United States Net Worth Brackets, Percentiles, and Top One Percent - DQYDJ (2024)

On this page are estimated United States net worth brackets for 2023.

Additionally, you'll see average net worth, median net worth, top 1% net worth, and a comparison with the previous net worth data.

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Net Worth Benchmarks in 2023

Just as with household income, the most important net worth statistics are:

  • Median net worth
  • Average net worth
  • Top 1% net worth

Of these, median net worth is the most important statistic.

Although average net worth is higher than median (at $1,059,470 vs. $192,084, respectively), median is the 'middle point' of wealth. That is, half of households in the United States have more net worth, and half less – average is biased by high net worth households dragging the average upwards.

The numbers in these sections are nominal – they are not adjusted for inflation (later sections are, however).

Note: This data comes from the Federal Reserve SCF, released October, 2023. It comes from interviews mainly conducted in 2022. 25% of interviews were conducted in 2023.

What was the median net worth?

In 2023, $192,084 was the median household net worth in the United States. This is up from $121,411 in 2020.

What was the average net worth?

The average household net worth in 2023 was $1,059,470. It was $746,821 in 2020. See the inflation adjustment, below.

What is the top 1% household net worth?

To be top 1% in 2023, a household needed a net worth of $13,666,778. $11,099,166 was the 1% threshold in 2020.

What is the top .5% net worth? What is the top .1% household net worth?

To be top .5% in 2023, a household needed a net worth of $20,149,352. The top .1% bracket started around $61,827,166.

Note: up here, net worth estimates have a much larger error. Think on the order of +/- two million dollars for the .1% bracket. There is less survey data to inform the stats (although it's not bad – the survey does oversample likely high wealth households).

Selected United States Household Net Worth Percentiles for 2023 and 2020

The most recent data is adjusted for CPI-U-RS [PDF] as detailed by the Fed. To do the inflation math versus the previous data, multiply 2020 dollar amounts by 1.1592.

Household Net Worth Percentiles for the United States in 2020

Below is every household net worth percentile in 2023, compared to inflation-adjusted 2020.

Percentile20232020DifferenceChange
1%-$76,472.00-$109,563.55$33,092
2%-$45,428.00-$63,602.13$18,174
3%-$26,450.00-$41,423.80$14,974
4%-$14,983.00-$30,065.29$15,082
5%-$9,878.00-$21,313.72$11,436
6%-$4,381.00-$13,824.69$9,444
7%-$831.80-$8,658.63$7,827
8%$1.00-$4,446.27$4,447
9%$182.20-$2,124.09$2,306
10%$440.20-$540.86$981
11%$990.20$3.98$98624804.08%
12%$2,552.00$206.57$2,3451135.42%
13%$4,056.00$582.43$3,474596.39%
14%$5,208.00$997.98$4,210421.85%
15%$6,532.20$1,828.28$4,704257.29%
16%$7,726.00$3,005.57$4,720157.06%
17%$9,256.00$4,001.60$5,254131.31%
18%$10,370.40$5,193.71$5,17799.67%
19%$11,810.00$6,234.61$5,57589.43%
20%$13,528.00$7,382.19$6,14683.25%
21%$15,600.20$8,535.73$7,06482.76%
22%$18,022.20$9,866.87$8,15582.65%
23%$20,716.00$11,231.67$9,48484.44%
24%$23,310.00$12,493.09$10,81786.58%
25%$27,016.00$14,408.98$12,60787.49%
26%$30,316.20$16,458.08$13,85884.20%
27%$34,242.00$18,617.90$15,62483.92%
28%$39,436.00$20,989.19$18,44787.89%
29%$44,734.00$23,579.15$21,15589.72%
30%$51,366.00$27,467.96$23,89887.00%
31%$57,040.00$31,588.28$25,45280.57%
32%$62,600.20$35,928.65$26,67274.23%
33%$67,500.00$42,175.13$25,32560.05%
34%$73,120.20$47,082.79$26,03755.30%
35%$79,054.00$52,258.85$26,79551.27%
36%$84,256.00$58,434.33$25,82244.19%
37%$89,534.00$64,229.63$25,30439.40%
38%$96,524.00$69,023.35$27,50139.84%
39%$101,964.00$73,150.04$28,81439.39%
40%$110,314.00$78,210.15$32,10441.05%
41%$117,810.00$83,233.43$34,57741.54%
42%$125,686.00$87,868.97$37,81743.04%
43%$132,632.00$93,207.42$39,42542.30%
44%$141,164.00$97,845.99$43,31844.27%
45%$147,316.00$103,804.45$43,51241.92%
46%$155,908.00$110,104.53$45,80341.60%
47%$164,132.00$116,603.53$47,52840.76%
48%$172,168.00$123,264.12$48,90439.67%
49%$181,562.00$132,374.65$49,18737.16%
50%$192,084.00$140,740.06$51,34436.48%
51%$202,106.20$147,735.90$54,37036.80%
52%$212,562.00$155,573.60$56,98836.63%
53%$223,554.00$164,167.82$59,38636.17%
54%$238,034.00$173,913.48$64,12136.87%
55%$250,380.00$183,652.59$66,72736.33%
56%$261,644.00$194,130.85$67,51334.78%
57%$274,944.00$202,794.81$72,14935.58%
58%$288,614.00$211,090.39$77,52436.73%
59%$298,884.00$222,484.91$76,39934.34%
60%$312,622.00$233,360.13$79,26233.97%
61%$327,622.00$244,703.29$82,91933.89%
62%$347,520.00$254,335.13$93,18536.64%
63%366,448.00264,950.46$101,49838.31%
64%384,910.00276,252.96$108,65739.33%
65%402,800.00288,800.11$114,00039.47%
66%415,460.00301,562.41$113,89837.77%
67%429,190.00315,157.59$114,03236.18%
68%447,958.00334,427.04$113,53133.95%
69%468,284.20350,078.23$118,20633.77%
70%493,068.00365,055.97$128,01235.07%
71%521,000.20380,933.26$140,06736.77%
72%551,988.00404,981.00$147,00736.30%
73%587,968.00424,173.51$163,79438.61%
74%622,546.00443,871.17$178,67540.25%
75%658,340.00467,486.30$190,85440.83%
76%697,576.00496,859.82$200,71640.40%
77%743,564.00528,143.96$215,42040.79%
78%785,484.00562,417.04$223,06739.66%
79%836,944.00607,334.44$229,61037.81%
80%891,750.00647,053.48$244,69737.82%
81%947,453.00685,494.02$261,95938.21%
82%1,009,860.00738,468.50$271,39236.75%
83%1,078,294.00790,322.17$287,97236.44%
84%1,154,634.00854,472.96$300,16135.13%
85%1,234,848.00921,817.69$313,03033.96%
86%1,308,426.00991,010.22$317,41632.03%
87%1,399,334.001,076,509.41$322,82529.99%
88%1,510,942.001,148,986.00$361,95631.50%
89%1,693,542.001,258,856.33$434,68634.53%
90%1,920,758.001,413,211.39$507,54735.91%
91%2,157,988.001,571,026.97$586,96137.36%
92%2,382,960.001,787,377.41$595,58333.32%
93%2,692,160.002,048,897.78$643,26231.40%
94%3,088,722.002,411,796.58$676,92528.07%
95%3,779,600.002,995,523.80$784,07626.17%
96%4,699,180.203,818,855.14$880,32523.05%
97%6,150,980.005,379,387.17$771,59314.34%
98%8,464,740.207,600,900.82$863,83911.36%
99%13,666,778.0012,866,153.31$800,6256.22%

