AnswerAt age 38 with $25k income, the median US net worth is $2,000. The 75th percentile is $34,000. You can see where you rank below.
Median: $2,000 · 75th percentile: $34,000
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, 2025 data (released Oct 2026), computed from public microdata
Am I behind at age 38 on $25k?
Median net worth for US households age 38 earning $25k is $2,000; top 10% starts at $180,000. Computed from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Three years from 40, a household headed by a 38-year-old living on about $25,000 typically has $2,000 in net worth (SCF 2025 median), and a quarter of such households have $0 or less. This group is compared with all ages 35 to 44, and the cell is small, so the numbers are approximate.
Your numbers
Peer group: age 35 to 44 · under $25,000Your $2,000 ranks ahead of 50% of US households age 35 to 44 earning under $25,000.
Another $178,000 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, $25k
The usual milestone of three times salary by 40 would be about $75,000 here. A median of $2,000 is a small fraction of that, so most households at this income are far behind the benchmark. The bottom quarter holds $0 or less. These figures reflect how little room $25,000 leaves after housing, food and health costs, and they are no verdict on effort or character.
A 38-year-old is compared with every household aged 35 to 44, where the all-income median is $156,000. Someone at 38 sits near the middle of that bracket, so the bracket comparison is a fair one, but it is dominated by higher earners. Inside this cell the top quarter starts at $34,000 and the top tenth at $180,000. This cell has few sample families, so the upper figures especially are rough and can reflect one-time events like an inheritance or settlement.
With about 27 years to 65, small steady amounts still matter. As an illustration, $150 a month at an assumed 7% real return for 27 years would grow to about $144,000 in today's dollars, though real returns vary and are not guaranteed. Work credits also build your Social Security benefit, which is the main retirement income for many households at this level. If you receive SSI or Medicaid, check asset limits before saving, since some programs count savings.
Benchmarks for age 38, $25k
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 it too late to start saving at 38 on $25,000 a year?
No. Retirement is still roughly three decades away. At an assumed 7% real return, $100 a month for 27 years would grow to about $96,000 in today's dollars, though returns vary. Starting small and automatic matters more than waiting until you can afford a larger amount.
What is a typical net worth at 38 for this income?
In SCF 2025, the median for households aged 35 to 44 with about $25,000 of income is $2,000, and the bottom quarter holds $0 or less. The all-income median for the same age bracket is $156,000, which shows how much income shapes wealth.
Do savings affect SSI or Medicaid eligibility?
They can. SSI generally limits countable resources to $2,000 for an individual, and some Medicaid programs have asset tests. ABLE accounts exist for people whose disability began before a qualifying age and allow saving without losing some benefits. Check your state's rules or a benefits counselor first.
Should I choose a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA at this income?
At a low tax rate a Roth IRA is often the better choice, because you pay little tax now and withdraw tax-free later. Roth contributions can also be withdrawn without penalty, which helps if you hit a hard year. A traditional IRA can still help if it brings you into a credit or lowers a benefits calculation.
How does stepping out of work for caregiving affect retirement?
Time away reduces current savings and also the earnings record that sets your Social Security benefit, which uses your highest 35 years of earnings. Even part-time work can add years to that record. Spousal and caregiver credits vary, so check your Social Security statement at ssa.gov.
Is moving from gig work to a W-2 job worth it financially?
Often. A W-2 employer pays half of Social Security and Medicare taxes, while the self-employed pay both halves, and a job may bring health insurance, retirement matching and unemployment coverage. Against that, gig work can offer flexibility and higher hourly pay, so compare total compensation, not just the headline rate.
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.