Mean and median household savings in retirement accounts of households age 26–79, 1989–2010 (2010 dollars)

Year Mean savings** Median/positive savings*** Mean/positive savings*
1989 $23,854 $18,553 $64,172
1992 $27,033 $21,225 $67,434
1995 $36,789 $24,078 $81,148
1998 $49,775 $32,013 $101,748
2001 $67,860 $36,026 $128,524
2004 $70,636 $40,503 $141,635
2007 $81,906 $47,146 $154,665
2010 $86,071 $44,000 $170,859

* Mean savings for households in specified age range with positive retirement account balances
** Mean savings for all households in specified age range
*** Median savings for households in specified age range with positive retirement account balances

Note: Retirement account savings include savings in 401(k) and other defined-contribution plans, IRAs (including employer-sponsored SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs) and Keogh plans for small businesses.

Source: Authors' analysis of Survey of Consumer Finance microdata

View the underlying data on epi.org.