Average Roth IRA Balance by Age: Benchmarks and Context

The average Roth IRA balance by age climbs from about $7,242 in your early twenties to $134,039 for savers 70 and older, according to IRS tax-year-2023 data, with an all-ages average near $57,450. Median balances run far lower than these averages, which is why a Roth that looks small next to your 401(k) is usually normal rather than a problem.

Last reviewed: August 2026 | Written and reviewed by Craig Wear, CFP®, founder of Q3 Advisors

What is the average Roth IRA balance by age?

The average Roth IRA balance by age is drawn from IRS Statistics of Income data for tax year 2023, which matches Form 5498 contribution records against Form 1040 filings for roughly 71 million account holders and was released in mid-2025. Averages start near $7,242 in the early twenties and reach $134,039 for people 70 and older. These figures cover Roth IRAs only, not 401(k) plans or traditional IRAs.

Average Roth IRA balance by age (IRS, tax year 2023)

The table below shows average Roth IRA balances by five-year age band from the IRS Statistics of Income release for tax year 2023. Averages, also called means, are pulled upward by a small number of very large accounts, so treat them as a ceiling rather than a typical result.

Median Roth IRA balance by decade (Empower, 2026)

The Empower Personal Dashboard reports both average and median Roth balances by decade, updated March 2026, from its own base of app users. Medians answer the question most people actually ask, because half of savers in a group hold less and half hold more. Empower reports an all-ages median of $32,723 and an all-ages average of $106,073.

Generational cuts follow the same pattern, with Gen Z and Millennial Roth holders showing smaller balances than Gen X and Boomer holders, largely because they have had fewer years to contribute and compound.

Why the IRS average and the Empower average don’t match

The IRS all-ages average of $57,450 and the Empower all-ages average of $106,073 differ by nearly two times because they measure different populations. The IRS figure covers the full tax universe of about 71 million Roth account holders, including small and dormant accounts. Empower measures self-selected users of a wealth-tracking app, a group that skews toward higher balances. For a population-wide benchmark, the IRS number is the more representative starting point.

Average vs. median: which Roth number should you actually compare yourself to?

For most savers, the median is the more useful comparison because it marks the true midpoint, while the average is inflated by a small group of very large Roth accounts. Empower shows the gap plainly: an all-ages median of $32,723 against an all-ages average of $106,073. If your balance beats the median for your age, you are ahead of half of savers in that group.

Why the average runs so far ahead of the median

The average runs ahead of the median because Roth balances are right-skewed. A relatively small number of long-time savers and high earners who converted large sums hold outsized accounts, and those accounts drag the mean upward without changing where the middle sits. The median ignores those extremes, which is why it is the fairer yardstick for a typical household. Averages still matter for spotting how skewed a group has become.

Why is my Roth IRA balance smaller than my 401(k)?

Your Roth IRA balance is usually smaller than your 401(k) for three structural reasons, not because you are behind: the Roth IRA contribution limit is roughly a third of the 401(k) limit, the Roth IRA is a younger account type with later mass adoption, and 401(k)s absorb large rollover dollars that Roth IRAs rarely see. Opening a custodial Roth IRA for a child with earned income starts that compounding decades earlier. Comparing the two raw balances directly can therefore be misleading.

The contribution limit is a third the size ($7,500 vs $24,500 in 2026)

In 2026 the Roth IRA contribution limit is $7,500 for those under 50 and $8,600 for those 50 and older, thanks to a $1,100 catch-up. The 401(k) employee deferral limit is $24,500. Because the IRA cap is close to 30 percent of the 401(k) cap, a Roth IRA simply cannot hold as much from annual contributions, even over decades. See our summary of the 2026 retirement contribution limits for the full figures.

The Roth IRA is younger and adopted later

The Roth IRA was created by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and first became available in 1998, while the 401(k) traces to 1978 and spread widely through the 1980s. Many older savers spent decades funding pretax accounts before a Roth was even an option, and broad Roth adoption came later still. Fewer contribution years means less time to compound, which shows up as smaller balances.

401(k)s get rollovers; Roth IRAs mostly get annual contributions ($653B vs $24B)

Traditional retirement dollars move in large lumps, while Roth IRAs mostly grow one annual contribution at a time. IRS data for 2023 shows about $653 billion rolled into traditional IRAs, chiefly from departing 401(k) participants, against roughly $24 billion into Roth IRAs. That gap is a major reason traditional IRA and 401(k) balances dwarf Roth balances. A planned Roth conversion is one route those pretax dollars can take into the Roth column.

Why the balance matters less than the tax-free nature

A Roth IRA balance can be smaller than a pretax balance and still be worth more in spendable terms, because qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free and the account carries no lifetime required minimum distributions. When you compare accounts, the after-tax value matters more than the raw dollar figure, and that reframing often changes how a modest-looking Roth should be read.

