# Average 401(k) Balance by Age

> The average 401(k) balance is $167,970 and the median is $44,115, per Vanguard's 2026 report. Compare your balance by age and see why the median matters more.

Canonical: https://christianbrinkleync.com/guides/average-401k-balance-by-age

## Quick answer

Vanguard's How America Saves 2026 report, with balances as of December 31, 2025, puts the average 401(k) balance at $167,970 and the median at $44,115. For ages 55 to 64 the average is $305,006 and the median is $107,269. The median is the better benchmark, because a few very large accounts pull the average up.

## Average or median, which one matters

The average is pulled up by a small number of very large accounts. The median is the balance held by the participant right in the middle, half above and half below, so it describes a typical saver far better. Across all Vanguard participants the average is $167,970 and the median is $44,115, which means the typical balance is about a quarter of the average. Compare yourself with the median for your age, not the average.

## The balances by age

Balances rise with age, because older workers have had more years to contribute and more years of growth. Workers under 25 average $7,259 with a median of $2,234. Ages 25 to 34 average $50,261 with a median of $18,732. Ages 35 to 44 average $120,742 with a median of $46,919. Ages 45 to 54 average $214,991 with a median of $78,730. Ages 55 to 64 average $305,006 with a median of $107,269. At 65 and older the average is $330,186 with a median of $103,202. These figures cover about 4.6 million participants in the plans Vanguard administers.

## Why your balance may look different

Vanguard's figures count only the money in one employer's plan. They leave out IRAs, former employers' plans, pensions, and home equity, so they understate many people's total retirement savings. They also reflect one provider's participants, not the whole country. Tenure matters too: a worker who changed jobs often may hold several smaller balances instead of one large one. The numbers are a yardstick, not a verdict.

## What to do with the comparison

If your balance is below the median for your age, the useful question is what you can change: your contribution rate, whether you capture the full employer match, and whether old accounts are tracked in one place. If you are above the median, the same questions still apply, because the balance has to last through retirement. This guide is educational only. It does not recommend a savings target for your situation.

## Average and median 401(k) balances by age

| Age group | Average and median |
| --- | --- |
| Under 25 | $7,259 average, $2,234 median |
| 25 to 34 | $50,261 average, $18,732 median |
| 35 to 44 | $120,742 average, $46,919 median |
| 45 to 54 | $214,991 average, $78,730 median |
| 55 to 64 | $305,006 average, $107,269 median |
| 65 and older | $330,186 average, $103,202 median |

## Checklist

- [ ] Compare your balance with the median for your age, not the average.
- [ ] Add up every 401(k) from former employers, not just the current one.
- [ ] Check whether you are capturing the full employer match.
- [ ] Remember IRAs and pensions sit outside these figures.
- [ ] Recheck each year, since Vanguard publishes the report annually.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the average 401(k) balance overall?

Vanguard's How America Saves 2026 report puts the average at $167,970 and the median at $44,115, with balances as of December 31, 2025.

### Why is the median so much lower than the average?

A small number of very large accounts pulls the average up. The median describes the middle participant, which is the better yardstick for most people.

### Do these figures include my IRA?

No. They count only money inside the 401(k) or defined contribution plan Vanguard administers. IRAs, pensions, and other savings sit outside them.

## Sources

- [IRS: 401(k) plans](https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/401k-plans)
- [IRS: 401(k) contribution limits](https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-401k-and-profit-sharing-plan-contribution-limits)

## Related

- [401(k) contribution limits for 2026](https://christianbrinkleync.com/guides/401k-contribution-limits-2026)
- [401(k) early withdrawal exceptions](https://christianbrinkleync.com/guides/401k-early-withdrawal-exceptions)
- [How a 401(k) works](https://christianbrinkleync.com/wealth/401k-explained)

---

Educational content only, not financial or tax advice. Published by Christian Brinkley, christianbrinkleync.com.