How much money should a 23 year old have?
One overarching rule of thumb is that you should — even in times of high inflation — have somewhere between 3-12 months of essential expenses somewhere safe like a high-yield savings account, which are luckily now paying more than they have in a decade (see the best savings rates you can get now here).
In addition to saving for retirement, consider building an emergency fund, where experts recommend holding three to six months' worth of living expenses. Here are three ways to put away more cash this year, whether it's for retirement or emergencies.
The median salary of 20- to 24-year-olds is $706 per week, which translates to $36,712 per year. Many Americans start out their careers in their 20s and don't earn as much as they will once they reach their 30s. For Americans ages 25 to 34, the median salary is $1,003 per week or $52,156 per year.
Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.
Financial experts typically recommend saving up three to six months' worth of necessary expenses in order to have a healthy, fully-funded emergency account. So, there's no specific number that a person in their twenties needs to have in their emergency fund — it should be based on their necessary monthly expenses.
The recommended amount to save varies from person to person, as everyone's financial situation differs. But for many people, $20,000 is a sizable emergency fund goal that will go far. If you have a large chunk of savings set aside, make sure you keep it in a bank account that earns interest.
By age 25, you should aim to have an emergency fund of 3-6 months of living expenses, and start regularly contributing to retirement savings to take advantage of compound interest over time, even if it's just small amounts.
The median salary of 20- to 24-year-olds is $720 per week, which translates to $38,012 per year. Many Americans start out their careers in their 20s and don't earn as much as they will once they reach their 30s.
From age 18-24, only 1% of earners (7% altogether) earn $100k per year or more. This makes these age groups by far the lowest earners in the US. Americans make the most income gains between 25 and 35. Only 2% of 25-year-olds make over $100k per year, but this jumps to a considerable 12% by 35.
| Age | Average Account Balance | Median Account Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $11,250 | $3,240 |
| 35 to 44 | $27,910 | $4,710 |
| 45 to 54 | $48,200 | $6,400 |
| 55 to 64 | $57,670 | $5,620 |
Is saving $500 a month a lot?
Saving $500 a month is an excellent starting point. Yes, it's ambitious, but it's achievable and will set you up financially over time.
But when it comes to what they need to be saving, it depends. So, if we're starting with a 30-year-old, they should be probably saving close to $580, $600, at least, a month. And that's if they're going to earn a high rate of return. So it depends on how aggressive and risky that they're looking to be.
A majority, 65%, say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to CNBC and SurveyMonkey's recent Your Money International Financial Security Survey, which polled 498 U.S. adults. That's a slight increase from last year's results, which found that 58% of Americans considered themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck.
The general rule of thumb is that you should save 20% of your salary for retirement, emergencies, and long-term goals.
However, a good rule of thumb for a 21-year-old is to have $6,000 in a savings account for emergencies and long-term financial goals. And that requires you to learn how to start budgeting and saving money. If you're nowhere near that amount, don't panic.
| Average | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $11,200 | $3,240 |
| 35-44 | $27,900 | $4,710 |
| 45-54 | $48,200 | $5,620 |
| 55-64 | $57,800 | $6,400 |
By age 25, you should have saved about $20,000. Looking at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the fourth quarter of 2023, the median salaries for full-time workers were as follows: $712 per week, or $37,024 each year for workers ages 20 to 24.
If you're nearing retirement with just $50,000 in savings, the reality is that you're frankly not in the best shape. The average 60-something has a retirement savings balance of $112,500, according to Northwestern Mutual. Even that, frankly, isn't a ton of money.
When your savings reaches $100,000, that's a milestone worth marking. In a world where 57% of Americans can't cover an unexpected $1,000 expense, having a six-figure savings account is commendable.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of American workers is highest between the ages of 45 and 54. These peak earning years are a critical time to take control of your finances and hone your money management strategies.
What age are you financially stable?
If you start early enough—say, in your 20s—and follow the steps listed above, you may become financially secure by the time you reach your 30s. If you're older, all isn't lost. You can still reach your financial goals as long as you have a plan and adhere to it.
The answer is no. It is of course best to start saving into a pension as early as you can, to maximise your retirement fund. But it's never too late to start planning your retirement, whatever age you are.
- The age group with the lowest average earnings is 16- to 24-year-olds. ...
- The highest average earners are aged between 35 and 44, earning 13.8% more than the national average. ...
- Average earnings start to fall at age 45, and those aged 65 and over earn almost 8% less than the national average.
How much do you need to earn to be in the top 1% income bracket? To be in the top 1% of earners, you're looking at an average annual income of $819,324. The top 0.1% of Americans earn an average of $3,312,693.
| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|
| Top Earners | $86,000 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,500 | $33 |
| Average | $44,910 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $24,500 | $12 |
