The most reliable numbers come from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, conducted every three years. The latest published results are from the 2022 survey, released in October 2023.
The Numbers: Net Worth by Age Bracket
| Age Bracket | Median Net Worth | Average Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,000 | $183,500 |
| 35–44 | $135,600 | $549,600 |
| 45–54 | $247,200 | $975,800 |
| 55–64 | $364,500 | $1,566,900 |
| 65–74 | $409,900 | $1,794,600 |
| 75+ | $335,600 | $1,624,100 |
| All households | $192,900 | $1,063,700 |
Source: Federal Reserve, Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 (2022 dollars).
Notice the enormous gap between "median" and "average." The median is the household sitting exactly in the middle — half of households in the bracket have more, half have less. The average gets yanked upward by a handful of extremely wealthy households. In the under-35 group, the average is nearly five times the median.
Use the median as your benchmark. It's the honest one.
What the Pattern Actually Tells You
Wealth peaks at 65–74. That's the sweet spot: career earnings are banked, mortgages are mostly paid off, and spending hasn't yet drained the accounts. After 75, the median drops from $409,900 to $335,600 — the drawdown phase, not financial failure.
Young households are recovering fast. The under-35 median jumped 143% in real terms from 2019 ($16,100) to 2022 ($39,000) — the biggest percentage gain of any age group. Low as the starting number was, the trajectory is strong.
Your 40s and 50s are the engine room. The median more than doubles between 35–44 ($135,600) and 55–64 ($364,500). These are the decades where compounding does the heavy lifting.
What Counts Toward Your Net Worth
Add up:
- Cash and savings accounts
- Investment and brokerage accounts
- Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA)
- Home equity (current value minus mortgage balance)
- Other property and business interests
Then subtract:
- Mortgage balance
- Student loans
- Auto loans
- Credit card debt
- Any other debt
The result is your net worth. If it's negative, you're in plenty of company — especially under 35, where student loans outweigh early-career assets.
If You're Below Your Bracket's Median
First, stop panicking. The comparison is a snapshot, not a verdict. A 30-year-old doctor with $200,000 in student debt and a 30-year-old electrician with $50,000 saved are both normal — they just have wildly different income curves ahead.
Then focus on the three levers that move net worth at every age:
- Save a fixed percentage first. Pay yourself before the month's spending decides for you.
- Invest the difference in low-cost index funds. Time in the market beats timing the market.
- Kill high-interest debt. A 22% credit card rate destroys wealth faster than any investment builds it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good net worth for my age?
Match the median for your bracket above and you're ahead of half of American households. Double the median and you're doing genuinely well.
Why is the average so much higher than the median?
Wealth is heavily concentrated at the top. A few billionaire households pull the average up dramatically. The median tells you what a typical household looks like.
Does home equity count in net worth?
Yes. The Fed's figures include home equity, which is why homeowners show dramatically higher net worth than renters at every age.
How often does the Fed update these numbers?
The Survey of Consumer Finances runs every three years. The 2025 survey data will likely be published in late 2026.
Is net worth the same as income?
No. A high earner who spends everything can have negative net worth, while a modest earner who saves steadily builds it. Net worth measures what you've kept, not what you've made.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not financial advice.
Tool tie-in: A net-worth tracker calculator would fit perfectly here — let readers plug in their own number and see their percentile rank by age bracket.