It's no surprise that most older workers have managed to tuck away a fair amount of money for retirement. They've had more time to save it, after all. Conversely, it's no surprise that younger people who haven't been in the workplace nearly as long have smaller retirement account balances.

But exactly how much has the average under-35-year-old actually saved up? Keep reading to find out.

Surprisingly consistent averages and medians

Take all these numbers with a grain of salt. They reflect the retirement savings of a wide range of young people, from those who have only recently entered the workforce and have had little time to save, to several thirty-somethings who have achieved rapid career success and commensurate incomes. The numerical inputs are all over the map.

Nevertheless, the average is the average and, as such, is a decent starting point.

With that as the backdrop, in its 2026 "How America Saves" report, mutual fund powerhouse and retirement plan administrator Vanguard says that as of the end of 2025, the average under-25 participant in the 401(k) plans it administers had $7,259 in their account, while the average 25-to-34-year-old had measurably more at $50,261.

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These numbers jibe with those of rival fund company and retirement plan administrator Fidelity, which reports that the typical 20-to-24-year-old had $7,700 in their 401(k) as of the end of March, while the average 30-to-34-year-old was sitting on $51,700. Fidelity simply added that its plan participants aged 25 to 29 had $26,600 in their accounts.

Granted, averages don't necessarily tell the whole story. They can be skewed by a small handful of very extreme numbers. And in this case, they are. Vanguard goes on to point out that while the averages are $7,259 and $50,261 for the under-25 and the 25-to-34 groups (respectively), the median -- or midpoint -- of all the numbers for both of these groupings is $2,234 and $18,732 (again, respectively). That just means that half of the people in either group have more than those amounts in their 401(k), while the other half have less.

A 401(k) account isn't your only retirement savings vehicle option, of course, although it does appear these workplace accounts are where most young adults are focusing their savings efforts. The Federal Reserve's most recent (2022) survey of consumer finances indicates that the average total retirement savings for people under 35 living in the United States is $49,130, while the median figure is $18,880.

Set your target, and then make a written plan

Don't beat yourself up if you're behind your peers. You've got time to catch up. Just invest wisely and cost-efficiently. Don't celebrate just because you're ahead of other savers your age, either. These averages still aren't necessarily enough to fund the sort of retirement most people would like.

Insurer Northwestern Mutual's 2026 survey on the matter indicates the average American believes they'll need $1.46 million (in today's dollars) to retire comfortably. That's not a bad goal, either. The next step is just mapping out what you'll need to save in the meantime to get there.