AnswerAt age 27 with $100k income, the median US net worth is $54,000. The 75th percentile is $175,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $54,000 · 75th percentile: $175,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022 data (released Sept 2023)
Am I behind at age 27 on $100k?
Median net worth for US households age 27 earning $100k is $54,000; top 10% starts at $410,000. Sourced from the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Five years into a tech, consulting, or finance career, a $100K earner at 27 sits at an SCF median net worth of $54,000 — but the 75th percentile of $175,000 reveals how much further disciplined savers in this cohort have already pulled ahead. The behavioral split between savers and spenders widens noticeably between 25 and 27.
Your numbers
Used to pick your SCF age bracket (Under 35).
Your SCF income tier: $100,000 – $200,000. Use gross household income, not take-home.
Total assets minus total liabilities. Negative values are allowed.
- 25th percentile
- $32,000
- Median (50th)
- $157,000
- 75th percentile
- $440,000
- Top 10% (90th)
- $890,000
- Top 1% (99th)
- $2,800,000
Your ranking
How this number is calculated
We look up your age and income in the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (the most recent SCF, released Sept 2023), then interpolate your position between published 25th/50th/75th/90th/99th percentile breakpoints for that age×income cell. Figures are nominal 2022 USD. Households with similar age and income show meaningful net-worth variance — the percentile reflects how your balance sheet compares to theirs, not to the full US population.
What these numbers mean for age 27, $100k
A 27-year-old earning $100K is typically a senior software engineer, a third-year consultant about to make manager, a finance associate, a marketing manager at a mid-size firm, or a project lead at a tech-adjacent company. By this age, a 401(k) account opened at 22 has compounded for five years, RSUs from earlier grants have largely vested, and any signing bonus has either been spent or invested. The path-divergence between savers and lifestyle-inflators is now clearly visible.
Reaching the 75th percentile of $175,000 at 27 is realistic for someone who has maxed their 401(k) for three to four years, kept housing costs below 25% of gross, and either had no student debt or paid it down aggressively. RSU appreciation at a stable tech employer adds another lever — five years of $20K annual grants at a company whose stock doubled produces around $200K alone before any cash savings.
The gap between the 25th percentile ($8,000) and the median ($54,000) at this age is mostly explained by housing decisions, student loan size, and whether the employer offers a generous 401(k) match. A 27-year-old in San Francisco paying $3,500 in rent will struggle to reach the median, while a peer in Austin paying $1,800 with an identical income is structurally ahead.
Benchmarks for age 27, $100k
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022 (released September 2023). Figures in 2022 USD. Your seeded percentile if net worth equals the median for this cell: 29th.
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Frequently asked questions
What separates the median from the 75th percentile at this age and income?
Mostly three factors: housing-cost ratio, student loan size, and 401(k) match capture. A median earner often pays high rent and carries $30-50K in loans; a 75th-percentile peer typically has lower fixed costs and no remaining student debt by 27.
How much should a $100K earner have saved by 27 to be on track for retirement?
A common rule of thumb is 1x annual income by 30, which translates to roughly $70-80K at 27 with two more years of contributions. This puts the on-track 27-year-old between the median and 75th percentile of the SCF data.
Is a starter home a good idea at 27 on $100K income?
It depends heavily on metro. In stable mid-cost cities with multi-year tenure planned, the math usually works. In high-cost coastal markets, the carrying cost of a small condo often exceeds rent by enough to make investing the difference more efficient over a 5-year horizon.
Does taking a sabbatical or career break at 27 derail wealth-building?
Short breaks of three to six months typically have minimal long-term impact if retirement contributions resume afterward. Breaks longer than a year, particularly without 401(k) contributions during the gap, can cost $50-80K in compounded retirement value over 35 years.
What's the practical difference in financial planning between 25 and 27 at this income?
By 27, most have hit their first significant raise or promotion, which makes lifestyle-inflation choices more consequential. The decision to direct a raise toward savings rather than rent or car payments has compounding effects that lock in roughly between ages 25 and 30.
Should a $100K earner at 27 consider a Roth conversion ladder?
Generally not yet. Roth conversion ladders are most useful for those planning early retirement. At 27 with rising income, traditional 401(k) contributions usually provide better immediate tax efficiency, with Roth conversion strategies considered later if early retirement enters the plan.
Methodology & data sources
Calculations on this page use published benchmarks from US federal statistical agencies. Percentile breakpoints are interpolated linearly between published cells. Figures are in current-year USD unless noted. Numbers are educational estimates, not personalized financial advice.