On average, Americans carry $6,194 in credit card debt, according to the 2019 Experian Consumer Credit Review. And Alaskans have the highest credit card balance, on average $8,026.
Credit Card Debt Trends
In Q4 2021, the average credit cardholder in the U.S. had $5,934 in credit card debt in Q4 2021 — about 0.6% less than Q4 2020's $5,968 average. During this same period, Americans opened 26 million more credit card accounts.
In general, you never want your minimum credit card payments to exceed 10 percent of your net income. Net income is the amount of income you take home after taxes and other deductions. You use the net income for this ratio because that's the amount of income you have available to spend on bills and other expenses.
According to a 2020 Experian study, the average American carries $92,727 in consumer debt. Consumer debt includes a variety of personal credit accounts, such as credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, and student loans.
And yet, over half of Americans surveyed (53%) say that debt reduction is a top priority—while nearly a quarter (23%) say they have no debt. And that percentage may rise.
Average credit card balance: $5,221. Average revolving utilization rate: 25 percent. Average number of credit cards: 3.
According to the Federal Reserve, only 45% of U.S. cardholders pay their card balance every month. Here's a closer look at the card payment numbers from the Fed: 45% always pay their card balance in full each month.
So how much non-mortgage debt do Americans have? According to Northwestern Mutual's 2021 Planning & Progress Study, U.S. adults aged 18 and over who carry debt hold an average of $23,325 outside of their mortgages.
A Credit Karma Study
According to our May 25, 2022, report of 73 million Credit Karma members with credit cards, Credit Karma members held more than $374 billion in credit card debt across more than 311 million open accounts. Average credit card debt by member was $6,198.
Among today's college students, 65% graduate with student debt. Between 39% and 50% of indebted student borrowers have loans from both undergraduate and postgraduate education.
The average credit card debt of U.S. families is $6,270, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances.
50 years or older = $96,984
Baby boomers have an average debt of $96,984, according to Experian. Mortgages, credit card bills, and auto loans are the three main debt sources for those in this age group. Although this is less than the average debt of those 35—49, it could still spell trouble for two primary reasons.
Here's the average debt balances by age group: Gen Z (ages 18 to 23): $9,593. Millennials (ages 24 to 39): $78,396. Gen X (ages 40 to 55): $135,841.
The median household income hit $79,900 in the first quarter of 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That's almost $35,000 more than it was in 2000. But the typical American household now carries an average debt of $145,000.
About 21.8% of America has a credit score higher than 800 points. If you have a credit score of 800, it likely means that you manage debt well and never miss a loan payment. This makes you an ideal borrower and gives you access to more offers and lower interest rates.
Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
Credit bureaus suggest that five or more accounts — which can be a mix of cards and loans — is a reasonable number to build toward over time. Having very few accounts can make it hard for scoring models to render a score for you.
A good annual income for a credit card is more than $39,000 per annum for a single individual or $63,000 per year for a household. Anything lower than that is below the median yearly earnings for Americans.
Depending on where you're starting from, It can take several years or more to build an 800 credit score. You need to have a few years of only positive payment history and a good mix of credit accounts showing you have experience managing different types of credit cards and loans.
What's A Good Credit Score To Buy A House? Generally speaking, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to secure a loan to buy a house. That's the minimum credit score requirement most lenders have for a conventional loan.
The Average Student Loan Monthly Payment In The US
According to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average student loan monthly payment is $393. They also found that 50% of student loan borrowers owe more than $19,281 on their student loans.
The average student loan debt for doctors and other medical school graduates sits at $203,062. Here are some more details about the average debt after medical school: Seventy-three percent of graduates have med school debt. Nearly 1 in 5 medical school graduates have more than $300,000 in student loan debt.