at 38 hold less than the average. The median is the better guide to a typical household.
Figures are from the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, released October 2026, in 2025 dollars. Each age uses households whose head is within about two years of it, so the line moves smoothly from one age to the next. Net worth is everything owned, including home equity and retirement accounts, minus everything owed. Future Social Security and pension payments are not counted.
See net worth by age for every age group, or work out your own net worth.
Figures checked on 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.