Retirement by age
Viewing age 35 benchmarks.
Explore other ages or compare your savings below.
Typical benchmark at age 35: 2× salary
Next checkpoint: age 40 (3× salary)
💡 You're on track for the age-60 benchmark at your current rate.
IRS employee deferral limit for age 35: $24,500/yr
Benchmarks are general planning references, not absolute targets. Your ideal savings depends on your spending plans, other assets, and retirement timeline.
How your projected balance compares to the next benchmark checkpoints.
$114,862 ahead of the benchmark on current path
$291,217 ahead of the benchmark on current path
$463,883 ahead of the benchmark on current path
You’re at 110% of the age-35 benchmark — you’re ahead of this checkpoint.
At your current pace, you may reach 131% of the age-40 benchmark.
Salary-based benchmarks use current salary. They may overstate the gap for people whose income rose sharply in recent years.
Run a complete projection with spending goals, inflation, and withdrawal modeling — pre-filled with your numbers.
Open 401k calculator with these inputs →This planner helps you translate a broad savings checkpoint into an action plan. Use it to see whether your balance looks directionally on track, then use the next-step links below to test real changes.
Benchmarks give you a fast directional check. They help answer whether your savings pace looks broadly in line with common checkpoints before you build a full retirement projection.
A salary multiple is not a personal guarantee of retirement readiness. Spending needs, retirement age, other assets, and contribution consistency still matter more than hitting a round number exactly.
Use the benchmark planner to spot whether you look ahead, close, or behind for your age. Then jump into the full 401(k) calculator to test how contribution changes, employer match, and retirement timing affect the long-term path.
People searching retirement-by-age usually want one of these next answers right after checking the benchmark.
Full projection
If you want more than a checkpoint, use the full calculator to model retirement age, spending, Roth balance mix, and year-by-year drawdown.
Open the full calculator →Contribution rate
A practical guide to choosing a 401k contribution percentage that fits your budget and goals.
Read the contribution guide →Employer match
A straightforward breakdown of employer match mechanics so you can avoid leaving compensation behind.
See match examples →Tax treatment
How to choose between Roth and Traditional 401k contributions without guesswork or tax myths.
Compare Roth vs Traditional →Focused answers for the most common questions people have while using this benchmark planner.
There is no single number that fits everyone, but age-based salary multiples are a common way to benchmark progress. Use this planner for a directional checkpoint, then move into the full calculator to test whether your actual savings plan supports the retirement lifestyle you want.
Run a full projection →No. They are reference points, not pass-or-fail scores. A useful benchmark should start better questions about savings rate, retirement age, and spending needs rather than act like a universal rule.
See how 401kcalc frames assumptions →Usually the highest-leverage moves are contribution increases, full employer-match capture, and realistic retirement timing. The best next step is to compare your current path against one or two better savings scenarios instead of reacting to the benchmark alone.
Read the contribution guide →Use this page when your question is whether your balance looks directionally on track for your age. Use the full calculator when you want to test retirement age, annual spending, Roth vs Traditional balances, or step-up contributions over time.
Open the full calculator →