Average Retirement Income: What's a Good Monthly Retirement Income? (2023)

FAQs

Average Retirement Income: What's a Good Monthly Retirement Income? ›

According to data from the BLS, average incomes in 2021 after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $59,872 per year or $4,989 per month. 75 and older: $43,217 per year or $3,601 per month.

As of January 2022, retired couples who receive Social Security benefits collect an average of $2,753 per month. This amount equates to what you could get with a minimum wage job.

First, let's look at some statistics to establish a baseline for what a solid retirement looks like: Average monthly retirement income in 2021 for retirees 65 and older was about $4,000 a month, or $48,000 a year; this is a slight decrease from 2020, when it was about $49,000.

The Final Multiple: 10-12 times your annual income at retirement age. If you plan to retire at 67, for instance, and your income is $150,000 per year, then you should have between $1.5 and $1.8 million set aside for retirement.

Retirees Are Earning Up to $20,000 Per Month With One Fully Remote Side Hustle Quitting your day job doesn't mean you can't have an additional — and extremely lucrative — income stream. Retirement doesn't mean you have to stop earning altogether — in fact, it could allow you to make more money than ever before.

You can wait until as late as age 70 — something many Americans do, because the longer you wait, the higher your monthly payment. For those who are collecting Social Security at age 65, the average payment in 2022 was about $2,484 a month, according to the Social Security Administration.

If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible.

By age 50 : Aim to have five to six times your combined salary in retirement savings by the time you and your spouse are 50 years old. By age 60 : Aim to have seven to eight times your combined salary at 60 years old.

Based on the 80% principle, you can expect to need about $96,000 in annual income after you retire, which is $8,000 per month.

What net worth is considered rich in retirement? ›

You might need $5 million to $10 million to qualify as having a very high net worth while it may take $30 million or more to be considered ultra-high net worth. That's how financial advisors typically view wealth.

In short, to enjoy a reasonably high expectation of not running out of money prior to death, you should never withdraw more than three percent of your initial portfolio value in retirement.

Although to some degree it might seem as if billionaires and millionaires in the U.S. shouldn't be collecting Social Security, the truth is there is no law against it, and mathematically it makes sense. Social Security isn't simply a welfare program, with money handed out to anyone who asks.

Is $200k a year good for retirement? This question is difficult since it depends on several factors, including your lifestyle and where you live. However, generally, $200,000 per year is a good income for retirement. It should allow you to maintain your current lifestyle and cover most expenses.

When considering your retirement lifestyle, a common guideline is to replace 70% of your annual income before your retirement. You can plan to do this through a combination of retirement income sources that include Social Security, investments and savings from 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement savings accounts.

The national average for retirement savings varies depending on age, but according to the Economic Policy Institute, the median retirement savings for all working age households in the US is around $95,776. This figure includes both employer-sponsored retirement accounts and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

By age 40, you should have three times your annual salary already saved. By age 50, you should have six times your salary in an account. By age 60, you should have eight times your salary working for you. By age 67, your total savings total goal is 10 times the amount of your current annual salary.

If you start receiving benefits at age 66 you get 100 percent of your monthly benefit. If you delay receiving retirement benefits until after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit continues to increase.

About 40% of older Americans rely exclusively on Social Security for retirement income, according to recent research from the National Institute on Retirement Security.

What is the highest Social Security check? ›

In 2023, the average senior on Social Security collects $1,827 a month. But you may be eligible for a lot more money than that. In fact, some seniors this year are looking at a monthly benefit of $4,555, which is the maximum Social Security will pay. Here's how to score a benefit that high.

That means that many will need to rely on Social Security payments—which, in 2021, averages $1,544 a month. That's not a lot, but don't worry. There are plenty of places in the United States—and abroad—where you can live comfortably on $1,500 a month or less.

Living on Social Security alone is not only possible, but many retirees already accomplish that very feat every year. While the lifestyle associated with Social Security income isn't exactly luxurious, it doesn't have to equal rice and beans for the rest of your life, either.

The math behind the $1000-a-month rule is simple. If you take 5% of a $240,000 retirement nest egg each year, that works out to $12,000/year, which, divided into 12 months, gives you $1000 each month.

With some planning, you can retire at 60 with $500k. Remember, however, that your lifestyle will significantly affect how long your savings will last. If you're content to live modestly and don't plan on significant life changes (like travel or starting a business), you can make your $500k last much longer.

Financial experts generally recommend saving anywhere from $1 million to $2 million for retirement. If you consider an average retirement savings of $426,000 for those in the 65 to 74-year-old range, the numbers obviously don't match up.

Yes, you can! The average monthly Social Security Income in 2021 is $1,543 per person. In the tables below, we'll use an annuity with a lifetime income rider coupled with SSI to give you a better idea of the income you could receive from $500,000 in savings.

