Net Worth Calculator
Calculate your total net worth (assets minus liabilities) and see how you rank against US median by age.
Reviewed & updated for 2026 · How we calculate
US median net worth by age (2024 data)
| Age | Median | Mean (avg) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,000 | $183,000 |
| 35-44 | $135,000 | $549,000 |
| 45-54 | $247,000 | $975,000 |
| 55-64 | $364,000 | $1,564,000 |
| 65-74 | $410,000 | $1,795,000 |
| 75+ | $335,000 | $1,624,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances 2024. Median is the typical American. Mean is much higher due to top earners.
What median vs mean reveals about US wealth inequality
Look closely at the table above. For the 55-64 age group, median net worth is $364,000 but mean is $1,564,000. That gap is huge, and it tells the story of US wealth distribution. A small number of very wealthy households pull the average up dramatically. The median (the middle household) is a much better benchmark for "what's normal" than the mean.
According to the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (released 2024), the top 1% of households hold about 30% of all US wealth. The top 10% hold about 67%. The bottom 50% hold 2.5%. These shares have been roughly stable since 2010 but moved against the median household over the prior 30 years. For most people, the median is the realistic benchmark; the mean represents a small group of high-net-worth households.
Net worth growth typically follows an S-curve over a lifetime. Twenties: usually negative or barely positive (student loans dominate, savings small). Thirties: building positive momentum as career income rises and retirement accounts compound. Forties-fifties: peak earning years, accelerating growth, mortgage paydown adds equity. Sixties: highest absolute net worth, peak retirement balances. Seventies and beyond: spending exceeds growth, net worth often declines.
Building a personal net worth tracking habit
Calculate your net worth monthly or at least quarterly. The exercise of pulling numbers together itself sharpens financial awareness. Most people who track net worth see the number rise more consistently than people who don't, the act of measurement shapes behavior.
Use a single spreadsheet or app (Personal Capital/Empower, Monarch Money, YNAB) that pulls account balances automatically. Track the same categories monthly. Note major changes (paid off car, bought house, market drop) so you can interpret the trend. Watch the trend more than the absolute number, month-over-month change reveals whether your strategy is working.
Use real values, not what you paid. Home value: current Zestimate (with caution; Zillow tends to overestimate by 5-10%). Vehicles: current Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds value, NOT what you paid or what's left on the loan. Investments: current market value. Beware of valuing collectibles, art, or businesses, these are notoriously hard to liquidate at "market" prices.
The compounding milestones to aim for
- Net worth = 0: Some people don't reach this until late 20s or 30s due to student loans. Achieving it is a meaningful milestone.
- Net worth = 1× annual salary: Fidelity recommends this by age 30. Tight for most people but achievable with consistent saving and modest market returns.
- Net worth = 3× annual salary: Fidelity's target by age 40.
- Net worth = 6× annual salary: By age 50. This puts you on track for normal retirement.
- Net worth = 8× annual salary: By age 60. The minimum for confident retirement at 65.
- Net worth = 10× annual salary: By age 67. Standard retirement-ready benchmark.
- Net worth = 25× annual expenses: The "FIRE number." With this and a 4% safe withdrawal rate, you can retire indefinitely on portfolio income. For someone spending $60,000/year, that's $1.5 million.
These benchmarks include home equity in most interpretations. If you're aiming for "investable net worth" milestones for portfolio-funded retirement, subtract home equity from the calculation. A $700K net worth with $300K in home equity is functionally $400K investable.
FAQs
What is net worth?
Net worth = Total assets − Total liabilities. Assets include cash, investments, real estate equity, vehicles, valuable possessions. Liabilities include mortgage balance, student loans, credit cards, auto loans, and any other debt. Positive net worth means you own more than you owe; negative means deeper in debt than your assets.
What's a good net worth by age?
US median net worth by age (2024 data): Under 35: $39,000. 35-44: $135,000. 45-54: $247,000. 55-64: $364,000. 65-74: $410,000. 75+: $335,000. Mean (average) is much higher than median because of wealth inequality. Use median as your benchmark.
How do I calculate my net worth?
Three steps. (1) Add up assets at current market value: bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, real estate (home value, not what you paid), cars (current trade-in value, not loan balance), valuable jewelry/art/collectibles. (2) Add up all debts: mortgage balance, all loans, credit card balances. (3) Subtract debts from assets.
Should I include my house in net worth?
Yes, but use home EQUITY (current value minus mortgage balance), not total value. For example: $400K home with $250K mortgage = $150K equity. Some people exclude the house entirely because they have to live somewhere, this gives 'investable net worth' which is more relevant for retirement planning.
How do I increase my net worth?
Two ways: increase assets, decrease liabilities. Most impactful: (1) Max out tax-advantaged retirement accounts ($24,500 401k + $7,500 Roth IRA). (2) Pay down high-interest debt first. (3) Buy assets that appreciate (real estate, index funds) vs depreciate (cars, gadgets). (4) Increase income through career growth or side hustles. Over 10+ years, retirement contributions and home equity drive most middle-class net worth growth.