How Much It Cost To Retire in the Year You Were Born

shapecharge / iStock.com
shapecharge / iStock.com

People can spend their entire career building a nest egg, carefully contributing to their retirement accounts and investing their money as they prepare for that day when they can finally retire. But for those nearing retirement, especially for middle-aged workers, the question of how much you will actually need to retire can continue to eat at you as you approach that magical day where you stop punching the clock and start living the good life — especially if you’re living through an unprecedented pandemic. One popular way to calculate how much you need to retire is by using Fidelity Investment’s “10x income rule.” According to Fidelity, in order to maintain a quality of life similar to what you had while working, you should save 10 times your annual income before retiring at age 67.

See: Exactly How Much Savings You Need To Retire in Your State

Of course, that figure has changed significantly over the years. Annual incomes today are very different than they were 10, 20 or 30 years ago — especially when you consider inflation. If you’re planning on hitting the number your grandparents did and calling it quits, odds are good that you’re going to be well short of what you’ll ultimately need. That’s because, if grandma and grandpa retired in, say, 1951, when the income for an average American was under $3,000, you would need an additional $450,000 or so at today’s average wages than they did at the dawn of the Eisenhower Era.

That’s why GOBankingRates has calculated what 10 times income would look like in each of the past 65 years using data on average annual wages provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration. Find out how much you’d need to survive retirement throughout the years.

Last updated: May 3, 2021

happy retired couple on a walk together in the park
happy retired couple on a walk together in the park

1951

National Average Wage: $2,799.16
Cost to Retire: $27,991.60

Take a Look: Popular American Cars the Year You Were Born

retired couple on a bike ride together
retired couple on a bike ride together

1952

National Average Wage: $2,973.32
Cost to Retire: $29,733.20

Check Out: The Average Social Security Check the Year You Were Born

retired couple spending time together on the beach
retired couple spending time together on the beach

1953

National Average Wage: $3,139.44
Cost to Retire: $31,394.40

Discover: How Much You Should Have in Your Retirement Fund at Every Age

laughing older couple in front of a house
laughing older couple in front of a house

1954

National Average Wage: $3,155.64
Cost to Retire: $31,556.40

happy older couple holding hands together
happy older couple holding hands together

1955

National Average Wage: $3,301.44
Cost to Retire: $33,014.40

Click to find out what the U.S. minimum wage was in 1955.

old men sitting together and talking
old men sitting together and talking

1956

National Average Wage: $3,532.36
Cost to Retire: $35,323.60

older man and woman sitting together
older man and woman sitting together

1957

National Average Wage: $3,641.72
Cost to Retire: $36,417.20

retired men playing cards together
retired men playing cards together

1958

National Average Wage: $3,673.80
Cost to Retire: $36,738.00

Find out how much a brand new car would have cost you in 1958.

happy couple sitting together beside a lake
happy couple sitting together beside a lake

1959

National Average Wage: $3,855.80
Cost to Retire: $38,558.00

elderly woman in the garden tending to her flowers
elderly woman in the garden tending to her flowers

1960

National Average Wage: $4,007.12
Cost to Retire: $40,071.20

Click to discover how much $100 was worth in the 1960s.

retired woman spending time together
retired woman spending time together

1961

National Average Wage: $4,086.76
Cost to Retire: $40,867.60

retired couple on a walk in a field
retired couple on a walk in a field

1962

National Average Wage: $4,291.40
Cost to Retire: $42,914.00

couple playing chess together
couple playing chess together

1963

National Average Wage: $4,396.64
Cost to Retire: $43,966.40

Click to learn how much a new home cost in 1963.

elderly couple shopping for flowers
elderly couple shopping for flowers

1964

National Average Wage: $4,576.32
Cost to Retire: $45,763.20

older couple having drinks in the garden
older couple having drinks in the garden

1965

National Average Wage: $4,658.72
Cost to Retire: $46,587.20

retired man going backpacking
retired man going backpacking

1966

National Average Wage: $4,938.36
Cost to Retire: $49,383.60

Find out how much college cost in 1966.

happy retired couple biking together
happy retired couple biking together

1967

National Average Wage: $5,213.44
Cost to Retire: $52,134.40

elderly couple on a walk
elderly couple on a walk

1968

National Average Wage: $5,571.76
Cost to Retire: $55,717.60

Find Out: Why It’s Harder to Save for Retirement Today Than 50 Years Ago

happy older couple on a walk in the winter
happy older couple on a walk in the winter

1969

National Average Wage: $5,893.76
Cost to Retire: $58,937.60

retired couple sitting on the edge of a dock by a lake
retired couple sitting on the edge of a dock by a lake

1970

National Average Wage: $6,186.24
Cost to Retire: $61,862.40

Learn how much $100 was worth in the 1970s.

