AnswerAt age 38 with $250k income, the median US net worth is $1,070,000. The 75th percentile is $2,220,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $1,070,000 · 75th percentile: $2,220,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025 data (released Oct 2026), computed from public microdata
Am I behind at age 38 on $250k?
Median net worth for US households age 38 earning $250k is $1,070,000; top 10% starts at $5,520,000. Computed from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Households led by a 38-year-old and earning around $250,000 have a SCF 2025 median net worth of $1.07M, about 4.3x of income, with the top quarter at $2.22M or more. That is above the usual milestones, and at this stage tax planning and concentration risk matter as much as savings.
Your numbers
Peer group: age 35 to 44 · over $200,000Your $1,070,000 ranks ahead of 50% of US households age 35 to 44 earning over $200,000.
Another $4,450,000 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, $250k
Three times salary by 40 would be about $750,000, and the median of $1.07M is above that. The bottom quarter holds $607,000 or more, so even the lower end of this cell is well ahead of the all-income median of $156,000 for ages 35 to 44. Being ahead of a benchmark does not mean being finished: retirement spending for a household used to $250,000 can be large.
The range is very wide. The top quarter holds $2.22M or more, the top tenth $5.52M or more, and the top 1 percent $21.58M or more, though the very top figures are noisy in survey data. These upper results are usually produced by equity compensation, business ownership, inheritances, or a partner with similar earnings. At 38 you are near the middle of the bracket, so it is more likely that you are near the median than the top.
At this stage the biggest gains often come from tax planning and risk control rather than from finding higher returns. Common steps include filling the 401(k) and HSA, checking whether the plan allows after-tax or Roth contributions, spreading out equity compensation, and keeping adequate disability and liability insurance. As an illustration, $5,000 a month for 5 years at an assumed 7% real return would grow to about $358,000 in today's dollars, though returns are not guaranteed.
Benchmarks for age 38, $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
Is $1.07M a good net worth at 38 earning $250,000?
It is the median for this cell in SCF 2025, so it is typical. It is above the all-income median of $156,000 and the roughly $750,000 implied by a three-times-salary benchmark. Because the range is wide, many comparable households hold much less or much more.
When does tax-loss harvesting or direct indexing make sense?
Usually when you hold a sizeable taxable account and are in a high tax bracket, since the benefit comes from using losses to offset gains and income. The benefit varies, there are fees, and it adds complexity. A simple low-cost index fund is often adequate for smaller taxable balances.
Is a donor-advised fund worth it at this income?
It can be if you give to charity regularly. A donor-advised fund lets you bunch several years of giving into one tax year, and donating appreciated securities avoids capital gains tax on the gain. If you give little, the added setup is usually not worth the effort.
How much of my net worth can be in company stock?
Many planners suggest 10 percent or less of investable assets in any single stock, including your employer's. Your job and your shares can fall together, so concentration adds risk to income and savings at once. A scheduled selling plan can reduce emotional decisions.
Why is the gap between the median and the top so large?
In SCF 2025, the median of this cell is $1.07M, but the top tenth holds $5.52M or more. Wealth at the top is shaped by assets that appreciate sharply, such as company equity and businesses. The figures are computed from survey microdata and are noisier at the extreme top.
Do I need an estate plan at 38 with a young family?
Usually yes, even if estate tax is not an issue. A will naming guardians for minor children, powers of attorney, healthcare directives and a review of beneficiary designations are inexpensive and prevent serious problems. The federal estate tax exemption is far above your likely net worth, but some states have lower thresholds.
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.