AnswerAt age 38 with $100k income, the median US net worth is $95,000. The 75th percentile is $204,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $95,000 · 75th percentile: $204,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025 data (released Oct 2026), computed from public microdata
Am I behind at age 38 on $100k?
Median net worth for US households age 38 earning $100k is $95,000; top 10% starts at $313,000. Computed from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Earning about $100,000 at 38, a typical household has a net worth of $95,000 in SCF 2025, about 0.9x of a year's income, while the top quarter holds $204,000 or more. That is well under the three-times-salary mark often cited for age 40, which most households miss.
Your numbers
Peer group: age 35 to 44 · $50,000 – $100,000Your $95,000 ranks ahead of 50% of US households age 35 to 44 earning $50,000 – $100,000.
Another $218,000 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 38, $100k
The three-times-salary guideline for 40 implies about $300,000 at this income, roughly three times the median of $95,000. Falling short of it is the norm in this cell, not the exception, and even the top quarter at $204,000 is still below the benchmark. The bottom quarter holds $9,000 or less, a reminder that a six-figure income does not always mean much saved.
At 38 you are near the middle of the 35 to 44 bracket, whose all-income median is $156,000. A household at this income sits somewhat below that bracket-wide figure, since the comparison group includes many higher earners and long-time homeowners. The gap between the typical and the top tenth, $313,000 or more, usually comes from equity compensation, family help, a partner's savings, or appreciation on an early home purchase.
For many households at this income the real squeeze is childcare, a mortgage and retirement saving all at once. If you have to choose, the employer match usually comes first, then high-interest debt, then more retirement saving. As an illustration, $1,500 a month for 10 years at an assumed 7% real return would grow to about $260,000 in today's dollars, though real returns are not guaranteed. College saving can wait if retirement saving is behind, because loans exist for school but not for retirement.
Benchmarks for age 38, $100k
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
Is a net worth of $95,000 normal at 38 on $100,000?
Yes. It is the median for this cell in SCF 2025. It is lower than the roughly $300,000 implied by a three-times-salary benchmark for 40, which most households at this income also miss. Use it as a prompt to review your savings rate, not as a score.
Should I save for retirement or my child's college first?
Retirement usually comes first. You can borrow for college but you cannot borrow for retirement, and a parent with no retirement savings may eventually depend on the children. Once the match is captured and retirement saving is on track, a 529 plan adds tax-free growth for education costs.
How much should I be saving at this income?
A common target is 15 percent of gross pay for retirement, which is $15,000 a year at $100,000, counting any employer match. If you started late, a higher rate for some years helps. If the full amount is not possible now, begin with the match and raise the rate with each raise.
What does $1,500 a month do over 10 years?
At an assumed 7% real annual return, $1,500 a month for 10 years grows to about $260,000 in today's dollars, of which $180,000 is your own contributions. Real returns vary and may be lower, particularly over a short period, so treat it as an illustration.
How much of my net worth is likely to be home equity?
For many households at this income it is the largest single asset, often more than their retirement accounts. Equity grows through paying down the loan and through price changes, which are not guaranteed. It is less liquid than a retirement account and cannot easily be spent.
Do I need more life insurance with a second child?
Many planners suggest term coverage of roughly 10 to 12 times income while others depend on your earnings, so a growing family often means a review. Term insurance for a healthy person in their late 30s is generally inexpensive. Compare quotes and match the term length to the years your dependents need support.
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.