How much money Americans in their 30s and 40s have in their 401(k)s—see how you stack up

Financial advisors use 401(k) balance benchmarks tied to age and salary to assess retirement preparedness. A common rule of thumb suggests workers should have saved one times their annual salary by age 30, three times by age 40, and six times by age 50. Actual balances vary significantly based on employer matching contributions, investment returns, and years of employment. The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances and Vanguard's annual 401(k) report provide median savings data by age group, though these figures represent aggregated accounts and do not account for individual circumstances including pension eligibility, Social Security expectations, or non-retirement savings.

Next story