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Fed data shows that retirees have an average net worth of almost $288,000, boosted in recent years by significant gains in home values and investments.
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Retirees’ finances vary widely, with mortgage, auto loan, and credit card balances influencing outcomes as much as assets do.
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Protecting wealth in retirement often means earning strong yields, managing spending and debts, and perhaps earning a modest income to make your savings last longer.
The most recent data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances shows that retirees hold an average net worth of $287,900 as of 2022. (Updated numbers are due in late 2026.) That figure captures everything they own—like homes, investments, savings, and vehicles—minus what they owe.
The line graph below shows how that number has shifted since 1989. Retiree wealth rose through the 1990s, slipped around the early-2000s downturn, and fell after the 2008 financial crisis. Growth resumed in the years that followed, but the most striking change came in the latest reading: a jump from about $203,000 in 2019 to nearly $288,000 in 2022, helped by rising home values and strong investment gains during the early pandemic period.
But that top-line figure tells only part of the story. Breaking down the components gives an even clearer picture of the financial position of retirees today.
Learning the average net worth for retirees can prompt you to evaluate the strength of your own finances. This might lead you to focus on protecting and even expanding the wealth you’ve built.
While net worth tells you everything you own and owe, the underlying pieces will vary widely from one household to the next.
Note: The figures below reflect retirees who reported holding each asset or debt, not all retirees.
Among retirees who reported owning these assets, their typical values are:
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Retirement accounts: $170,000
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Primary residence: $279,000
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Other residential real estate: $150,000
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Unrealized capital gains: $139,440
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Vehicles: $21,000
These amounts underscore how central real estate and retirement savings are to the net worth of many retirees.
Among those carrying these liabilities, typical balances include:
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Mortgages or home equity loans: $100,000
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Home equity lines of credit: $27,000
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Other real estate debt (non-primary residence): $158,000
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Education loans: $20,000
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Vehicle loans: $13,000
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Credit card balances: $2,500
Retirement often means shifting from building wealth to managing it carefully. Even though net worth often declines over time as income disappears and savings are drawn down, there are practical ways to help keep your finances on steady ground.