What Is a Good Net Worth by Age? (25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60)

A good net worth depends heavily on your age. At 25, anything above $10,000 puts you ahead of the median. At 30, target 1x your annual salary. At 40, 3x. At 50, 6x. At 60, 8x. These benchmarks come from Fidelity Investments and are the most widely cited targets in retirement planning. But the median American falls short at nearly every age, so being behind does not make you unusual — it makes you average, and average is fixable.

Here are the 2026 benchmarks with both median (typical) and average (skewed by wealthy outliers) data. Age 25: median net worth $10,800, average $49,000, target 0.25x salary. Age 30: median $39,000, average $120,000, target 1x salary. Age 35: median $85,000, average $230,000, target 2x salary. Age 40: median $135,000, average $340,000, target 3x salary. Age 45: median $195,000, average $500,000, target 4.5x salary. Age 50: median $247,000, average $680,000, target 6x salary. Age 55: median $310,000, average $900,000, target 7x salary. Age 60: median $364,000, average $1,200,000, target 8x salary. Age 65: median $410,000, average $1,500,000, target 10x salary.

Always compare yourself to the median, not the average. Averages are inflated by millionaires and billionaires who skew the number dramatically. If Bill Gates walks into a room of 50 people, the average net worth in the room exceeds a billion dollars — but nobody actually got richer. The median tells you what the typical person at your age has accumulated.

Net worth equals everything you own minus everything you owe. Assets include: home equity (market value minus mortgage balance), retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA), investment and brokerage accounts, savings and checking account balances, vehicle market value (check KBB.com), and other property. Liabilities include: mortgage balance, student loans, car loans, credit card balances, personal loans, and any other debts. A $400,000 home with a $300,000 mortgage contributes only $100,000 to your net worth. Use the [net worth calculator](/calculators/net-worth) to add up your full picture.

Why trajectory matters more than the number. A 35-year-old with $40,000 in net worth who is saving $1,500 per month is in a far better position than a 35-year-old with $100,000 who is saving nothing. At $1,500 per month invested at 7%, that person will have $1,100,000 by age 60. The $100,000 saver who stops contributing will have only $387,000. The rate of change matters more than the snapshot. If your net worth is increasing by $15,000 to $30,000 per year in your 30s, you are on a trajectory that leads to $1M or more by retirement regardless of where you started.

The three biggest drivers of net worth growth are consistent investing (even small amounts compound over decades), homeownership (building equity instead of paying rent), and career income growth (the more you earn, the more you can save). The three biggest destroyers are high-interest consumer debt (credit cards at 22% eat your wealth), lifestyle inflation (upgrading spending every time you get a raise), and not investing (keeping cash in a 0.01% checking account while inflation erodes 3% per year). For a more detailed look at the age-30 benchmark specifically, read our guide on [net worth at 30](/blog/net-worth-at-30).

How to catch up if you are behind: start tracking your net worth monthly. Automate savings of at least 15% of income. Max out your employer 401k match. Pay off high-interest debt using the avalanche method. Avoid car loans over 4 years. Build an emergency fund so you never go back into debt. Invest consistently in low-cost index funds. These six steps cover 90% of what determines net worth over a lifetime. Use the [retirement gap calculator](/calculators/retirement-gap) to see if your current savings rate reaches your target, and the [compound interest calculator](/calculators/compound-interest) to model different scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is negative net worth bad at 25 or 30? Not necessarily if it is from student loans that are being actively repaid. A 28-year-old with $20K saved and $50K in student debt has a negative $30K net worth but is on a healthy trajectory if saving consistently.

Should I include my home in net worth? Yes, but only the equity. A $400K home with a $350K mortgage adds $50K to your net worth, not $400K. And since you need somewhere to live, this equity is not easily accessible.

How do I grow net worth by $50K per year? On a $100K salary: save 20% ($20K) plus employer match ($3K to $5K) plus investment growth on existing savings. With $200K already invested growing at 7%, that is $14K in returns. Total: $37K to $39K per year, growing as portfolio size increases.

What is the fastest way to increase net worth? Highest impact actions: eliminate credit card debt (reduces liabilities), maximize 401k match (free money), increase income (career growth, side income), and reduce your largest expense (usually housing).

At what net worth are you considered wealthy? Common thresholds: $1M is the traditional "millionaire" benchmark. $2.2M is the top 10% threshold. $11M+ is the top 1%. But "wealthy" is relative — $1M provides $40K per year in retirement income, which is modest.