Data & limits

How Much Should You Have Saved for Retirement by Age?

July 23, 2026 · By Tim Miller · 2 min read

‘How much should I have saved by now?’ is the most-searched retirement question — so here’s a clear, widely-used answer. The most common benchmark (from Fidelity) expresses your target as a multiple of your salary at each age.

Target retirement savings as a multiple of salary by age

The benchmarks in dollars

Age	Target multiple of salary	Example if you earn $70,000
30	1×	$70,000
35	2×	$140,000
40	3×	$210,000
45	4×	$280,000
50	6×	$420,000
55	7×	$490,000
60	8×	$560,000
67	10×	$700,000

What the guideline assumes

You save around 15% of income (including any employer match) starting in your 20s.
You retire around 67 and want to roughly maintain your lifestyle.
Social Security covers part of your income, so your savings cover the rest.
These are multiples of salary saved, not a required nest egg for everyone — someone with a pension or lower spending needs less.

How to read it if you’re behind

Most people are behind at least one benchmark — that’s normal, not failure. The multiples are a nudge, not a verdict. The levers that close the gap are the same at any age: raise your savings rate, capture the full match, use catch-up contributions after 50, and delay retirement a year or two (which both adds savings and shrinks the years you need to fund).

Educational information only, not financial or tax advice. Figures are current for the tax/plan year noted and can change — always confirm the latest at the official source (IRS.gov, SSA.gov, or your plan) before acting.

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