Here's How Much the Average Millennial Is Worth (2024)

Millennials, the generation born between 1981 and 1996, have been the subject of many headlines over the years. The media in the past dubbed them "the avocado toast generation" for their spending habits, but how much is the average millennial actually worth? With the oldest of millennials now past the age of 40, things have changed since the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19.

Millennials' net worth doubles

The U.S. economy has been fundamentally transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years. By providing significant government relief and lowering interest rates, households have been able to accumulate wealth despite the impact of inflation. In fact, the net worth of U.S. households rose by 40% from $103.99 trillion in Q1 2020 to $141.10 trillion in Q1 2022.

Millennials have also experienced significant financial benefits as a result of the pandemic, with their net worth more than doubling. According to MagnifyMoney's latest study, the average net worth of millennials surged to $127,793 in the first quarter of 2022. Compared to the pre-COVID figure of $62,758, it has increased by a staggering 103.2%.

Much of this growth is from real estate, government initiatives such as extended unemployment benefits and loan forbearance, as well as higher income.

However, despite this growth, their net worth still trails behind that of older generations. The average net worth of a millennial surpasses only that of Gen Z. On average, millennials under 35 years old have a net worth of $76,000, while those over 35 have over $400,000.

Gen X has an average net worth ranging from $400,000 to $833,000, whereas the older generations, comprised of baby boomers and the Silent Generation, boast an average net worth of more than $1 million.

Over half of millennials now own a home

In 2022, a significant event occurred for the millennial generation, as more than half of them (about 51.5%) became homeowners. This milestone reflects the trend of millennials increasingly investing in real estate.

According to RentCafe, out of the 10.8 million new millennial homeowners gained over the past decade, 7 million of them acquired their homes in the last five years. This surge in home buying has been driven by the availability of low mortgage rates.

While there was a prime opportunity for millennials to purchase homes at the start of the pandemic, the Federal Reserve has since increased rates in response to rising inflation. As a result, those who did not participate in the home-buying trend may have missed out.

Millennials' average salary also increased

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those aged 25-34 earn a median salary of $1,003 per week or $52,156 annually, which is considerably higher than those aged 20-24. This increase is expected as young professionals begin to rise through the ranks.

Moreover, this demographic includes many who have completed graduate programs, leading to higher salaries. Meanwhile, those aged 35-44 have a median salary of $1,197 per week or $62,244 per year -- providing a glimpse of the financial growth to come.

How to increase your net worth

There's no denying that increasing your net worth can improve your financial stability and provide greater peace of mind. The good news is that there are steps you can take to make this a reality. One way to increase your net worth is to prioritize saving and investing.

By cutting back on unnecessary expenses and consistently investing a portion of your income, you can steadily grow your wealth over time. Another approach is to focus on boosting your income through furthering your education, pursuing new job opportunities, or starting a side hustle.

Regardless of your individual circ*mstances, the key is to remain disciplined in your financial habits and make a conscious effort to prioritize long-term financial growth. By taking consistent action towards increasing your net worth, you can achieve your goals and improve your overall personal finances.

It's remarkable to see how much millennials have achieved in such a short period of time. It's clear that the average net worth of millennials is on the rise and is expected to keep rising in the next few years. Overall, this tells us one thing: It's never too late for people to take their financial destiny into their own hands and strive towards success. With clever budgeting, proper planning, and the support of friends and family, any generation will be able to further their financial wellbeing and build a strong foundation for their future.

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Here's How Much the Average Millennial Is Worth (2024)

FAQs

Here's How Much the Average Millennial Is Worth? ›

However, despite this growth, their net worth still trails behind that of older generations. The average net worth of a millennial surpasses only that of Gen Z. On average, millennials under 35 years old have a net worth of $76,000, while those over 35 have over $400,000.

How much is the average millennial worth? ›

The average millennial's net worth grew from $64,000 to $111,000 between the first quarter of 2020 and 2022. But inflation and other factors caused their net worth to dip last year. Two factors could shape the future of millennial wealth, experts told Insider.

How much does the average millennial have saved? ›

Our survey found that the majority of Gen Zers (54%) and Millennials (52%) have less than $5,000 saved, compared to 42% of Gen X respondents and 29% of Baby Boomers. Unsurprisingly, the oldest generation—Baby Boomers—have amassed the most impressive savings balances.