To read the chart: a dollar amount is the "threshold" between net worth brackets. More (or equal) wealth would go into the bracket shown, less would slot into the percentile right below.

For a round number look at some of the upper brackets, see the millionaires in America post.

Methodology on 2023 United States Household Net Worth Brackets

Data comes from the Federal Reserve's 2022 SCF, released in October, 2023. You can find the Federal Reserve's summary reports here, and you can find the data descriptions here.

Is this household net worth data?

Technically, this is not exactly household data but primary economic unit data. If you squint they are very close, but PEUs are:

"In brief, the PEU consists of an economically dominant single individual or couple (married or living as partners) in a household and all other individuals in the household who are financially interdependent with that individual or couple. For example, in the case of a household composed of a married couple who own their home, a minor child, a dependent adult child, and a financially independent parent of one of the members of the couple, the PEU would be the couple and the two children."

Federal Reserve SCF Data Codebook, 2022

How many samples are in the 2023 and 2020 data?

  • 2020: 5,783 surveys with 6 redactions. Estimated PEUs of 128,642,430.
  • 2023: 4,602 surveys with 7 redactions. Estimated PEUs of 131,306,390

Does this data include capitalized cash flows, such as Social Security or defined benefit plans and pensions?

Good question – no. It's relatively straightforward to convert net worth to cash flow, but it's extremely difficult to move in the other direction.

In short: you can't really "sell" a pension on the open market.

That said, there is some high-quality recent scholarship on this topic. If you feel really strongly on the topic, let me know your arguments – if I work it into the data, I'd probably add it via the net worth percentile calculator.

Check out these posts for a technical discussion on converting defined benefit plans to capitalized dollar amounts:

  • Bricker, Jesse, Sarena Goodman, Kevin B. Moore, and Alice Henriques Volz (2020). "Wealth and Income Concentration in the SCF: 1989–2019," FEDS Notes. Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, September 28, 2020, https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.2795.
    • (Section "Allocating DB wealth")
  • Sabelhaus, John, and Alice Henriques Volz (2019). "Are Disappearing Employer Pensions Contributing to Rising Wealth Inequality?," FEDS Notes. Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, February 1, 2019, https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.2308.
    • (Section "Estimating DB Retirement Wealth for SCF Families")

Is household net worth gross or net?

It is best to assume this is gross net worth – it is near impossible to guess at after-tax net worth.