A $50,000 Roth is worth more than a $50,000 pretax balance

A $50,000 Roth IRA is fully spendable, while a $50,000 pretax 401(k) or traditional IRA still owes income tax on every dollar withdrawn. At a 22 percent rate, that pretax balance may net closer to $39,000 after tax, so the equal-looking accounts are not equal. Investors weighing how much pretax money to move can review our walkthrough on how much to convert to Roth.

No required minimum distributions in your lifetime

Roth IRAs carry no required minimum distributions during the original owner’s lifetime, unlike traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, which begin RMDs at age 73 (age 75 for those born in 1960 or later). Qualified Roth withdrawals also stay out of the income figures used for the net investment income tax and Medicare surcharges. For the traditional side of the rules, see our overview of required minimum distributions in 2026.

How much can a Roth IRA actually hold from contributions? (2026 limits: $7,500 / $8,600)

From contributions alone, a Roth IRA can hold whatever you have added over the years plus growth, but each year’s addition is capped. For 2026 the limit is $7,500 under age 50 and $8,600 at 50 and older. Direct Roth contributions also phase out at higher income: $153,000 to $168,000 for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2026.

Because of those caps, a mid-career balance built purely from contributions naturally lands in the tens of thousands, which is exactly what the IRS bands show. Larger Roth balances typically come from long tenure, strong market growth, or conversions rather than from annual deposits.

How to use these benchmarks without panicking

These benchmarks work best as context, not a scorecard. Many savers find it helpful to compare their Roth against the median for their age, to remember that the account is only one slice of retirement savings alongside any 401(k) or traditional IRA, and to weigh the tax-free nature rather than the raw dollar total. Plenty of savers who feel behind on Roth dollars are on track once all accounts and future taxes are counted.

What percentage of people even contribute to an IRA?

Only a minority of eligible taxpayers contribute to any IRA in a given year. IRS and industry data consistently show that well under a fifth of eligible households make a direct IRA contribution annually, and Roth contributors are a subset of that group. That low participation is another reason typical balances stay modest, and it means simply funding a Roth each year can place you ahead of most peers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average Roth IRA balance?

The average Roth IRA balance across all ages is about $57,450, according to IRS Statistics of Income data for tax year 2023. Empower reports a higher all-ages average of $106,073 from its app users, along with a median of $32,723. The IRS figure is the broader, more representative benchmark because it covers the full tax universe of roughly 71 million account holders.

Is there a published median Roth IRA balance by age?

Yes. Empower publishes median Roth balances by decade as of March 2026: about $19,311 in your 20s, $29,085 in your 30s, $40,749 in your 40s, $50,820 in your 50s, and $61,221 in your 60s. The all-ages median is $32,723. Medians mark the true midpoint and are generally a fairer comparison than averages, which are skewed higher by large accounts.

What is the average IRA balance at 60?

For Roth IRAs, the average balance in the 60 to 64 age band is about $72,027, per IRS tax-year-2023 data, rising to roughly $90,028 for ages 65 to 69. Empower reports a median near $61,221 for savers in their 60s. Traditional IRA balances at these ages tend to be much larger because they absorb 401(k) rollovers.

What is the average IRA balance at 50?

For Roth IRAs, the average balance in the 50 to 54 age band is about $54,572, and $65,379 for ages 55 to 59, according to IRS tax-year-2023 figures. Empower reports a median around $50,820 for savers in their 50s. Balances often accelerate in this decade as earnings peak and catch-up contributions of $1,100 become available at age 50.

What is the average IRA balance at 40?

For Roth IRAs, the average balance in the 40 to 44 age band is about $40,594, and $46,131 for ages 45 to 49, per IRS tax-year-2023 data. Empower shows a median near $40,749 for savers in their 40s. A Roth in this range built from annual contributions is squarely on pace given the yearly limit.

Why is the average traditional IRA balance so much higher than Roth?

Traditional IRA balances dwarf Roth balances mainly because of rollovers. In 2023, roughly $653 billion rolled into traditional IRAs, largely from 401(k) plans, compared with about $24 billion into Roth IRAs. Traditional accounts are also older and more widely held. Deciding between the two is the focus of our Roth vs. traditional IRA comparison.

What is the maximum a Roth IRA can hold from contributions alone?

There is no lifetime cap on total Roth value, but annual contributions are limited, which bounds how fast a contribution-only balance can grow. In 2026 you can add $7,500 under age 50 or $8,600 at 50 and older. Over many years that compounds into a substantial sum, yet very large Roth balances usually reflect market growth or conversions rather than deposits alone.

What percentage of Americans contribute to an IRA each year?

Only a minority contribute in any given year. IRS and industry data show that well under a fifth of eligible households make a direct IRA contribution annually, and Roth contributors are a smaller slice still. Low participation helps explain why typical balances are modest, and it means consistent annual funding can put you ahead of most savers over time.

Whether your Roth looks ahead of or behind these benchmarks, the more useful questions are how much pretax money you may want to move over time and by when. Looking at your full mix of accounts and future taxes together can help you see the whole retirement-tax picture rather than a single account in isolation.