Average Net Worth by Age in 2025 (And How to Build Yours)

Net worth is the single best measure of your financial health. It is simple math: everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). A positive net worth means you own more than you owe. A negative net worth means you owe more than you own — common for young people with student loans, but something to work on actively.

When comparing yourself to others, look at the median — not the average. Averages are skewed by billionaires. Here are the 2025 median net worth benchmarks by age: Under 25, the target is around $10,000 to $20,000. At 30, aim for 1x your annual salary. At 35, target 2x your salary. At 40, 3x. At 45, 4x. At 50, 5x. At 55, 7x. At 60, 8 to 10x your salary.

If those numbers seem high, remember that net worth includes your home equity. If you own a $400,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage, that $100,000 in equity counts toward your net worth. It also includes your 401k, IRA, investments, savings, vehicle value, and any other assets.

The three biggest drivers of net worth growth are consistent investing (even small amounts compound dramatically over decades), homeownership (building equity instead of paying rent), and career income growth (the more you earn, the more you can save and invest). Most millionaires did not get rich from a single windfall — they got rich by saving 15 to 20% of their income for 25+ years.

The biggest net worth killers are high-interest consumer debt (credit cards at 20%+ eat your wealth), lifestyle inflation (upgrading your spending every time you get a raise instead of saving the difference), and not investing (keeping all your money in a checking account earning 0% while inflation erodes its value at 3 to 4% per year).

Here is a practical net worth building plan: track your net worth monthly so you can see progress. Automate savings of at least 15% of income. Max out any employer 401k match. Pay off high-interest debt aggressively. Avoid car loans over 4 years. Build an emergency fund. Then invest everything extra in low-cost index funds and let compound interest work for decades.

Use our free net worth calculator to see where you stand and track your progress over time.