Key Highlights
- The average American household has approximately $97,000 in total debt
- The median savings account balance for American households is around $5,300
- The average American spends about $1,200 per month on housing costs
- About 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck
- The average credit card debt per U.S. household with credit card debt is approximately $8,300
- Only about 41% of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense
- The average American age 65 and older has about $88,000 in retirement savings
- The median household income in the U.S. is approximately $68,700
- Americans hold roughly 20% of their wealth in real estate
- The typical student loan debt in the U.S. is around $37,000
- About 63% of Americans are worried about their financial security
- The average annual household expenditure in the U.S. is approximately $67,000
- Roughly 54% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings
Did you know that despite earning an average household income of nearly $69,000, most Americans are drowning in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and unprepared for retirement?
Debts and Credit Usage
- The average American household has approximately $97,000 in total debt
- The average credit card debt per U.S. household with credit card debt is approximately $8,300
- The typical student loan debt in the U.S. is around $37,000
- Approximately 65% of Americans have a credit card
- The average annual interest paid on credit card debt is around $600
- An estimated 78 million Americans are living with debt that is 90 days overdue
- The average American mortgage debt is approximately $202,000
- The average American has about 3 credit cards
- The median debt per American household with debt is approximately $106,000
Debts and Credit Usage Interpretation
Financial Literacy and Preparedness
- Only 48% of Americans have completed a financial literacy course
- About 83% of Americans support increased financial education in schools
Financial Literacy and Preparedness Interpretation
Household Finances and Savings
- The median savings account balance for American households is around $5,300
- Only about 41% of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense
- Americans hold roughly 20% of their wealth in real estate
- About 63% of Americans are worried about their financial security
- Roughly 54% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings
- Only 24% of Americans have a dedicated financial plan or budget
- The national savings rate in the U.S. was approximately 2.4% in 2023
- 56% of Americans lack investment accounts
- Nearly 60% of Americans report that they are not saving for a major purchase, such as a house or car, within the next year
- The median household net worth in the U.S. is about $121,700
- The average American spends about $50 annually on financial advisory services
- Nearly 70% of Americans have less than $10,000 in savings
- The median amount held in checking accounts by Americans is approximately $3,000
- The average American credit score is around 700
- Only about 15% of Americans actively invest in stocks
- Only 27% of Americans have a will or estate plan
- Approximately 61% of Americans have experienced identity theft
- About 50% of Americans have less than $400 in emergency savings
- Only 14% of Americans have a long-term care insurance policy
- Approximately 55% of Americans do not have a budget or spending plan
- Only about 26% of Americans save for college
- Nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured for health insurance
Household Finances and Savings Interpretation
Income and Expenditure Patterns
- The average American spends about $1,200 per month on housing costs
- About 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck
- The median household income in the U.S. is approximately $68,700
- The average annual household expenditure in the U.S. is approximately $67,000
- The average U.S. household spends about 18% of its income on transportation
- The average American spends about $239 annually on lottery tickets
- The median age at which Americans buy their first home is 33 years old
- The average American spends roughly 17 minutes per day on financial activities
- The average American spends about $30 monthly on streaming services, totaling around $360 annually
- The average American spends about $1,000 annually on uninsured medical expenses
- The average American spends around $2,200 annually on private health insurance premiums
- Roughly 82% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck at least occasionally
- The average American spends nearly $1,000 annually on gambling
- The typical American spends about 10 hours per week on leisure and entertainment
- The average American spends about $650 annually on clothing and footwear
- The average American pays about $12,000 per year in taxes, including federal, state, and local
Income and Expenditure Patterns Interpretation
Retirement Planning and Wealth
- The average American age 65 and older has about $88,000 in retirement savings
- The average 401(k) balance for American workers is about $106,000
- Nearly 1 in 4 Americans has no retirement savings at all
- About 40% of Americans do not have any retirement savings
- Only about 34% of Americans contribute enough to their retirement accounts to meet the recommended 15% of income
- The average retirement age in the U.S. is approximately 62 years old
- About 72% of Americans plan to work past age 65 due to financial reasons
- Nearly 60% of Americans report they are behind on saving for retirement
- About 44% of Americans report that they are not saving anything for retirement
Retirement Planning and Wealth Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1FEDERALRESERVEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 2CENSUSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 3FNCEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 4NEWYORKFEDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 5GALLUPResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 6SSAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 7FINANCIALSAMURAIResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 8STUDENTAIDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 9TRANSUNIONResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 10BLSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 11FINANCIALSTANDARDResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 12FEDWEEKResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 13MARKETWATCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 14NASPLResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 15BEAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 16ZILLOWResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 17FINANCIALLITERACYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 18PEWRESEARCHResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 19INVESTOPEDIAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 20FANNIE MAEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 21STATISTAResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 22PWCResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 23FINANCIALADVISORResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 24FICOResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 25FIDELITYResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 26AMERICANBARResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 27PRIVACYRIGHTSResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 28KFFResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 29LONGTERMCAREResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 30HEALTHPAYERINTELLIGENCEResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 31GAMINGCOMMISSIONResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 32NCESResearch Publication(2024)Visit source
- Reference 33TAXFOUNDATIONResearch Publication(2024)Visit source