AnswerAt age 27 with $250k income, the median US net worth is $451,000. The 75th percentile is $896,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $451,000 · 75th percentile: $896,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025 data (released Oct 2026), computed from public microdata
Am I behind at age 27 on $250k?
Median net worth for US households age 27 earning $250k is $451,000; top 10% starts at $1,690,000. Computed from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances.
A 27-year-old household with income of $200,000 or more has a median net worth of $451,000 in SCF 2025, about 1.8x of a $250,000 income, with the top quarter at $896,000 or more. This cell is based on a small sample, so the figures are approximate. Bonus-heavy pay, stock grants, and family resources all shape the spread.
Your numbers
Peer group: age under 35 · over $200,000Your $451,000 ranks ahead of 50% of US households age under 35 earning over $200,000.
Another $1,239,000 in net worth would put you in the top 10% for your peer group.
How this number is calculated
We look up your age and income in the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (the most recent SCF, released Oct 2026), then interpolate your position between 25th/50th/75th/90th/99th percentile breakpoints for that age×income cell. The Fed does not publish those cells, so we compute them from its public microdata. Figures are in 2025 USD, and cells with few sampled families are noisy. 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, $250k
By 27, a household at this income has often had several bonus cycles and at least one round of stock vesting. The median of $451,000 is well above the one-times-salary guideline and more than ten times the $33,000 median for all under-35 households, and even the 25th percentile of $244,000 is roughly a year of income. The cell rests on a small sample, so a few households can move the percentiles. A 27-year-old is compared with the whole under-35 group and sits nearer its middle.
The 75th percentile of $896,000 and the 90th of $1.69M describe households where things have gone unusually well: appreciated stock, a startup payout, large bonuses, or family capital. As an illustration, a household saving 20% of $250,000 ($50,000 a year) from the start at a 7% real return would reach about $288,000 in five years and pass the median after roughly eight. Few households hold that income for so long from the start, so real results vary widely.
The 99th percentile of $5.45M is dominated by founder exits and inherited wealth. It is not a reproducible playbook and reflects very few families. For most households the more useful questions are practical ones: how much of the pay is bonus or stock, how concentrated the holdings are, and whether the basic legal documents are in place. This is educational context, not financial advice.
Benchmarks for age 27, $250k
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025 (released October 9, 2026); cells computed from public microdata. Figures in 2025 USD. Cells built on fewer than about 100 sampled families are noisy. Your seeded percentile if net worth equals the median for this cell: 50th.
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Frequently asked questions
How do bonuses and stock grants show up in these numbers?
Cash bonuses count once they are deposited, and vested shares count at market value. Unvested grants generally do not count. That means year-end bonuses and share price moves can shift a household across percentile lines quickly, and it is one reason the spread between the 25th and 90th percentiles is so wide here.
What does saving 20% look like over time at $250,000?
As an illustration, $50,000 a year at a 7% real return reaches about $288,000 after five years and roughly $513,000 after eight, which passes the median of $451,000. This assumes the full income from year one and steady returns, so actual results depend on pay history, taxes, and markets.
Is concentrated employer stock a problem at 27?
It can be. Stock-heavy pay can leave a large share of net worth riding on one company, which raises risk if the shares fall. Many people sell vested shares on a schedule and diversify into broad funds, subject to tax and company rules. This is general education, not advice.
What estate planning basics make sense at this age?
A will, a health care directive, and a power of attorney are foundational at any net worth. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance often matter more than a will, so they are worth checking. Trusts and more advanced structures usually come later. State rules vary, so this is general education, not legal advice.
How does this cell compare with all under-35 households?
Far above. The all-income median for under-35 households is $33,000, against $451,000 here. The survey measures household income, so $250,000 may be one very high income or two strong ones. With few families in the cell, the exact figure is approximate, but the gap to the overall group is large.
Is it worth hiring a financial advisor at this stage?
It can be when complexity builds, for example with stock grants, bonuses, or tax questions, rather than at a fixed net worth. Fee-only fiduciary advisors who charge a flat or hourly fee are one option, and low-cost index funds are a simpler route for many. Compare fees and services, as this is general education, not advice.
Methodology & data sources
Calculations on this page use benchmarks from US federal statistical agencies. Percentile breakpoints are interpolated linearly between tabulated cells. Figures are in the dollars of each dataset's reference year unless noted. Numbers are educational estimates, not personalized financial advice.
Net worth figures come from the Federal Reserve SCF 2025 (2025 dollars). Age medians match the Fed's published tables; the age × income cells are computed from the public microdata, and cells with fewer than about 100 sampled families are noisy. Full methodology.