How much does the average American make in a lifetime?

Asked by: Dustin Zieme Sr.  |  Last update: September 27, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (62 votes)

Overall, the median lifetime earnings for all workers are $1.7 million, which is just under $42,000 per year ($20 per hour).

How much does the average American work in a lifetime?

The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. Andrew Naber '07 conducts research to make it better.

Does the average person make $1000000 in a lifetime?

The average American earns more than $1 million in their lifetime. Use our calculator to find out what your likely lifetime earnings will be and how to protect them.

How much money does the average American spend in their lifetime?

The average person spends about $3.3 million in their lifetime. Housing is the biggest expense, making up about 44% of lifetime spending. Transportation costs can add up to nearly $470,000 over a lifetime. Healthcare and insurance can cost around $290,000 throughout life.

How much does the average American make a year?

The average salary in the U.S. is $63,795, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration.

If I Wanted to Become a Millionaire In 2025, I'd Do This

20 related questions found

Is 30k a year poverty?

The Poverty Threshold in 2024

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses the Census Bureau threshold to determine who is eligible for certain government assistance programs, like SNAP (food stamps). Under their guidelines, a family of four is considered impoverished if they earn $30,000 or less per year.

How much will the average person make in their lifetime?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with a high school diploma earn an average of approximately $1.3 million over their lifetime. Those with a bachelor's degree earn a significant increase, with average lifetime earnings of about $2.3 million.

How much money does an average person have in their bank account?

Key takeaways. The median transaction account balance in the U.S. is between $8,000, potentially insufficient for a few months without income. Generally, households with older members, higher income, and higher education levels have higher savings, but all should aim to save at least 15 percent of pre-tax income.

What is the biggest lifetime expense?

During most people's lifetime, we believe that there are six areas of spending which contribute to an adult's major life expenses. The six areas are home, car, marriage, children, education, and retirement.

Is 100k a year considered wealthy?

Middle class is defined as income that is two-thirds to double the national median income, or $47,189 and $141,568. By that definition, $100,000 is considered middle class. Keep in mind that those figures are for the nation. Each state has a different range of numbers to be considered middle class.

Can I live off 1 million?

Yes, it's possible to retire on $1 million today. In fact, with careful planning and a solid investment strategy, you could possibly live off the returns from a $1 million nest egg.

How much money do I need to invest to make $3,000 a month?

$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.

What percentage of Americans make over 100k?

Only 18% of individual Americans make more than $100,000 a year, according to 2023 data from careers website Zippia. About 34% of U.S. households earn more than $100,000 a year, according to Zippia.

Is 50 hours a week a lot?

Our data reveal that 62% of high-earning individuals work more than 50 hours a week, 35% work more than 60 hours a week, and 10% work more than 80 hours a week. Add in a typical one-hour commute, and a 60-hour workweek translates into leaving the house at 7 am and getting home at 9 pm five days a week.

What percentage of Americans work a 9'5"?

Just 42 percent of full-time employees work 40 hours a week, the traditional total based on five 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. workdays, Gallup said of findings it released ahead of the Labor Day weekend. Nearly the same percentage — 39 percent — say they work at least 50 hours a week.

How many Americans have 100k in savings?

14% of Americans Have $100,000 Saved for Retirement

Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement. According to the survey, only 14% of Americans have $100,000 or more saved in their retirement accounts. In fact, about 78% of Americans have $50,000 or less saved for retirement.

How many Americans live paycheck to paycheck?

By that measure, around 30% of American households are living paycheck to paycheck, according to Bank of America's internal data. Further, 26% of households spend 95% or more of their income on necessities, the bank reports.

How much money does an average person go through in a lifetime?

The Average American Spends $3.3 Million Over Their Lifetime: See How That Breaks Down. Believe it or not, the average American will spend millions of dollars over their lifetime — $3.3 million to be exact, according to a new study by OneMain Financial.

Which career is likely to earn the highest salary?

List of Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the World
  • Chief Executive officer.
  • Professional Athletes.
  • General and Orthopedic Surgeons.
  • Anesthesiologist.
  • Investment Banker.
  • Corporate Lawyers.
  • Software Engineers.
  • Cosmetic Surgeons.

What does the average middle class American make?

The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $80,610 in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 22 Using Pew's yardstick, middle income is made up of people who make between $43,350 and $130,000.

When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?

When one of them dies, the widowed spouse continues to receive $1,200 a month, but she is not entitled to both benefits. Total monthly family income is thus reduced to $1,200, half of their former income as a couple.

At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security?

For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.