What is the top 1% of millennials? ›

When Millennials Make the 1% Mark — For Their Age Group. Consider that millennials are toward the younger end of earners, which plays a role in where they fall on the net worth continuum. “They hit the top 25% at around $50,000 and the top 1% at about $175,000,” Jennings said.

What is a good salary for millennials? ›

The old adage is “Just a little bit more than I currently have.” For millennials, however, make that 480% more. In a 2023 study by financial services company Empower, millennials reported needing to earn $525,000 a year to be happy.

Is 30k in savings good at 25? ›

By the time you're 25, you probably have accrued at least a few years in the workforce, so you may be starting to think seriously about saving money. But saving might still be a challenge if you're earning an entry-level salary or you have significant student loan debt. By age 25, you should have saved about $20,000.

Which generation is the wealthiest? ›

Millennials stand to become the richest generation in history, after $90 trillion wealth transfer | CNN Business.

Do 66% of millennials have nothing saved for retirement? ›

More specifically, the analysis finds that 66 percent of working Millennials have nothing saved for retirement, and the situation is far worse for working Millennial Latinos. Some 83 percent of Latinos in this generation have nothing saved for retirement.

Can I retire at 55 with 300k? ›

Can I retire at 55 with £300k? On average for a comfortable retirement, an individual will spend £43,100 a year, whilst the average couple in retirement spends £59,000 a year. This means if you retire at 55 with £300k, an individual will run out of funds in approximately 7 years, and a couple in 5 years.

How much money will a millennial need to retire? ›

By generation, both Gen Z and Millennials expect to need more than $1.6 million to retire comfortably. High-net-worth individuals – people with more than $1 million in investable assets – say they'll need nearly $4 million.

Are there 2 types of millennials? ›

A Tale of Two Millennials

Like Boomers, Millennials are a huge generation that we sometimes split into two subgroups: Early Millennials (born 1980-1987) and Recessionists (born 1988-1995). The fairly obvious element that divides these two groups is life stage.

What do millennials value most? ›

Millennials embody a set of evolving values and aspirations that greatly influence their choices and behaviors. This generation highly values authority, achievement, and influence, demonstrating a strong desire for control, success, and recognition.

Is Gen Z the cut off of millennials? ›

Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996 while members of the Gen Z years Gen Z years were born between 1997 and 2012. Millennials expect faster customer service. Gen Z tends to be better at accepting delayed gratification than millennials. Millennial customer service expectations are higher than Gen Z customers.

What is the most common job for millennials? ›

Check out the list below to see the most popular jobs for Millennials.
  • Statisticians. ...
  • Bartenders. ...
  • Financial analysts. ...
  • Advertising and promotions managers. ...
  • Physician assistants. ...
  • Web developers. ...
  • Market research analysts and marketing specialists. ...
  • Television, video, and motion picture camera operators and editors.

How many millennials make 100k? ›

In 2022, around 4.8 million people between 25 to 34 years old whose annual income was 100,000 U.S. dollars or more obtained that income through wages and salary.

Are millennials struggling financially? ›

Close to half of respondents report feeling hopeless about their financial situation. Many factors are at play, including income, debt, dwindling savings, and poor financial choices. Close to 75% of millennial women and 70% of all those surveyed say they struggle to make ends meet with their current salary.

How much will the average millennial inherit? ›

To that point, 68%, of millennials and Gen Zers have received or expect to receive an inheritance of nearly $320,000, on average, USA Today Blueprint found. Additionally, 52% of millennials think they'll get even more — at least $350,000 — according to a separate survey by Alliant Credit Union.

What's the average net worth of a 30 year old? ›

Average net worth by age
Age by decadeAverage net worthMedian net worth
20s$99,272$6,980
30s$277,788$34,691
40s$713,796$126,881
50s$1,310,775$292,085
4 more rows

How much money is millennial net worth? ›

For reference, the median of millennial net worth is $135,600. The true geometric average of millennial net worth is actually $549,600 - but that number is heavily skewed by outliers like Mark Zuckerberg. So, what that means is, if you want to be "better" than average, the 50% mark is $135,600 overall.

How much wealth do millennials hold? ›

U.S. wealth distribution 1990-2023, by generation

In comparison, millennials own around 9.2 percent of total wealth in the U.S. In terms of population distribution, there is almost an equal share of millennials and baby boomers in the United States.

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