This Was the Average 401(k) Balance Last Year, According to a Recent Vanguard Report. Do Your Savings Stack Up?
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Investing in a 401(k) is an incredibly powerful way to save for retirement.
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While everyone’s savings goals are different, it can be helpful to see how your account balance compares to the average.
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If you’re falling behind, there’s one simple way to potentially boost your savings by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›
If you have access to a 401(k) and are regularly contributing, you’re already ahead of the game when it comes to retirement planning. A 401(k) is one of the most powerful retirement tools out there, and it can help supercharge your savings.
When planning for retirement, everyone’s journey will be different. Your savings goals will depend on many factors, such as the cost of living in your area, the number of years you expect to spend in retirement, and the type of lifestyle you want to enjoy. Your savings might look wildly different from others your age, and that’s OK.
That said, it can sometimes be helpful to see what the average American has stashed in their retirement fund. Here’s what the most recent data from Vanguard shows, as well as one simple way to increase your savings.
Every year, Vanguard releases its “How America Saves” report detailing saving habits among Vanguard 401(k) participants. While these figures only account for Vanguard account holders — not the general population — they can be helpful to get an idea of where many Americans stand on savings.
The most recent report, released in 2025 and based on last year’s data, reveals that the average 401(k) balance among all Vanguard participants is $148,153. The median, though, is just $38,176. Because extremely high-earning outliers may skew the average, the median is often a more accurate representation of the typical person.
Broken down by age range, though, the average and median figures differ substantially from the overall average:
|
Age Range |
Average 401(k) Balance |
Median 401(k) Balance |
|---|---|---|
|
Under 25 |
$6,899 |
$1,948 |
|
25 to 34 |
$42,640 |
$16,255 |
|
35 to 44 |
$103,552 |
$39,958 |
|
45 to 54 |
$188,643 |
$67,796 |
|
55 to 64 |
$271,320 |
$95,642 |
|
65 and older |
$299,442 |
$95,425 |
Data source: Vanguard.
Again, your individual savings goals will depend on your situation. So if your 401(k) balance doesn’t match up with the average American’s, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re off track.
Rather than relying solely on comparing your balance to the average, it’s wise to talk to a retirement planning expert or run your information through a retirement calculator for a savings estimate. These tools can give you a rough idea of how much you should aim to save based on your unique situation.
