How much net worth should I have at 30, 40 and 50?

Updated October 20, 2026 · by ROW Home Solutions

Estimates only, not financial advice. This is general education. Your situation is your own; talk to a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

Short answer: there's no official target. A realistic benchmark is the Federal Reserve's 2022 median for your age group: $39,000 for under 35 (around 30), $135,600 for 35–44 (around 40) and $247,200 for 45–54 (around 50). More useful than any one number: is yours growing every year, and do you have a cash cushion?

What the data shows for 30, 40 and 50

Around age	Survey age group	Median	Mean
30	Under 35	$39,000	$183,500
40	35–44	$135,600	$549,600
50	45–54	$247,200	$975,800

Source: Federal Reserve, "Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances," Federal Reserve Bulletin, October 2023, Table 2. 2022 dollars. The survey reports age ranges, not single years, so "around 30" uses the under-35 group.

Median vs. average: use the median

The mean (average) is pulled up a lot by a small number of very wealthy families. In 2022 the all-families mean ($1,063,700) was more than five times the median ($192,900). The median is the middle family: half had more, half had less. For "how am I doing?" the median is the more realistic comparison.

A common rule of thumb

A widely cited formula from The Millionaire Next Door (Stanley and Danko) estimates expected net worth as your age × your annual pre-tax income ÷ 10. It's a rough yardstick, not a goal. It can be unrealistic for people with student debt, high-cost housing or a late career start. ROW is not affiliated with the authors or publisher.

Better personal checks than one number

Trend: is your net worth higher than 12 months ago?
Cushion: do you have several months of expenses in cash?
Savings rate: do you save a set share of income before spending (the "pay yourself first" idea)?
Working assets: is your income-producing net worth growing, not just your home value?
High-rate debt: is credit card debt shrinking?

The free ROW Net Worth Analyzer shows all of these from rough numbers, with no signup and no bank login, and charts your progress over time. For the full age table see average net worth by age.

See where you stand (free)

The ROW Net Worth Analyzer is free, needs no signup, and keeps your numbers on your device. It shows your net worth, your income-producing net worth, months of reserves, a debt plan, and a chart you can track over time.

Open the free Net Worth Analyzer

Quick answers

How much net worth should I have at 30?

There is no official target. The Federal Reserve's 2022 median for families headed by someone under 35 was $39,000. Growth each year and a cash cushion matter more than matching a number.

How much net worth should I have at 40?

For ages 35–44, the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances median was $135,600 and the mean was $549,600 (2022 dollars).

How much net worth should I have at 50?

For ages 45–54, the 2022 median was $247,200 and the mean was $975,800 (2022 dollars).

What is the age times income divided by 10 rule?

A rule of thumb from The Millionaire Next Door: expected net worth equals your age times your annual pre-tax income, divided by 10. It is a rough yardstick, not a target for everyone.

Is it bad to be below the median net worth for my age?

Not necessarily. Location, income, debt and life events differ. Focus on whether your net worth is rising, you have cash reserves, and high-interest debt is shrinking.

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