Median 401(k) Balance by Age (2026)
$27,376
Median 401(k) balance across all participants
Summary
The median 401(k) balance is $27,376 in 2026 — roughly one-fourth the average, because high-balance accounts skew the mean upward. Median is the better gauge of what a typical American actually has saved. Half of all 401(k) participants have less than this amount.
Breakdown
Source
Vanguard How America Saves 2025· As of 2026-Q1
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All Pulsafi stats are sourced from primary government data and major financial institutions. Read the full methodology and data-sources page.