Housing is likely to be your biggest cost in retirement. According to Gary Grewal, certified financial planner and author of “Financial Fives,” there are several housing-related expenses you should incorporate into your retirement budget, including property taxes and home repairs.

If you hit full retirement age at 66 then the average monthly check you will receive is $3,627 per month.

Average Retirement Income in 2021

According to the United States Census Bureau, the median annual income for individuals ages 65 and older is $47,620, while the mean annual income is $75,254.

Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 67? ›

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

Social Security benefits may or may not be taxed after 62, depending in large part on other income earned. Those only receiving Social Security benefits do not have to pay federal income taxes.

You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time.

Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. It's the total value of all your assets—including your house, cars, investments and cash—minus your liabilities (things like credit card debt, student loans, and what you still owe on your mortgage).

Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range.

The thumb rule is not to withdraw more than 5% of the corpus in the first five years of retirement. This can be progressively increased to 10% by the time the retiree is 70. At 80, even a 20% annual drawdown rate would be considered safe.

The 4% rule for retirement is a guideline that suggests withdrawing 4% of your savings each year in order to have a 95% chance of not running out of money. This amount is adjusted for inflation, so you can live comfortably in retirement without fear of outliving your money.

What is an 80/20 Retirement Plan? An 80/20 retirement plan is a type of retirement plan where you split your retirement savings/ investment in a ratio of 80 to 20 percent, with 80% accounting for low-risk investments and 20% accounting for high-growth stocks.

Consistently Earn a High Salary

In recent years, you need to earn a six-figure salary to get a top Social Security payment. The maximum wage taxable by Social Security is $147,000 in 2022. However, the exact amount changes each year and has increased over time. It was $137,700 in 2020 and $106,800 in 2010.

Are most retirees millionaires? ›

The majority of retirees are not millionaires but it's possible to reach $1 million in savings if you're strategic in your approach. Getting an early start can be one of the best ways to reach your goal, as you'll have more time to benefit from compounding interest.

You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years. • If you also get a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (e.g., a civil service or teacher's pension), your Social Security benefit might be reduced.

The 50 – 70 rule is a quick estimate of how much you could spend during your retirement. It suggests that you should aim for an annual income that is between 50% and 70% of your working income.

1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.

But, generally speaking, most experts agree that you will need 70-80% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your standard of living in retirement. For example, if you earned $50,000 per year ($4,167 a month) before retiring, you would need approximately $35,000-$40,000 per year in retirement.

A good rule of thumb is that your retirement income should equal about 80% of your pre-retirement income, says Steve Sexton, financial consultant and CEO of Sexton Advisory Group, a retirement-planning company.

This depends on a person's anticipated expenses and the lifestyle they'd like to lead in retirement. That said, the average retiree in America spends $60,593 per year, or $5,049.42 per month.

If you want a comfortable retirement, you should aim for a monthly income of at least 70% of your pre-retirement income. So, if you and your spouse currently bring in a combined monthly income of $5000, you would need to have a retirement income of at least $3500 per month. Of course, this is just a general guideline.

How Much Do Married Couples Get On Average from Social Security Alone? As of 2022, the average monthly benefit amount from Social Security for couples was $2,739.10. That works out to about $32,868 in annual income.

With some planning, you can retire at 60 with $500k. Remember, however, that your lifestyle will significantly affect how long your savings will last. If you're content to live modestly and don't plan on significant life changes (like travel or starting a business), you can make your $500k last much longer.

What is the maximum monthly Social Security benefit for a married couple? ›

The maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit for a married couple in 2023 is $9,110 if each spouse waits until age 70 to receive benefits and paid the maximum Social Security tax over 35 years of earnings. Typically, the couple must be married at least a year.

How much do I need to save to retire? A good rule of thumb is that your retirement income should equal about 80% of your pre-retirement income, says Steve Sexton, financial consultant and CEO of Sexton Advisory Group, a retirement-planning company.

Median retirement income for seniors is around $24,000; however, average income can be much higher. On average, seniors earn between $2000 and $6000 per month. Older retirees tend to earn less than younger retirees. It's recommended that you save enough to replace 70% of your pre-retirement monthly income.

Let's start with how much you will need every year. There are lots of figures floating about, but financial experts generally recommend the two thirds rule – for a comfortable retirement, your total pension needs to be about two thirds of your pre-retirement income to enjoy financial independence.

Married couples get two separate Social Security checks, and there is no "marriage penalty" for Social Security benefits.

Whether you can retire on $3,000 a month depends on several factors, including your living expenses, retirement savings, and Social Security benefits. If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible.

How much do people save for retirement? In 2019, about 50% of households reported any savings in retirement accounts. Twenty-one percent had saved more than $100,000, and 7% had more than $500,000.

To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.

If your spouse dies, do you get both Social Security benefits? You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement. If you qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits, you will receive whichever amount is higher.