How Much Should I Save for Retirement?
There's no single magic number — but there is a clear framework. Here's how much your savings rate and starting age really matter, with projections you can check yourself.
Last updated January 15, 2026
There's no magic number — but there is a framework
A common rule of thumb is to save 15% of your income (including any employer match) for retirement. What matters even more than the exact percentage is when you start, because compound growth rewards time far more than it rewards a slightly higher contribution.
Take two identical savers on a $70,000 salary, both putting away 10% with a 3% employer match. The one who starts at 25 retires with about $2,534,695 at 65. The one who waits until 35 retires with only $1,133,176 — a gap of roughly $1,401,519 for a ten-year delay, even though they only skipped ten years of contributions.
How your savings rate changes the outcome
Starting at 30 on the same $70,000 salary, here is how the contribution rate moves the needle by 65 (with a 3% employer match on top):
| Your contribution | Balance at 65 | In today's dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 6% of salary | $1,182,801 | $498,398 |
| 10% of salary | $1,708,490 | $719,908 |
| 15% of salary | $2,365,602 | $996,796 |
$70,000 salary, start age 30, 7% return, 2% raises, 3% employer match, 2.5% inflation. Computed live from the retirement engine.
What to do with this
First, always contribute at least enough to capture the full employer match — it is an immediate, guaranteed return. Second, aim to raise your rate toward 15% over time, ideally bumping it a point each year or whenever you get a raise. Third, start now rather than waiting for a "better" salary: as the numbers above show, the years in the market do most of the work.
Model your own age, balance, salary and match in the retirement calculator, and see the compounding year by year in the investment calculator.
⚠️ Estimates use 2025 IRS brackets and standard deductions for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, plus each state's single-filer income tax. For general guidance only — not tax or investment advice. Verify with a professional or the IRS.