The top tier is a state that many aspire to achieve, but there isn’t just one metric that proves you’ve made it there. There are many signs that signal this financial situation, and they are present in a fiery, full fashion. For one thing, the Pew Research Center reports that high-level workers tend to earn a median income of $169,800 or more by 2022. This amount will always depend on your location, but regardless of where you live, the income is not the end of the class. One important action item that actually gets less attention than you might think among high-income earners is retirement savings. Unfortunately, 401(k) contributions seem to be a place paid for by high-profile salespeople and other high-profile individuals. The average 401(K) for those earning more than $150,000 stands at about $377,000, with a median figure of more than $221,000, according to 2025 data from Vanguard. That may sound like a lot, but it’s actually pretty accurate.
Wealth gives and takes, so some of the highest earners can find themselves blowing most of their income on capital expenditures, leaving time to pay for certain essentials. Wealthy earners sometimes focus too much on the current drawdown — they see buying a nice home or car as a status symbol — but fail to fully fund your retirement accounts, no matter how much you make.
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When you reach 67 — or the full retirement age for Americans — experts say you’ll want to put aside ten of your paychecks. For those in the upper class, these numbers will be much higher. Even with the middle number, many in the upper class won’t have their annual salary saved in a 401(K) account yet, let alone one. Often, the more they make, the more people prioritize retirement savings, which is why retirement savings for eligible seniors can surprise you. Those at the highest level claim more income, while those earning between $75,000 and $99,999 have average 401(k) ratios between 1.09 and 1.45 times their income. Meanwhile, those making less than $75,000 may have less than one year’s salary.
So, while high earners often have trouble prioritizing their retirement savings, they tend to be more successful at it than others. Similarly, while social security isn’t meant to make anyone rich, those who earn more from their jobs can expect to draw a bigger benefit check in retirement. On the other hand, those with lower incomes are more likely to rent. That may not be the ideal arrangement for the right people, but it allows a lot of flexibility to create room for retirement savings, something that senior executives may not have.
