Average Net Worth by Age in 2026 and How a Prenup Fits In

What Is the Average Net Worth by Age in 2026?

Median U.S. household net worth stood at about $215,900 in 2025, and it rises with each successive age group through the mid-70s. The table below draws from the Federal Reserve's 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), a nationally representative survey of 4,367 families released in October 2026. Average and median figures come from the same dataset.

Sources: Federal Reserve 2025 SCF via Investopedia, Kiplinger, Yahoo Finance, and DQYDJ. Ranges reflect slight rounding differences across published analyses of the same Fed dataset.

One important caveat: dashboard-based figures, like those from Empower's Personal Dashboard (September 2026), are drawn from self-selected users, not a representative national sample. Empower's median for users in their 30s, for instance, is about $28,616, noticeably different from the Fed's $63,826 median for ages 30 to 34. Use the Fed data as the more reliable national benchmark.

Median vs. Average Net Worth: Why the Gap Matters

Median net worth is the better benchmark for most couples because it represents the true midpoint: half of households have more, half have less. Averages get pulled sharply upward by the wealthiest households.

Consider the under-35 bracket. The average net worth is roughly $183,500, but the median is just about $33,000. That gap exists because a relatively small number of young households with large inheritances, stock grants, or business equity inflate the average while most young adults are still building wealth and carrying student loan or housing debt.

The latest Fed data also shows that gains were not evenly shared between 2022 and 2025:

• Under 35: Median net worth fell roughly 23%, dropping to about $33,000.
• 75 and older: Median net worth jumped about 37% to approximately $504,900.
• Top 10% of earners: Median net worth rose 31% to $3.67 million.
• Bottom 20% of earners: Median net worth declined 6% to $14,400.

As Rob Haworth of U.S. Bank Asset Management Group has noted, older and more affluent households benefited from double-digit stock market gains in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Younger households and lower-income families tend to own fewer financial assets and carry larger debt loads, which limited their wealth growth.

When you're using net worth data to compare your household to others, stick with the median.

What Should Your Net Worth Be at 30 and 40?

If you're around 30, a reasonable national benchmark is a median net worth of about $63,826 (ages 30–34). By 40 to 44, the median climbs to roughly $184,220. These figures come from the 2025 SCF's more granular five-year age brackets.

A few things to keep in mind:

• These are midpoints, not targets. A 32-year-old physician still in residency with $200,000 in student debt will look very different from a 32-year-old software engineer who's been maxing out a 401(k) for eight years. Both can be on track for their circumstances.
• Net worth at 30 is heavily influenced by education debt. The Fed data shows the 25th percentile for ages 30–34 is just $7,528, meaning a quarter of households in that bracket have a net worth below that figure.
• Net worth at 40 reflects homeownership. Home equity is typically the single largest asset for middle-net-worth households, and by the early 40s many homeowners have paid down a meaningful share of their mortgage principal.

Rather than fixating on hitting a specific number, think of these benchmarks as a compass. They can help you and your partner understand where you each stand and what financial goals you want to prioritize together.

How to Calculate Your Net Worth Before Marriage

Calculating your net worth is a straightforward exercise: total your assets and subtract your total liabilities. Doing this before marriage gives both partners a clear financial snapshot and lays the groundwork if you decide to create a prenuptial agreement.

Step-by-step:

1. List all assets. Include checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, Roth IRA), brokerage accounts, real estate (use a reasonable market estimate), business interests, vehicles, and any other property with meaningful value.
2. List all liabilities. Include mortgage balances, student loans, auto loans, credit card balances, personal loans, and any other debts.
3. Subtract liabilities from assets. The result is your net worth. A negative number is common for younger adults with student debt and little accumulated savings.
4. Date and save the document. Having a dated record of each partner's pre-marriage net worth can be useful for financial planning and, if relevant, for a prenup's asset schedule.
5. Repeat for your partner. Each person should complete this independently so you both have a clear, honest picture.

Common items couples overlook:

• Vested stock options or restricted stock units (RSUs)
• Defined benefit pension values
• Cash value of life insurance policies
• Outstanding tax liabilities
• Co-signed loans or personal guarantees

This is a general financial planning exercise. If you need a formal valuation of a business, real property, or complex holdings, consult a financial professional or appraiser.

How Net Worth and a Prenup Work Together

A prenuptial agreement gives couples a structured way to outline expectations about the assets, debts, and financial growth each person brings into and accumulates during a marriage. When you already know your net worth, that conversation starts with real numbers instead of assumptions.

Here's how the two connect:

• Clarifying what's separate and what's shared. A prenup can define which assets remain individually owned (like a business started before marriage or an inheritance) and which become joint property. Net worth data makes those designations concrete.
• Addressing debts openly. If one partner carries $120,000 in student loans and the other has none, a prenup can spell out how that debt will be handled during the marriage and in the event of a separation.
• Planning for growth. Couples can address how future income, retirement contributions, and investment appreciation will be treated, a question that becomes more pressing as net worth grows through your 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Lawyer-led vs. template approaches

Online templates can be inexpensive, but they don't account for your state's specific requirements or the nuances of your financial situation. A lawyer-led prenup involves each party working with their own independent attorney, which helps ensure both partners understand the terms and that the agreement meets the legal standards in your jurisdiction.

Neptune offers a lawyer-led online prenup where each party chooses their own independent attorney. This keeps the process collaborative while giving each partner individual legal guidance.

You don't need a complex estate or millions in assets to benefit from a prenup. Even couples in their late 20s or 30s with modest net worth often find value in setting expectations about finances early. If you have business interests, significant separate assets, or uneven debt loads, working with a qualified attorney becomes especially important.

Steps to Plan a Prenup Around Your Net Worth

Here is a practical sequence for turning your net worth knowledge into a completed prenuptial agreement.

1. Calculate and share your net worth (general planning step). Both partners complete the asset-minus-liabilities exercise described above. Transparency here builds trust and ensures the agreement rests on accurate information.
2. Discuss your priorities as a couple (general planning step). Talk about what matters most: keeping a family business separate, splitting retirement savings, handling one partner's student debt, or planning for a future home purchase. Write down your shared priorities before engaging attorneys.
3. Engage independent attorneys (requires licensed attorney in your state). Each partner should have their own attorney. Courts in many states look more favorably on prenups when both parties had independent legal counsel. Your attorney will explain how your state's laws affect the terms you're considering.
4. Draft the agreement (requires licensed attorney). One attorney typically drafts the initial document. It should include a full financial disclosure schedule, meaning the net worth inventory you prepared in step one.
5. Review and negotiate (requires licensed attorney). The other partner's attorney reviews the draft, raises concerns, and negotiates changes. This back-and-forth is normal and healthy.
6. Sign well before the wedding. Aim to finalize the agreement at least 30 to 90 days before your wedding date. Signing under time pressure can raise questions about whether both parties entered the agreement voluntarily.
7. Store the signed agreement securely. Each partner and each attorney should keep a copy. Some couples also file a copy with their county clerk, depending on local practice.

Timing checklist

These timelines are general guidance, not legal requirements. Some states don't mandate a specific waiting period, but more lead time generally supports a smoother process and a stronger agreement.