How Much Should You Have Saved by 30, 40, and 50?
Clear benchmarks for every decade of your financial life, plus how to catch up if you are behind.
By 30: 1× your annual salary saved for retirement ($50,000-75,000 for most). By 40: 3× salary ($150,000-225,000). By 50: 6× salary ($300,000-450,000). By 60: 8× salary ($400,000-600,000). By 67: 10× salary. These benchmarks come from Fidelity research and assume you want to maintain your lifestyle in retirement.
If You Are Behind
Behind at 30? You have 35 years of compound growth ahead — start now and you will catch up. $500/month at 10% return from age 30 grows to $1,300,000 by 65. Behind at 40? You need to save more aggressively — $1,000/month at 10% from age 40 grows to $760,000 by 65. Behind at 50? Maximize catch-up contributions ($30,500 in 401k for those 50+ in 2026) and delay Social Security to 70 for the maximum benefit.
The Most Important Number
Your savings rate matters more than your income. Someone earning $60,000 saving 30% ($18,000/year) builds wealth faster than someone earning $150,000 saving 5% ($7,500/year). The first person reaches financial independence in roughly 20 years. The second never does.