Average Net Worth by Age in the U.S.

Understanding how your finances compare to others in your age group can be a powerful motivator. While income matters, net worth data offers a far clearer picture of the individual’s financial health. 

It reflects how effectively you’re saving, investing, and managing debt across your lifetime. If you’re looking to see how you measure compared to other Americans in your age bracket, and how you can better manage your savings and increase your net worth over time, we’ll cover these topics below.

Average and Median Net Worth for 2026

Here, you can see the newest available data that shows both the median and the average net worth of Americans of all ages.

As you can see from these numbers, there are a few notable things that stand out. For starters, it is evident that the average and median net worth steadily rises, from early to late adulthood, and that in general it peaks before retirement.

It is also evident from the numbers that the median figures tell a more realistic story of typical American households, due to the fact that the average net worth numbers are highly inflated by the top 10% of earners, which is especially jarring when you look at the 20s bracket, where a small share of high–net-worth individuals hugely increases the mean.

Understanding What Net Worth Really Measures

Net worth represents your total financial position, meaning everything you own minus everything you owe.

It’s the best single indicator of financial health because it accounts for both income growth and debt management. 

A positive, growing net worth shows that your savings, investments, and assets are compounding faster than your obligations.

How Net Worth Changes With Age

Here, we’ll outline how to develop and maintain a healthy saving and net-worth building habit for adults in all the age brackets.

In Your 20s: Laying the Foundation

Most people start with limited assets and high student or consumer debt. The most important thing when you’re young is forming positive habits, meaning saving regularly, budgeting, and contributing to a retirement account early. 

Even $100 a month invested in your 20s can grow into six figures by retirement due to compound growth.

In Your 30s: Building Momentum

As income rises, so do expenses, especially in this age when the majority of Americans are financially stressed with mortgages and childcare.

This is a crucial age to keep saving as much as you can, ideally setting a percentage of your income and investing more aggressively in diversified and low-cost funds. You should also start building home equity, while paying off any high-interest debt you might have.

In Your 40s: Peak Earning, Higher Demands

By this age, you are usually the most burdened by large financial responsibilities like college savings for your kids, and the care for aging parents, while still having to pay off your mortgage.

It is also the age by which the average net worth typically multiplies several times over, due to the maturement of retirement accounts and the value of your property appreciating.

Your investment portfolio should ideally be reassessed during this time, mixing your investments with a balanced portfolio targeting both growth and stability.

In Your 50s: Acceleration and Optimization

With retirement approaching, the focus shifts to maximizing contributions and cutting liabilities. 

Aim to be mortgage-free or close to it. Catch-up contributions in 401(k)s and IRAs can make a significant difference. Review your estate plan and ensure proper insurance coverage.

In Your 60s: Preservation and Planning

This is when most Americans reach their peak net worth. By this age, you should make sure to protect your assets by diversifying income sources (Social Security, pensions, investment withdrawals). 

Run projections for healthcare costs and long-term care insurance to safeguard savings.

If you’re interested in what the data shows, you can always consult our page on the average retirement savings numbers in the U.S.

In Your 70s and Beyond: Sustainable Drawdown

After retirement, many households begin spending down assets. The average remains high, but median net worth dips slightly. 

Manage withdrawals carefully to avoid depleting savings too quickly, and prioritize tax-efficient income planning.

What Drives Long-Term Wealth Growth

Across all sources, five key habits consistently separate high-net-worth households from the rest:

1. Consistent Saving – Automate deposits into savings and retirement accounts. Small, steady contributions compound over decades.
2. Strategic Investing – Diversify through broad-market funds, minimize fees, and stay invested during volatility.
3. Responsible Debt Management – Prioritize paying off high-interest loans while using low-cost debt (like mortgages) strategically.
4. Homeownership and Asset Building – Real estate remains the largest wealth driver for the middle class.
5. Protection and Planning – Insurance, wills, and emergency funds protect progress from unexpected setbacks.

In Conclusion

The latest data confirms what decades of research show: wealth builds gradually, peaks around retirement, and declines only modestly as assets are used for income. 

The vast difference between median and average net worth highlights inequality, but it also proves that steady, disciplined habits can close the gap.

You don’t need to match million-dollar averages to be financially healthy. What matters most is that each year your debts shrink, your assets grow, and your financial resilience strengthens.