Average Net Worth by Age
Median U.S. household net worth rises from about $39,000 for households under 35 to a peak of roughly $410,000 at ages 65–74, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances — the most authoritative U.S. wealth data, released every three years.
Net worth is simply what you own minus what you owe. It climbs with age as people pay down debt, build home equity, and let retirement accounts compound. The median (the typical household) is a far more useful benchmark than the average, which a small number of very wealthy households pull sharply upward.
Median net worth by age
Median net worth roughly doubles each decade through mid-career, then flattens and eases slightly after 75 as retirees spend down assets. The average (mean) is shown alongside the median to illustrate how skewed U.S. wealth is.
| Age group | Median net worth | Average net worth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,000 | $183,500 |
| 35–44 | $135,600 | $549,600 |
| 45–54 | $247,200 | $975,800 |
| 55–64 | $364,500 | $1,566,900 |
| 65–74 | $409,900 | $1,794,600 |
| 75+ | $335,600 | $1,624,100 |
| All households | $192,900 | $1,063,700 |
Why median beats average
Notice how far the average sits above the median in every age band — for 65–74-year-olds the average ($1.79M) is more than four times the median ($410K). That gap exists because a handful of very high-net-worth households drag the mean up, so most people never reach the “average.”
When you compare yourself to these numbers, use the median. If your net worth is near or above the median for your age, you are doing better than at least half of U.S. households in that group.
How to grow your net worth
The two levers are raising assets and cutting liabilities: contribute steadily to retirement accounts (especially up to any employer match), pay down high-interest debt, and let investments compound over decades. Because compounding accelerates late, the balances at 55–74 are built largely by contributions made in your 30s and 40s.
Use the calculators below to project how consistent investing and debt payoff move your net worth over time.
What is the average net worth by age?
By the Federal Reserve’s 2022 data, average net worth is about $183,500 under 35, $549,600 at 35–44, $975,800 at 45–54, $1.57M at 55–64, $1.79M at 65–74, and $1.62M at 75+. Averages are skewed high — the median is a better benchmark.
What is a good net worth for my age?
A useful target is to be at or above the median for your age group: about $39,000 under 35, $135,600 at 35–44, $247,200 at 45–54, and $364,500 at 55–64. Beating the median means you are ahead of at least half of U.S. households your age.
Why is average net worth so much higher than median?
A small number of extremely wealthy households pull the average up. The median — the exact middle household — is not distorted this way, so it reflects the typical American far better than the average does.
How is net worth calculated?
Net worth equals total assets (cash, home value, retirement and investment accounts, vehicles) minus total liabilities (mortgage, auto and student loans, credit-card and other debt). A positive figure means you own more than you owe.