What the average middle-class retiree collects. U.S. Census Bureau data from 2022 shows the national middle-class income range is between $49,271 and $147,828 — a span heavily influenced by location and cost-of-living considerations.
“Think about this: the average retiree gets $1,800 monthly from Social Security. Without these benefits, you'd need an extra $400,000-$500,000 in personal savings to generate the same income.
Let's say you consider yourself the typical retiree. Between you and your spouse, you currently have an annual income of $120,000. Based on the 80% principle, you can expect to need about $96,000 in annual income after you retire, which is $8,000 per month.
According to Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors, your net worth should equal six times your annual salary by this age. So, if your annual salary is $100,000, a net worth of around $600,000 would be on track for a comfortable retirement.
Rich retirees: In the 90th percentile, with net worth starting at $1.9 million, this group has much more financial freedom and is able to afford luxuries and legacy planning.
The average household retirement income in the United States is $27,617, according to an analysis by Wisevoter of data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. However, depending on where you live, your local average may be much higher or lower.
According to data from the Social Security Administration, as of January 2024, the average monthly retirement benefit payment was $1,909.01, which comes to about $22,322 per year.
The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.
According to the Social Security Administration, or SSA, the monthly retirement benefit for Social Security recipients is currently $1,783.55 in 2024 on average. Several factors can drag that average up or down, but you have the most control over the biggest variable of all — the age that you decide to cash in.
Your maximum benefit if you file at age 62 – the youngest possible age – is $2,710 per month. Your maximum benefit if you file at full retirement age – between 66 and 67 – is $3,822 per month.
The typical American has an average retirement savings of $489,170. Americans in their 60s have the most saved for retirement with average balances close to $1.2 million. Average account balances more than double between those in their 20s vs their 30s.
The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $80,610 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 22 Using Pew's yardstick, middle income is made up of people who make between $43,350 and $130,000.
What the average American retiree makes. Americans 65 years and older reported a median annual income of $47,620 in 2021, according to the United States Census Bureau. However, the median for all households came in much higher, at $70,784. Furthermore, the 65-and-older figure was 2.6% lower than in 2020.
If your spouse dies, do you get both Social Security benefits? You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement. If you qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits, you will receive whichever amount is higher.
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
“You could call healthcare the biggest retirement expense people fail to plan for. Many folks just assume Medicare is going to pay for everything but, in reality, it only covers about two-thirds of your costs.”
Nearly half of Americans retiring at 65 risk running out of money, Morningstar finds.
The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.
If you have $400,000 in the bank you can retire early at age 62, but it will be tight. The good news is that if you can keep working for just five more years, you are on track for a potentially quite comfortable retirement by full retirement age.
Just 16% of retirees say they have more than $1 million saved, including all personal savings and assets, according to the recent CNBC Your Money retirement survey conducted with SurveyMonkey. In fact, among those currently saving for retirement, 57% say the amount they're hoping to save is less than $1 million.
Kevin O'Leary: By Age 33, You Should Have $100K in Savings — How To Get Started. If you're just starting out in your career, $100,000 might seem like a lot of money. After all, the median salary of a 20- to 24-year-old, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, is just $37,024.