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. Savings by age 60: eight times your income.
Ages 25-34
By age 30, Fidelity recommends having the equivalent of one year's salary stashed in your workplace retirement plan. So, if you make $50,000, your 401(k) balance should be $50,000 by the time you hit 30.
By age 30, you should have one time your annual salary saved. For example, if you're earning $50,000, you should have $50,000 banked for retirement. By age 40, you should have three times your annual salary already saved. By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account.
Saving up $50,000 is a significant milestone — one that can provide a bit of financial security in life. But many people aren't quite sure what to do with such a substantial amount of money once they have it.
According to the Pew Research Center, people who have annual incomes between $39,693 and $119,080 in 2023 are considered middle-income or middle class.
You might come across various guidelines when researching how much you should have saved for your retirement in your 30s. Two popular ones are: About ½ to 1 ½ times your income by age 30. 1 to 2 times your income by age 35.
Investing $500 a month can lead to significant long-term growth, thanks to the power of compounding returns. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing portfolio, consistently investing $500 each month can help you build substantial savings for future goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house.
“Ideally, your savings should reach $20,000 by the time you turn 25,” says Bill Ryze, a certified Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and board advisor at Fiona. The national average for Americans between 25 and 30 years of age is $20,540.
Or you can save $300 every month for 10 years, make an average stock market return of 7 percent, and you'll have $50,000. That's an easier way, assuming the market returns those averages (which it has historically, adjusted for inflation).
It's never too early to start dreaming big for your retirement, and it's never too late to start saving to make your dreams a reality.
The table below shows the present value (PV) of $50,000 in 20 years for interest rates from 2% to 30%. As you will see, the future value of $50,000 over 20 years can range from $74,297.37 to $9,502,481.89.
The median weekly earnings for a full-time worker between the ages of 25 and 34, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $1,042 as of the fourth quarter of 2023. That amounts to an annual salary of $54,184. The good news is that, when you're only 30, you still have plenty of time on your side.
“By the time you're 40, you should have three times your annual salary saved. Based on the median income for Americans in this age bracket, $100K between 25-30 years old is pretty good; but you would need to increase your savings to reach your age 40 benchmark.”
While a $20,000 salary averages out to more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour for full-time work, it is likely not an adequate income for anyone living independently and especially those with a family. In this piece, we'll cover: The current American median income.
The $1,000 per month rule is a guideline to estimate retirement savings based on your desired monthly income. For every $240,000 you set aside, you can receive $1,000 a month if you withdraw 5% each year. This simple rule is a good starting point, but you should consider factors like inflation for long-term planning.
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.
“While there's no universal figure that fits every family, a practical guideline is to have an emergency fund covering three-to-six months of living expenses, plus an additional $20,000 to $30,000 specifically earmarked for child-related costs,” he said.
[See Diversify Your Portfolio, Not Each Investment Account.] Your retirement account is not a savings account. Despite the fact that retirement accounts are designed for long-term goals, it is relatively easy to access your money in the form of 401(k) loans and 401(k) hardship withdrawals.
Some experts suggest saving 10% of your income, while others swear by the 50/30/20 budget rule that socks away 20% of your earnings for savings. Ultimately, how much money you should save each month depends on your unique financial goals and situation.
If you have $40k in the bank, you might be better off investing some of that money in a retirement account. Not only does it give your money more time to grow for retirement, but you can save on taxes at the same time. Investing in your 401k account at work is a great place to start.
If you invest $50 per week, that's the equivalent of $200 per month, or approximately $2,400 per year. Over a 30-year period, that would result in more than $72,000 in savings. It's a good chunk of savings, but it isn't a life-changing amount.
It's never too late to start saving money for your retirement. 401(k)s and traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are among the most popular choices. Other good retirement investment options include Roth IRAs, tax-advantaged products, and real estate.
How much money you should have saved by 30, according to financial experts. Some firms like Fidelity Investments say having the equivalent of your annual salary saved for retirement is a good savings plan for your 30s.
The median amount they think they'll need saved up is about $875,000. And millennials are the most likely of each generational cohort to think they'll need to save up at least $1 million to retire comfortably. The numbers show it can be possible, even if you only start preparing at, or after, age 30.