How much should you have saved by now?
A quick gut-check for your retirement savings: financial firms suggest holding a growing multiple of your salary as you age — roughly 1× by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, and 10× by 67. Enter your age, income, and current savings to see the benchmark for exactly where you are, whether you're on track, and what your balance could grow to by 67. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
How the benchmark works
- Targets follow widely cited salary-multiple guidelines: 1× your salary saved by age 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, and 10× by 67. Between those ages the target is interpolated smoothly.
- Your target is that multiple × your current income. "On track" means your savings meet or beat the benchmark for your age.
- The projection to 67 grows your current balance at your expected return and adds your annual contributions at year-end: future value = savings × (1 + r)years + contribution × [((1 + r)years − 1) ÷ r].
- These are rules of thumb, not a personalized plan. Your real number depends on your spending, other income like Social Security and pensions, and when you retire.
An estimate for planning, not financial advice. Salary-multiple benchmarks are general guidelines popularized by firms such as Fidelity and T. Rowe Price; they assume you'll also collect Social Security and retire around 67. For a full projection built on your own spending, use the planner or our FIRE number calculator.
How much should I have saved for retirement by age?
There's no single right number, but a popular shortcut expresses retirement savings as a multiple of your salary that grows as you age. The idea, popularized by Fidelity and echoed by other firms, is to have roughly one year's salary saved by 30, three times by 40, six times by 50, eight times by 60, and ten times by your full retirement age of 67. Because the target is tied to your income, it scales automatically whether you earn $50,000 or $250,000.
The salary-multiple benchmarks
- By age 30 — 1× salary. One year of pay banked as you finish your early-career growth.
- By age 40 — 3× salary. Contributions plus a decade of compounding should roughly triple your stash.
- By age 50 — 6× salary. Catch-up contributions kick in at 50 to help you get here.
- By age 60 — 8× salary. The home stretch, when your balance does most of the heavy lifting.
- By age 67 — 10× salary. Enough, combined with Social Security, to replace most of your income in retirement.
What to do if you're behind
Falling short of the benchmark is common and fixable — the earlier you act, the more compounding does for you. Raise your savings rate a percentage point or two a year until it stings a little, capture every dollar of employer match, and use catch-up contributions once you turn 50. Even a few extra years of work before claiming can close a large gap, because you save longer, spend down for fewer years, and can delay Social Security for a bigger check.
Why these are only a starting point
Salary multiples are a fast sanity check, not a plan. They assume a fairly standard retirement age and spending level and that Social Security will cover part of your income. If you plan to retire early, spend more than your salary implies, or won't have much Social Security, you'll need more than 10×. A spending-based target — like the 25×-annual-expenses rule behind the FIRE number — is a more precise way to size the finish line.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I have saved for retirement at 40?
A common benchmark is about three times your annual salary by age 40. On an $80,000 income that's roughly $240,000. If you're not there, you're far from alone — focus on steadily raising your savings rate and capturing your full employer match.
Is 10 times my salary really enough to retire?
For many people, 10× salary at 67 combined with Social Security replaces enough of their pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle. But it depends heavily on your spending. If you'll spend more than your salary suggests or retire earlier, aim higher and check the number against your actual expenses.
Do these benchmarks include my home equity?
No. The salary-multiple targets count money in retirement accounts and investments you can draw on for income — 401(k)s, IRAs, and taxable brokerage savings. Home equity, unless you plan to tap it, and your emergency fund are usually kept separate.
What if I earn a lot more or less than average?
Because the benchmarks are multiples of your own salary, they already scale to your income. Very high earners sometimes need a higher multiple, because Social Security replaces a smaller share of a large salary, while lower earners may need a bit less for the opposite reason.
Should I count my spouse's savings too?
If you plan for retirement together, it's reasonable to compare your combined savings against a benchmark based on your combined income. Just be consistent — use household savings against household income, or individual against individual, not a mix.
Turn the benchmark into a real plan
Free, private, and running entirely in your browser. Model your savings, investments, and retirement together — and track plan vs. actual — no account required.