Where should I be financially at 25?
By age 25, you should ideally have enough money to cover three months of essential bills. You should also have between one-third and half of a year's salary in a retirement plan. If you're nowhere close, you may want to turn to the gig economy for an income boost.
By age 25, you should aim to have an emergency fund of 3-6 months of living expenses, and start regularly contributing to retirement savings to take advantage of compound interest over time, even if it's just small amounts.
By the time you're 25, you probably have accrued at least a few years in the workforce, so you may be starting to think seriously about saving money. But saving might still be a challenge if you're earning an entry-level salary or you have significant student loan debt. By age 25, you should have saved about $20,000.
According to CNN Money, the average net worth for the following ages in 2023 are: $9,000 for ages 25-34. $52,000 for ages 35-44, $100,000 for ages 45-54. $180,000 for ages 55-64.
| Age | Average Account Balance | Median Account Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | $5,236 | $1,948 |
| 25-34 | $30,017 | $11,357 |
| 35-44 | $76,354 | $28,318 |
| 45-54 | $142,069 | $48,301 |
Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35. That's a whopping 500% increase in the share of people making $100k or more. 21% of 66-year-olds make $100k per year or more.
| Age | Average Account Balance | Median Account Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $11,250 | $3,240 |
| 35 to 44 | $27,910 | $4,710 |
| 45 to 54 | $48,200 | $6,400 |
| 55 to 64 | $57,670 | $5,620 |
So, a 25-year-old who has $100,000 in retirement savings is probably doing very well, but someone who is 40 and only has $100,000 in retirement savings may want to consider saving more.”
Age 18-24: 2.1% Age 25-34: 4% Age 35-44: 11.5%
Peak earning years are generally thought to be late 40s to late 50s*. The latest figures show women's peak between ages 35 and 54, men between 45 and 64. After that, most people's incomes typically level off. Promotions favor younger people with longer futures*.
Is 100k in savings a lot?
When your savings reaches $100,000, that's a milestone worth marking. In a world where 57% of Americans can't cover an unexpected $1,000 expense, having a six-figure savings account is commendable.
A majority, 65%, say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to CNBC and SurveyMonkey's recent Your Money International Financial Security Survey, which polled 498 U.S. adults. That's a slight increase from last year's results, which found that 58% of Americans considered themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck.
While $40,000 is a good start on the road to building a nest egg, you probably want to retire with a lot more money than that. But it may be more than possible if you commit to saving and investing in a brokerage account consistently for the remainder of your career.
However, a popular approach is to invest in stocks and other growth assets while saving up, then convert your portfolio into an annuity upon retirement. With $400,000, if you buy an annuity at age 62 and then retire, you might expect monthly payments of around $2,400 for the rest of your life.
It is never too late to start saving money you will use in retirement. However, the older you get, the more constraints, like wanting to retire, or required minimum distributions (RMDs), will limit your options. The good news is, many people have much more time than they think.
Starting retirement savings when you are in your mid- to late 20s and early 30s will help you use the power of compounding. Retirement savings accounts like 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) provide tax benefits that can help you save more.
According to the U.S. Census, only 15.3% of American households make more than $100,000 annually. A $100,000 salary can yield a monthly income of $8,333.33, a biweekly paycheck of $3,846.15, a weekly income of $1,923.08, and a daily income of $384.62 based on 260 working days per year.
Some workers begin earning six figures in their twenties and thirties. Economists nickname them HENRYs, for “high earners, not rich yet.” But for most people, their “peak earning years” are from age 35 to 54. The majority of people who make six figures will do so in their 30s.
A minority of Americans make over $100,000 a year. According to Zippia, roughly 33.6% of Americans make six figures annually.
Alex Milligan, a marketing and growth specialist, believes that “to be on the right track, you should aim to have saved up at least $20,000 by your 25th birthday. This amount can be achieved through a combination of saving, putting money away in an investment account, starting a business or a mix of all three.”
How much money does the average 25 year old have in the bank?
The Federal Reserve doesn't provide a specific metric for savers in their 20s. Instead, it compiles data on savings and financial assets for Americans under 35. The Fed's most recent numbers show the average savings for the age group that includes 25-year-olds is $20,540.
For a 25-year retirement, you'd need just over $2 million in Hawaii — the most of all states by far. That's followed by Massachusetts, California and New York, along with 12 other states where you'd need at least $1 million saved up to retire.
By 30, it would be beneficial to have $50,000 saved. This comes from the goal of being able to replace about 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement.” While having the equivalent of your annual salary saved up by 30 may seem unattainable, Kovar believes it's achievable if you start saving in your 20s.
“By the time you hit 33 years old, you should have $100,000 saved somewhere,” he said, urging viewers that they can accomplish this goal. “Save 20 percent of your paycheck and let the market grow at 5% to 7% per year,” O'Leary said in the video.
Here's how much cash they say you should have stashed away at every age: Savings by age 30: the equivalent of your annual salary saved; if you earn $55,000 per year, by your 30th birthday you should have $55,000 saved. Savings by age 40: three times your income. Savings by age 50: six times your income.
