Retirement Savings by Age: Benchmarks for 30, 40, 50 and 60
How much should you have saved for retirement by age? Retirement savings by age benchmarks give you a quick check: a widely cited guideline from Fidelity suggests about 1x your salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60 and 10x by 67. Here is what that means in dollars, and what to do if you are behind.
Quick answer
Common retirement savings by age targets are 1x salary at 30, 3x at 40, 6x at 50, 8x at 60 and 10x at 67. On a $50,000 salary that is $50,000 by 30, $150,000 by 40 and $500,000 by 67.
Retirement savings by age table
| Age | Multiple of salary | $50,000 salary | $75,000 salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1x | $50,000 | $75,000 |
| 35 | 2x | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| 40 | 3x | $150,000 | $225,000 |
| 45 | 4x | $200,000 | $300,000 |
| 50 | 6x | $300,000 | $450,000 |
| 55 | 7x | $350,000 | $525,000 |
| 60 | 8x | $400,000 | $600,000 |
| 67 | 10x | $500,000 | $750,000 |
How the targets work
The multiples assume you save about 15% of your income each year (including any employer match), invest mostly in stocks while young, retire around 67 and want to keep a similar lifestyle. They count retirement accounts and investments, not your home. If you plan to retire earlier or spend more, you will need more.
If you are behind
- Raise your contribution by 1% to 2% of pay each year.
- Make sure you get the full employer match.
- Use catch-up contributions from age 50.
- Cut fees and high-interest debt.
- Consider working a few extra years or part-time in early retirement.
If you are ahead
Great. Keep contributing, check that your investments match your risk tolerance and consider whether Coast FIRE or an earlier retirement could be an option.
What retirement savings by age means for you
- Benchmarks are a guide, not a test you pass or fail.
- The most powerful step is usually increasing your savings rate a little every year.
- Compare against your own target using the calculator above.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I have for retirement at 30?
A common guideline is about 1x your yearly salary.
How much should I have for retirement at 40?
About 3x your salary under the same guideline: $150,000 on a $50,000 salary.
How much should I have at 50?
About 6x your salary, and you can start making catch-up contributions.
Do these numbers include my house?
No. They usually include retirement and investment accounts only.
What if I started saving late?
Focus on what you can control now: higher contributions, the employer match, low fees and possibly a later retirement date.
Related guides and calculators
- Savings by age (emergency and retirement)
- Retirement savings calculator
- Starting to save at 25 vs 35
- 401(k) employer match explained
Sources
This guide is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. The figures are estimates before taxes, fees and inflation, and real rates, returns and rules change over time.
