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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Fidelity’s latest age-banded figures show an average 401(k) balance of $257,400 for participants ages 60–64 and $258,800 for participants ages 65–69, based on account data as of March 31, 2026. Those are averages among participants in Fidelity-covered plans—not a national household average or a test of whether your own savings are enough.
What is the average 401(k) balance for people in their 60s?
Fidelity reported the following averages for its Q2 2026 analysis:
| Age group | Average 401(k) balance | Data date |
|---|---|---|
| 60–64 | $257,400 | March 31, 2026 |
| 65–69 | $258,800 | March 31, 2026 |
The figures come from Fidelity’s analysis of 26,800 corporate defined contribution plans and 25.6 million participants. The dataset includes the advisor-sold market, but excludes the tax-exempt market and nonqualified defined contribution plans; Fidelity also excludes its own employees from behavioral statistics. Fidelity’s Q2 2026 retirement analysis reports age-band averages, not medians or participant counts for each band.
Because those age-band participant counts are not stated, the two figures should not be combined into a single average for everyone in their 60s. They also should not be treated as averages for all U.S. households or all retirement plans.
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Why an average does not tell you whether your savings are enough
A 401(k) balance is only one part of a retirement picture. Someone may also have an IRA, another workplace account, a pension, brokerage investments, savings, certificates of deposit, real estate or a health savings account. The same balance can support very different lifestyles depending on retirement age, expected spending, income sources and how long savings need to last.
Fidelity says retirement needs depend in part on when a person plans to retire and the lifestyle they want. Its educational guidance suggests saving at least 15% of pretax income annually across retirement accounts, including employer contributions, and aiming for savings equal to 10 times income by age 67. Fidelity notes that retiring earlier may require a higher multiple. These are Fidelity planning guidelines, not guarantees or individualized advice. Fidelity’s retirement savings guidance provides the context for those targets.
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For a personal estimate, assess total retirement resources and expected spending rather than comparing one account with an average. Include income such as Social Security or a pension in the plan, and consider how your target retirement date affects the amount and timing of withdrawals.
What other data says about retirement readiness
The Federal Reserve’s 2025 household survey, published in 2026, offers a different kind of context: it asked people how prepared they felt, rather than reporting age-banded 401(k) balances. Among non-retirees, 53% said their retirement savings were on track. Separately, 47% of adults said they were mostly or very comfortable choosing and managing investments. These are self-reported survey results, not measures of account balances. The Federal Reserve’s report on the economic well-being of U.S. households also shows that among non-retirees age 60 and older, 76% had a tax-preferred retirement account and 36% had a defined benefit pension. That 60+ category is broader than the 60–69 age bands in Fidelity’s figures.
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How to compare your balance fairly
Before drawing conclusions from an average, check that you are comparing like with like:
- Age group: Fidelity separates ages 60–64 and 65–69; a broad 60+ or “in your 60s” category is not the same group.
- Statistic: Fidelity provides averages, not medians. An average can be pulled upward by participants with especially large balances.
- Population: These are balances among participants in Fidelity-covered corporate defined contribution plans, not a national household sample.
- What is counted: A single 401(k) balance is not the same as total retirement resources, which may include other accounts, pensions and other assets.
- Reporting date: The balances are as of March 31, 2026; account values change over time.
The Federal Reserve survey is useful for understanding account ownership and perceived readiness, but its measures do not provide a directly comparable average 401(k) balance for these same age bands. No independent national average for the same age groups and statistic is established by these sources.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Fidelity’s recent trend figures fit in
Fidelity said average 401(k) balances in its measured population rose 10.5% quarter over quarter in Q2 2026, and its average total savings rate was 14.4%, near its recommended 15% benchmark. Those figures describe one reporting period and Fidelity’s covered population; they do not predict future investment returns or establish an individual’s progress. Fidelity’s Q2 2026 update reports those figures. In a separate Q4 2025 analysis released March 4, 2026, Fidelity reported more than 11% year-over-year growth in 401(k) balances. Fidelity’s Q4 2025 release reflects a different period, so the percentages should not be read as a continuing growth rate.
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