Separate Vanguard data on 401(k) plans for workers aged 45 to 54 shows an average balance of $188,643 and a median of $67,796.
Broader data from the first quarter of 2026 indicates the overall U. S.
average 401(k) savings rate reached a new high of 14.4%. Baby Boomers average $260,300, while Gen Z averages $18,000.
Financial planners from Fidelity suggest individuals aim to save six times their annual salary by age 50. T.
Rowe Price recommends accumulating seven to eight times one's income by age 60.
These high targets are driven by spending realities.
>>> Colorado Wildfire Grows to 115 Square Miles, Threatens Bishop Castle
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows the average retiree spends over $60,000 annually, while the average monthly Social Security benefit provides only $2,082.
