AnswerAt age 30 with $25k income, the median US net worth is $1,500. The 75th percentile is $14,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $1,500 · 75th percentile: $14,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2022 data (released Sept 2023)
Am I behind at age 30 on $25k?
Median net worth for US households age 30 earning $25k is $1,500; top 10% starts at $52,000. Sourced from the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Median net worth near $1,500 against a $25,000 income reflects a household where rent, groceries, and any debt service consume nearly every dollar. The 90th percentile reaches roughly $52,000, usually from inherited assets, a paid-off used car, or a partner contributing equity from before the relationship.
Your numbers
Used to pick your SCF age bracket (Under 35).
Your SCF income tier: $25,000 – $50,000. Use gross household income, not take-home.
Total assets minus total liabilities. Negative values are allowed.
- 25th percentile
- $500
- Median (50th)
- $13,000
- 75th percentile
- $58,000
- Top 10% (90th)
- $175,000
- Top 1% (99th)
- $720,000
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 30, $25k
Hitting thirty while earning $25,000 often describes caregivers, rural service workers, late-career pivoters retraining for a new field, or single parents whose hours are constrained by daycare. The Federal Reserve's 2022 SCF puts the 25th percentile at negative $2,000, meaning a quarter of similar households owe more than they own. That negative figure is statistical reality, not personal failure.
The "1x salary saved by 30" benchmark popularized by Fidelity assumes uninterrupted full-time employment from age 22, which rarely matches this income tier's life arc. A more useful comparison is the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile, which jumps from $1,500 to $14,000. That ninefold spread usually reflects access to employer retirement plans, even at modest contribution rates of two or three percent.
Wealth-building math at this income tier is unforgiving but not impossible. The Saver's Credit returns up to 50 percent of IRA contributions for households below roughly $36,500 single or $73,000 married, effectively a federal match. Many in this cohort find that the single highest-leverage move is qualifying for SNAP or Medicaid to free up cash flow, then routing the saved dollars into a Roth IRA.
Benchmarks for age 30, $25k
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: 27th.
Related views
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Frequently asked questions
Is negative net worth at thirty a sign of long-term trouble?
Not by itself. A quarter of similar-income thirty-year-olds carry negative balances, usually from student loans or medical debt. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot. Households that reduce the deficit by $2,000 to $4,000 yearly typically cross zero within a decade.
Should I prioritize an emergency fund or paying down credit card debt?
Most personal finance educators suggest a small starter buffer of $500 to $1,000 first, then aggressive payoff of any balance above roughly 8 percent interest. Without the buffer, the next car repair or ER visit usually rebuilds the balance you just cleared.
Can a single parent on this income realistically save for retirement?
Yes, though typically through the EITC and Saver's Credit rather than discretionary contributions. Routing even $50 monthly into a Roth IRA captures the credit, and the EITC refund itself is sometimes deposited directly into a retirement account by tax preparers.
How does informal caregiving affect Social Security later?
Years spent caring for a parent or child without W-2 income become zeros in the Social Security benefit calculation, which uses your highest 35 years. Some caregivers offset this with even part-time gig work that produces a few quarters of covered earnings annually.
Is community college worth it for a career pivot at thirty?
The labor market data generally supports targeted credentials like respiratory therapy, HVAC, or radiology tech, which often double income within two years. Open-ended associate degrees without a clear occupational endpoint show much weaker income lift in BLS tracking.
What does a $14,000 net worth at the 75th percentile usually contain?
Typically a paid-off older vehicle worth $5,000 to $8,000, a checking buffer of $1,000 to $2,000, and a small employer retirement account from a previous job. Home equity is rare at this income and life stage.
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.