Key takeaways

• 401(k) millionaires have put away close to $1.3 million on average in their workplace plans
• Retirement millionaires have saved nearly $2.5 million on average in their combined retirement accounts
• People are reaching retirement millionaire status in their 50s, with average balances of $1,080,916

Who wants to be a 401(k) millionaire?

Reaching $1 million in retirement savings is a milestone many may aspire to — and Empower Personal Dashboard™ data offers a look at the balances and behaviors of people who have already crossed that threshold.

As of September 30, 2026, Dashboard users with at least $1 million in their 401(k) accounts had an average 401(k) balance of $1,269,416. That’s up from $1,251,876 a year earlier, an increase of 1.4%.

Retirement millionaires — Dashboard users with at least $1 million in employer-sponsored plans and individually controlled IRA savings and investment accounts — had an average retirement balance of $2,476,816 as of September 30, 2026, up 3.7% year over year.

Change in average balances – accounts with at least $1 million

*Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboard™ as of September 30, 2026.

Average 401(k) balances overall reached $354,084 as of September 30, 2026, up 7.3% year over year. Retirement balances overall increased 10.2% to $565,625 for the same period.

Change in average balances overall

*Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboard as of September 30, 2026.

Dashboard data shows that people are reaching the million-dollar retirement milestone in their 50s, with average balances of $1,080,916 as of September 30, 2026.

Average balances by age

*Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboard as of September 30, 2026.

Dashboard data shows an uptick in average 401(k) and overall retirement savings across every decade from September 2025 to September 2026.

How savers are spending

Still, these big savers are both spenders and carry debt, too. Among individuals with an average net worth of over $1 million, average credit card balances are around $7,751 as of September 30, 2026, according to Empower data. Some of the biggest average monthly expenditures for that same group for September 2026 include $4,552 on mortgages, $1,809 on rent, $1,379 on travel, $1,026 on general merchandise, $1,001 on restaurants, $695 on groceries, and $666 on clothing for the same period.

Read more: Top benefits of a 401(k) plan: Start saving early

Getting an early start

So, what does it take to achieve this retirement millionaire milestone? A look at the numbers — and behaviors — could offer some valuable insights.

Hitting the million-dollar threshold takes time and dashboard data shows people are prioritizing saving for retirement by starting early and saving continuously. In fact, the average retirement balance for people in their 20s is $154,126, and almost double that ($300,576) for those in their 30s as of September 30, 2026. This could indicate that while younger Americans may have liabilities like student loans, they are still committed to saving for retirement.

Read more: Understanding compound interest and its power

Not surprisingly, average overall retirement balances tend to increase steadily over time as earning potential rises, and up until they hit average retirement age when people start leaving the workforce and earnings years wind down. Dashboard data shows the average 401(k) balance of $645,000 for people in their 50s levels off and starts to dip to $581,696 when they reach their 60s.

While “consistently” and “as much as possible” may be good rules of thumb for saving, keep in mind there are contribution limits for 401(k)s: $24,500 in 2026 — and an additional $8,000 in catch-up contributions for those age 50 or older and $11,250 for people ages 60-63.

Read more: What are catch-up contributions? 

Taking advantage of matching contributions

Employers may offer a 401(k) matching program, where they match a portion of an employee’s contribution. This can have a powerful compounded effect over time — especially considering the opportunity to invest the funds for more potential growth. It’s critical, though, to pay attention to the required contribution amounts to get the full match — otherwise it’s essentially like leaving money on the table.

Read more: What is 401(k) matching and how does it work?

Diversifying across asset classes

Investing behaviors and the ability to grow wealth over time are also important functions of working to attain the retirement millionaire distinction. According to Dashboard data, average retirement savings overall increases by more than 95% from 20s to 30s, and over 105% from 30s to 40s. The decade from 40s to 50s represents another significant growth span: Average balances rise 75% during this period to surpass the $1 million milestone.

What do these investment portfolios have in common? According to Dashboard data, people with an average overall net worth of more than $1 million tend to invest in a mix across the main asset classes.*

Asset allocation for dashboard users with average net worth balances >$1 million

FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY: *Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboard as of September 30, 2026. User experiences may vary. This is not investment advice.**

Investors are most heavily weighted in U.S. stocks across decades, with those in their 20s having the highest U.S. stock holdings (54.8%). Individuals in their 30s and 40s have the lowest cash holdings (13.4%) among generations. Investing in U.S. stocks generally drops slightly by decade, offset by a gradual uptick in U.S. bond investing — with the most notable increase happening for people age 60 and over, suggesting a slightly more conservative investing approach among older generations.

Read more: What is the average asset allocation by age?

The big picture

Using online tools like the Empower Retirement Planner can help with setting retirement goals and developing strategies that align with these objectives along the way in order to maximize retirement savings.