How Much Should You Have Saved for Retirement by Age?
1x your salary by 30. 3x by 40. 6x by 50. 10x by 67. Here's the full benchmark chart, and where the average American actually stands.
The most widely cited benchmark, from Fidelity, suggests having roughly 1x your annual salary saved by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67. These figures assume you save about 15% of income yearly (including any employer match) and retire at 67.
These are goalposts, not pass/fail tests — plenty of people are behind them, and there are concrete ways to catch up.
"Am I actually on track, or am I behind?" is one of the most common financial anxieties out there, and most people asking it have no benchmark to measure themselves against. So here's the actual chart, the assumptions behind it, and what to do if the number staring back at you is discouraging.
01The Full Benchmark Chart
| Age | Target (× Annual Salary) |
|---|---|
| 25 | 0.5x |
| 30 | 1x |
| 35 | 2x |
| 40 | 3x |
| 45 | 4x |
| 50 | 6x |
| 55 | 7x |
| 60 | 8x |
| 67 | 10x |
These multipliers assume you save around 15% of income each year (employer match included), retire at 67, and aim to replace roughly 80% of your pre-retirement income between savings and Social Security. If your numbers differ — earlier retirement, no employer match, a pension — your personal target shifts accordingly.
02An Example, In Real Dollars
Someone earning $80,000 a year would be targeting roughly:
- $80,000 saved by 30
- $240,000 saved by 40
- $480,000 saved by 50
- $800,000 saved by 67
The jump between 45 (4x) and 50 (6x) is intentionally the steepest — it lines up with peak earning years and the point where catch-up contributions become available.
If those numbers feel discouraging, you're far from alone. Federal Reserve survey data shows the median saver under 35 sits roughly 67% below the age-30 benchmark. The chart is a goalpost to aim at, not a verdict on where you already stand.
032026 Contribution Limits (Including Catch-Up)
| Account | Standard Limit | Catch-Up (Age 50+) |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) | $24,500 | +$8,000 (age 50–59, 64+) |
| 401(k), "super catch-up" | — | +$11,250 (age 60–63) |
| IRA | $7,500 | +$1,100 (age 50+) |
If you're behind, this is the single fastest lever available: consistently maxing out catch-up contributions from age 50 to 65 can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to a balance by retirement, purely from the extra contribution room and years of compounding.
04Three Moves If You're Behind
- Capture the full employer match first. It's an immediate 50–100% return on that portion of your contribution — nothing else comes close.
- Increase your contribution rate gradually. Bumping your rate by 1% a year is far easier to sustain than jumping straight to 15%.
- Use catch-up contributions aggressively from 50 onward. This is the window the benchmark chart assumes you'll lean on hardest.
05Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I have saved for retirement by age 30?
A commonly cited benchmark is about 1 times your annual salary. Someone earning $60,000 would target roughly $60,000 saved.
How much should I have saved for retirement by age 40?
The commonly cited benchmark is about 3 times your annual salary by 40.
How much should I have saved for retirement by age 50?
About 6 times your annual salary — this is also when catch-up contributions become available.
What is the 401(k) catch-up contribution limit in 2026?
Workers age 50–59 or 64+ can contribute an extra $8,000 above the standard limit. Those aged 60–63 have an even higher "super catch-up" limit under SECURE 2.0.
Is the average American on track for retirement?
No — Federal Reserve survey data shows the median American falls well short of these benchmarks at nearly every age, particularly younger savers.
The One-Line Takeaway
The benchmark chart isn't a pass/fail test — it's a mile marker. Capture your full employer match, nudge your contribution rate up a little each year, and lean hard on catch-up contributions once you're eligible.
- Fidelity Investments, Retirement Savings Guidelines (2026)
- Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances
- IRS 2026 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits; SECURE 2.0 Act