Vanguard Puts Pre-Retiree 401(k) Median at $107,269 as Average Reaches $305,000
Updated
Updated · AOL · Aug 17
Vanguard Puts Pre-Retiree 401(k) Median at $107,269 as Average Reaches $305,000
1 articles · Updated · AOL · Aug 17
Summary
Vanguard’s 2026 savings report shows workers aged 55 to 64 hold a median 401(k) balance of $107,269, far below the $305,000 average that is skewed by a smaller group with very large accounts.
Using a 4% withdrawal rule, those balances translate to roughly $4,300 a year from the median account versus about $12,200 from the average—neither enough on its own to fund a typical retirement.
Median balances barely rise after that stage: Vanguard puts the 65-and-older median near $103,000, suggesting many savers add little in their final working years.
Broader retirement savings look somewhat higher because Vanguard counts only the 401(k)s it administers; the Federal Reserve pegs the median across all retirement accounts for ages 55 to 64 at about $185,000.
For workers trying to close the gap, 2026 catch-up rules allow an extra $8,000 in 401(k) contributions after age 50 and up to $11,250 for ages 60 to 63, alongside any employer match.