Updated July 1, 2026 · Next scheduled review October 2026
A widely used set of benchmarks from Fidelity suggests having about 1 times your salary saved by age 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67. These are rules of thumb, not guarantees, but they are a useful gut check on whether you are roughly on track.
Savings benchmarks by age
| Age | Target saved (x salary) | On a $70k salary |
| 30 | 1x | $70,000 |
| 40 | 3x | $210,000 |
| 50 | 6x | $420,000 |
| 60 | 8x | $560,000 |
| 67 | 10x | $700,000 |
These assume you save around 15 percent of income consistently, retire around 67, and want to maintain your lifestyle. Retire earlier or spend more, and your targets rise.
Where this table comes from and how it was built
The multiples above are Fidelity's own published guidance, built from its retirement research on savings rates and asset allocation by age, expressed as a multiple of gross income rather than a dollar figure so any household can apply it regardless of salary. The dollar column here is one worked example on a $70,000 salary, added to make the multiple concrete; it is not part of Fidelity's original figures. We did not adjust, blend, or estimate the multiples themselves; the 1x/3x/6x/8x/10x checkpoints are quoted as published. If Fidelity revises the benchmark in a future update, we will update this table and note the change here rather than leaving the old multiples standing unlabeled.
Savings benchmark last checked against Fidelity's published guidance July 2026. Age-based checkpoints of this kind are typically revisited every few years as Fidelity's underlying research updates; we recheck this page each time a newer version is published.
Averages and medians are lower, and that is normal
Reported averages are skewed by a small number of very large balances, so the median is more honest. Median balances are well below these benchmarks at every age, especially before 50. Falling behind the benchmark is common and fixable; it is a reason to raise your savings rate, not to give up.
How to catch up
The two biggest levers are your savings rate and time. Capture your full employer 401k match first, since it is an immediate return. From 50 on, use catch-up contributions to put extra into your 401k and IRA. Increasing your savings rate by even a few percent of income, and keeping it invested for growth, closes gaps faster than chasing higher returns.
Aim for percentage of income, not a single number
Because your target scales with your salary and spending, the most durable habit is saving a fixed percentage of income (commonly 15 percent including any match) and increasing it with raises. Use the calculator to see what your current pace projects to at retirement.
Check your own multiple
Enter your balance and salary to see where you sit against these checkpoints today.