AnswerAt age 38 with $150k income, the median US net worth is $276,000. The 75th percentile is $563,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $276,000 · 75th percentile: $563,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025 data (released Oct 2026), computed from public microdata
Am I behind at age 38 on $150k?
Median net worth for US households age 38 earning $150k is $276,000; top 10% starts at $945,000. Computed from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances.
At 38 with a $150,000 income, a household's SCF 2025 median net worth is $276,000, about 1.8x of income, and the top tenth holds $945,000 or more. The median is above the all-income bracket figure of $156,000, yet below the three-times-salary mark for age 40.
Your numbers
Peer group: age 35 to 44 · $100,000 – $200,000Your $276,000 ranks ahead of 50% of US households age 35 to 44 earning $100,000 – $200,000.
Another $669,000 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, $150k
Three times salary by 40 would be about $450,000 at this income. The median of $276,000 is well under that, and even the top quarter at $563,000 is only just past it. So a household in this cell that is behind the benchmark is in the majority. A higher income gives more room to save, yet the data suggests that most households do not turn it into savings quickly.
You are compared with all families aged 35 to 44, where the all-income median is $156,000. A household near the median of this cell is well above that, because the group includes many lower earners. Net worth at this income varies for familiar reasons: student debt that took years to clear, a larger home purchase, equity compensation, and whether both partners work. The bottom quarter holds $125,000 or more.
For high earners the main lever is often the savings rate rather than the investment choice. As an illustration, saving $2,500 a month for 5 years at an assumed 7% real return would grow to about $179,000 in today's dollars, though returns are not guaranteed. Watch for lifestyle growth that rises as fast as pay, and for too much stock in your employer. Tax-advantaged space such as a 401(k), an HSA and an IRA is worth filling before taxable investing.
Benchmarks for age 38, $150k
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
Am I behind with $276,000 at 38 on $150,000?
You would be at about the median for this cell in SCF 2025. That is below the roughly $450,000 implied by three times salary at 40, but most households in this cell are also below it. If you want to close the gap, the savings rate is the lever to review.
Should I take RSUs or cash and sell at vest?
Vested RSUs are taxed as ordinary income when they vest, just like a cash bonus. Holding the shares afterward is a separate investment decision that adds risk to a household whose pay already depends on the same company. Many people sell at vest and diversify, though taxes and personal goals matter.
How much of a $150,000 income should I save?
A common target is 15 to 20 percent of gross income, or $22,500 to $30,000 a year including any match. Higher earners often need more because Social Security replaces a smaller share of their pay. Fill the 401(k) match first, then the HSA if eligible, then an IRA.
Is it worth buying a larger home at this income?
It depends on the payment as a share of income and what it leaves for saving. A larger mortgage can crowd out retirement contributions for years, which is a common reason high earners have lower net worth than expected. Many planners suggest keeping total housing cost at or below about a third of gross income.
How wide is the range of net worth at this income?
In SCF 2025, the bottom quarter holds $125,000 or more, the median $276,000, the top quarter $563,000 or more, and the top tenth $945,000 or more. The top percentiles are driven by equity compensation, inheritances and business ownership and are less informative for a typical household.
Does a second income change what I should save?
A second earner usually means two workplace plans and two IRAs, which doubles the tax-advantaged room, along with the childcare and other costs that come with two careers. Net worth percentiles here count the household as one, so compare your combined savings rate with the guideline.
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.