2 hours ago
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Katie Brockman, The Motley Fool
Sun, February 1, 2026 astatine 4:50 PM CST 3 min read
Investing successful a 401(k) is 1 of the simplest and astir effectual ways to prevention for retirement, but it tin beryllium pugnacious to cognize whether your savings are enough.
Everyone's status goals volition beryllium different, truthful how overmuch you should prevention whitethorn disagree from what others your property are stashing away. That said, it tin sometimes beryllium adjuvant to spot however overmuch the emblematic idiosyncratic has successful their 401(k), if for nary different crushed than to fulfill curiosity. Here's what the mean equilibrium looks similar crossed each property groups.
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Every year, Vanguard publishes a study detailing its participants' redeeming habits, including the mean and median 401(k) balances for those contributing to a Vanguard account.
The astir caller report, released successful 2025, shows immense differences betwixt the mean and median balances. Because the mean tin beryllium skewed by highly precocious earners, the median is often much typical of the emblematic person.
| Under 25 | $6,899 | $1,948 |
| 25 to 34 | $42,640 | $16,255 |
| 35 to 44 | $103,552 | $39,958 |
| 45 to 54 | $188,643 | $67,796 |
| 55 to 64 | $271,320 | $95,642 |
| 65 and older | $299,442 | $95,425 |
Source: Vanguard. Table by author.
If your relationship equilibrium falls down that of others your age, that's OK. Again, everyone's status needs volition differ, truthful these figures aren't needfully goals you should beryllium trying to achieve. Rather, the mean and median balances tin assistance supply a snapshot of wherever astir workers basal connected savings.
A wide regularisation of thumb suggested by fiscal planners is to prevention capable to screen astir 80% of your pre-retirement income. So, for example, if you walk $100,000 per twelvemonth now, you mightiness expect to walk $80,000 per twelvemonth successful retirement.
Of course, that fig tin alteration wide based connected factors similar the outgo of surviving successful your country and the manner you'd similar to enjoy, truthful you whitethorn request to set your estimation accordingly. If you person crushed to judge you mightiness unrecorded a overmuch longer-than-average lifespan, you whitethorn request further cushion successful your nest ovum to relationship for much years successful retirement.
You'll besides request to see different sources of income, similar Social Security benefits. You tin spot an estimation of your aboriginal payment magnitude by reviewing your statements successful your mySocialSecurity relationship online, but the mean retiree collects astir $2,071 per period successful benefits, according to December 2025 information from the Social Security Administration.
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