Consider this what a household (or PEU) controls today, but not necessarily what they'd be left with after taxes if they liquidated.

Past data:

  • 2020 (/2019) Net Worth Percentiles
  • 2017 (/2016) Net Worth Percentiles
  • 2014 (/2013) Net Worth Percentiles

United States Net Worth Brackets, Percentiles, and Top One Percent - DQYDJ (2)

PK

PK started DQYDJ in 2009 to research and discuss finance and investing and help answer financial questions. He's expanded DQYDJ to build visualizations, calculators, and interactive tools.

PK lives in New Hampshire with his wife, kids, and dog.

United States Net Worth Brackets, Percentiles, and Top One Percent - DQYDJ (2024)

FAQs

What is the top 1% of Americans net worth? ›

Key Takeaways
  • The minimum net worth of the top 1% of households is roughly $13.7 million. ...
  • An individual would have to earn an average of $407,500 per year to join the top 1%. ...
  • The median household income in the U.S. was $74,580 in 2022.

What is top 5% wealth net worth in the US? ›

The most recent data from the Fed's Survey of Consumer Finances comes from the end of 2022. If you wanted to be in the top 5% of households at that point, you would need a net worth of $3,795,000. As you might expect, though, you don't need as much to reach the top 5% of younger households.

What percentile is a $3 million net worth? ›

The 95th percentile, with a net worth of $3.2 million, is considered wealthy, facilitating estate planning and possibly owning multiple homes. The top 1%, or the 99th percentile, has a net worth of $16.7 million and represents the very wealthy, who enjoy considerable financial freedom and luxury​​.

What is the top 2% net worth America? ›

Top 2% wealth: The top 2% of Americans have a net worth of about $2.472 million, aligning closely with the surveyed perception of wealth. Top 5% wealth: The next tier, the top 5%, has a net worth of around $1.03 million. Top 10% wealth: The top 10% of the population has a net worth of approximately $854,900.

How many people have $3000000 in savings in the USA? ›

There are estimated to be a little over 8 million households in the US with a net worth of $3 million or more.

What is the average age to reach $1 million net worth? ›

A middle-age Millionaires' Row: Average 50-something now has net worth over $1 million. Sometime around age 50, the average American can now expect a household net worth exceeding $1 million. How did so many 50-somethings become millionaires? Household wealth swelled at a record pace during the pandemic.

Does net worth include home? ›

Household wealth or net worth is the value of assets owned by every member of the household minus their debt. The terms are used interchangeably in this report. Assets include owned homes, vehicles, financial accounts, retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and mutual funds, and more.

Is $7 million enough to retire at 60? ›

Retiring with $7 million means you can bid adieu to financial anxiety. You've amassed a significant nest egg that, when managed prudently, can provide you with a stable and worry-free income for the rest of your life. Basic living expenses like housing, healthcare and groceries will no longer keep you up at night.

How many people have $2000000 in savings? ›

According to estimates based on the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, a mere 3.2% of retirees have over $1 million in their retirement accounts. The number of those with $2 million or more is even smaller, falling somewhere between this 3.2% and the 0.1% who have $5 million or more saved.

What percentage of US citizens have a net worth over 2.5 million? ›

Additionally, statistics show that the top 2% of the United States population has a net worth of about $2.4 million. On the other hand, the top 5% wealthiest Americans have a net worth of just over $1 million. Therefore, about 2% of the population possesses enough wealth to meet the current definition of being rich.

Is 2 million considered wealthy? ›

This year's study reveals that Americans now think it takes an average of $2.5 million to be considered wealthy – which is up slightly from 2023 and 2022 ($2.2 million).

What net worth is upper class? ›

The top 10% of households have a median net worth of $2.7 million, per the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, compared to a little more than $790,000 for the next highest bracket. Middle class Americans hold just less than $170,000.

What is the top 1% net worth by age? ›

Average net worth by top percentile and age
AgeTop 1% net worth
35-39$4,741,320
40-44$7,835,420
45-49$8,701,500
50-54$13,231,940
3 more rows
Mar 27, 2024

What is considered wealthy in 2024? ›

Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey released this week found Americans now believe it takes a $2.5 million net worth on average to be considered wealthy in 2024, up from $2.2 million for the past two years.

What is top 1% net worth globally? ›

Number of people belonging to the global top 1 percent of wealth holders* in 2022, by country (in 1,000s) *The source provides the following information: a person needs at least 1,055,338 U.S. dollars of net worth to be a member of the top 1%.

How much does the top 1% in America make? ›

The "top 1%" is a term that generally refers to the wealthiest people in a population based on income or net worth. The data from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) shows that annual wages for the top 1% in 2021 in the U.S. reached $819,324 on average.

What net worth is considered rich in America? ›

Americans say you need a net worth of at least $2.5 million to feel wealthy, according to Charles Schwab's annual Modern Wealth Survey, which surveyed 1,000 Americans ages 21 to 75 in March 2024. That's up slightly from $2.2 million, compared with last year's survey results.

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