Net Worth by Age Comparison
Compare your net worth to average and median benchmarks by age using Federal Reserve data.
See whether you are ahead, on track, or behind for your age.
Net worth by age benchmarks help you gauge financial progress compared to peers and retirement readiness goals. While every situation is individual, widely-used rules of thumb provide useful milestones.
Net worth formula: Net Worth = Total Assets − Total Liabilities
Where:
- Assets: cash, savings, investments (401k, IRA, brokerage), real estate equity, vehicle value, other valuable property
- Liabilities: mortgage balance, car loans, student loans, credit card debt, personal loans, any other debts owed
Age-based benchmark rules:
Fidelity Rule (most cited):
- Age 30: 1× your annual salary
- Age 40: 3× your annual salary
- Age 50: 6× your annual salary
- Age 60: 8× your annual salary
- Age 67 (retirement): 10× your annual salary
T. Rowe Price Rule: Benchmark Net Worth = Annual Salary × (Age − 22) ÷ 10
Thomas Stanley’s Wealth Formula (The Millionaire Next Door): Expected Net Worth = Age × Gross Annual Income ÷ 10
Where gross annual income includes salary + business income + investment income.
What each variable means:
- Salary multiplier: assumes saving 15% of income throughout career with average market returns
- Home equity: Fidelity’s benchmarks exclude primary residence; Stanley’s formula includes it
- Defined benefit pension: if you have one, multiply the annual payout by 20–25 and add to net worth
Reference: median vs. average US net worth by age (Federal Reserve 2022):
- Under 35: Median $39K / Average $183K
- 35–44: Median $135K / Average $549K
- 45–54: Median $247K / Average $975K
- 55–64: Median $365K / Average $1.57M
- 65–74: Median $410K / Average $1.79M
Worked example: Age: 45. Annual salary: $85,000. Assets: $312,000 (401k: $200k, home equity: $80k, savings: $32k). Liabilities: $145,000 (mortgage remaining: $120k, car loan: $25k).
- Net Worth = $312,000 − $145,000 = $167,000
- Fidelity benchmark at 45 (between 40 and 50): 3–6× salary = $255,000–$510,000
- Stanley formula: 45 × $85,000 ÷ 10 = $382,500
At $167,000 this person is behind benchmark — but knowing the gap is the first step to closing it.