Key takeaways

• IRA balances grow significantly with age, rising from about $46K in your 20s to over $700K in your 60s.
• The biggest balance growth happens between your 30s and 50s, when earnings and contributions typically peak.
• Traditional IRA balances are typically higher than Roth IRAs, largely due to rollovers from employer plans like 401(k)s.
   

The average individual retirement account (IRA) balance varies widely by age, with savers in their 20s holding an average of $46,107 compared to an average of $716,661 for those in their 60s. These figures reflect individual retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and rollover IRAs, based on anonymized Empower Personal Dashboard™ data as of March 2026.

Looking at average and median IRA balances by age can help you understand how your savings compare — especially since balances can differ significantly depending on contribution habits, investment growth, and account type.

Average IRA balance by age (latest data)

Traditional IRA balances increase significantly with age. The below table shows Americans’ average IRA balance by decade, according to Empower Personal Dashboard^TM as of March 2026.^*

Across all age groups, Americans’ average IRA balance is $281,280, while the median is $41,084. IRA balances tend to grow significantly over time, with the largest increases occurring during peak earning years. For example, average balances rise from $88,291 for savers in their 30s to $215,206 in the 40s — and more than double again by the 50s.

This growth reflects the combined impact of consistent contributions, investment returns, and time in the market. Over multiple decades, compounding can help turn relatively modest balances into substantially larger retirement savings.

Average Roth IRA balance by age

Roth IRA balances follow a different pattern, reflecting how these accounts are typically funded and used over time.

Across all age groups, Americans’ average Roth IRA balance is $106,073, while the median is $32,723. Roth IRA balances tend to be lower than overall IRA balances, in part because they are typically funded through annual contributions rather than large rollovers from employer-sponsored plans. As incomes rise over the course of a career, contributions may become more consistent — though income limits can restrict direct Roth IRA contributions for higher wage earners.

At the same time, Roth IRA balances often grow steadily over time, reflecting long-term investing and tax-free growth potential. Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs are not subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the original account owner, which may allow balances to continue growing for savers later in life. ¹

Average vs median IRA balances

Average figures are calculated by adding up total retirement savings and dividing by the number of savers. Because a relatively small number of high-balance accounts can pull the average upward, it may not reflect what most people have saved. Median balances show the midpoint — meaning half of savers have more and half have less — and may better reflect typical retirement savings.

IRA balances by generation

IRA balances vary widely by generation, reflecting differences in career stage, income, and time invested. Here’s how average and median IRA and Roth IRA balances compare across generations as of March 2026.

Older generations, such as Baby Boomers, tend to have the highest balances, while younger generations like Gen Z are earlier in their savings journey.

Roth IRA balances are more evenly distributed across generations and tend to grow more gradually over time.

Why are traditional IRA balances higher than Roth IRA balances?

Traditional IRA balances tend to be higher than Roth IRA balances in part because many are funded through rollovers from employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s. Around 62% of households who own traditional IRAs say their accounts contain rollovers from employer-sponsored plans, and 86% of that group rolled over the total balance in their most recent rollover.²

As people change jobs, they may move old workplace retirement accounts into IRAs to consolidate their savings or access more investment options. This rollover activity can significantly increase balances, especially for older workers who’ve had more time to accumulate and combine multiple accounts.

Read more: 5 potential benefits of 401(k) consolidation

By contrast, Roth IRAs are typically built through ongoing contributions rather than large rollovers. While contributions may increase as people progress in their careers and earn more, income limits can restrict eligibility.  For 2026, contributions begin to phase out at $146,000 for single filers and $230,000 for married couples filing jointly, limiting access for higher earners and contributing to more gradual balance growth over time.