Becoming a millionaire has long been part of the American dream, but saving $1 million is not just an idle fantasy for most Americans. Saving at least $1 million is a dream many feel must come true if they're going to have a comfortable retirement.
In fact, of the Americans who have attempted to figure out how much they must save for retirement, 37% believe they need at least $1 million, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
Saving enough for retirement is a significant source of stress, and it's natural to worry about reaching a savings goal of $1 million. Banking this much money may seem impossible on an average person's salary, but could it actually be realistic? Can the average person, without a big inheritance or a lucky lotto win, become a millionaire?
Can you actually become a millionaire on an average salary?
There are a lot of factors that determine whether you can save $1 million or not, including how much you can invest and how fast those investments grow. The biggest factor, however, is your age when you start saving.
The table below shows the amount you would need to save -- and the percentage of your monthly income you'd need to save -- in order to become a millionaire by age 63, the average retirement age in the U.S. The calculations assume you save the same amount each month until you turn 63, earning an average return of 7% per year. The monthly income is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' data on median pre-tax earnings in late 2016.
Age | Monthly savings needed | Monthly income | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
20 | $305.23 | $2,288.00 | 13.35% |
25 | $442.37 | $3,284.67 | 13.47% |
30 | $647.64 | $3,284.67 | 19.72% |
35 | $962.75 | $4,116.67 | 23.39% |
40 | $1,465.85 | $4,116.67 | 35.61% |
45 | $2,321.68 | $4,168.67 | 55.69% |
50 | $3,947.40 | $4,168.67 | 94.69% |
55 | $7,800.37 | $4,134.00 | 188.69% |
60 | $25,043.73 | $4,134.00 | 605.80% |
Obviously, it's much easier to become a millionaire if you start early.
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If you wait until 55 to begin saving, it's impossible to save enough to become a millionaire if you earn the median monthly income -- unless you get very lucky with your investments.