Shot of a senior couple having coffee at a cafehttp://195.
Shot of a senior couple having coffee at a cafehttp://195.

1971

National Average Wage: $6,497.08
Cost to Retire: $64,970.80

Senior couple with dog sitting on pier above the mountain lake with mountains in background.
Senior couple with dog sitting on pier above the mountain lake with mountains in background.

1972

National Average Wage: $7,133.80
Cost to Retire: $71,338.00

Portrait of a happy senior couple relaxing together on the lawnhttp://195.
Portrait of a happy senior couple relaxing together on the lawnhttp://195.

1973

National Average Wage: $7,580.16
Cost to Retire: $75,801.60

High angle view of a senior man reading a book to his wife in a cafe who is enjoying listening to him.
High angle view of a senior man reading a book to his wife in a cafe who is enjoying listening to him.

1974

National Average Wage: $8,030.76
Cost to Retire: $80,307.60

Click to learn how the 1973-1974 stock market crash impacted America.

Active seniors having fun and relaxing in nature.
Active seniors having fun and relaxing in nature.

1975

National Average Wage: $8,630.92
Cost to Retire: $86,309.20

Mature couple driving in convertible.
Mature couple driving in convertible.

1976

National Average Wage: $9,226.48
Cost to Retire: $92,264.80

Senior Couple Running Along Winter Beach Laughing.
Senior Couple Running Along Winter Beach Laughing.

1977

National Average Wage: $9,779.44
Cost to Retire: $97,794.40

Mature couple exploring city with bicycle's.
Mature couple exploring city with bicycle's.

1978

National Average Wage: $10,556.03
Cost to Retire: $105,560.30

Shot of a smiling senior couple gardening in their yard.
Shot of a smiling senior couple gardening in their yard.

1979

National Average Wage: $11,479.46
Cost to Retire: $114,794.60

You won’t believe how little college cost in 1979.

couple sitting on the jetty
couple sitting on the jetty

1980

National Average Wage: $12,513.46
Cost to Retire: $125,134.60

older couple standing beside a vintage red truck
older couple standing beside a vintage red truck

1981

National Average Wage: $13,773.10
Cost to Retire: $137,731.00

happy elderly couple sitting on a couch
happy elderly couple sitting on a couch

1982

National Average Wage: $14,531.34
Cost to Retire: $145,313.40

retired man fishing on the shore of a lake
retired man fishing on the shore of a lake

1983

National Average Wage: $15,239.24
Cost to Retire: $152,392.40

retired couple walking in the shade in a park
retired couple walking in the shade in a park

1984

National Average Wage: $16,135.07
Cost to Retire: $161,350.70

older couple taking in the view of a lake
older couple taking in the view of a lake

1985

National Average Wage: $16,822.51
Cost to Retire: $168,225.10

retired couple relaxing in chairs on the beach
retired couple relaxing in chairs on the beach

1986

National Average Wage: $17,321.82
Cost to Retire: $173,218.20

Click to find out how cheap college was in 1986.

elderly couple walking in the woods
elderly couple walking in the woods

1987

National Average Wage: $18,426.51
Cost to Retire: $184,265.10

happy older couple
happy older couple

1988

National Average Wage: $19,334.04
Cost to Retire: $193,340.40

birthday party for retired woman
birthday party for retired woman

1989

National Average Wage: $20,099.55
Cost to Retire: $200,995.50

retired couple relaxing on the beach
retired couple relaxing on the beach

1990

National Average Wage: $21,027.98
Cost to Retire: $210,279.80

See what you could buy for $100 in 1990.

older man and woman on a hike
older man and woman on a hike

1991

National Average Wage: $21,811.6
Cost to Retire: $218,116.00

retirees having fun together
retirees having fun together

1992

National Average Wage: $22,935.42
Cost to Retire: $229,354.20

Click here to see how much a brand new house cost in 1992.

retirees on vacation
retirees on vacation

1993

National Average Wage: $23,132.67
Cost to Retire: $231,326.70

retired couple biking on the beach
retired couple biking on the beach

1994

National Average Wage: $23,753.53
Cost to Retire: $237,535.30

Click to find out the cost of a brand new car in 1994.

old couple walking on the beach
old couple walking on the beach

1995

National Average Wage: $24,705.66
Cost to Retire: $247,056.60

older gentleman on a boat
older gentleman on a boat

1996

National Average Wage: $25,913.90
Cost to Retire: $259,139.00

older couple doing yoga together
older couple doing yoga together

1997

National Average Wage: $27,426.00
Cost to Retire: $274,260.00

older man and woman having coffee
older man and woman having coffee

1998

National Average Wage: $28,861.44
Cost to Retire: $288,614.40

older woman doing yoga
older woman doing yoga

1999

National Average Wage: $30,469.84
Cost to Retire: $304,698.40

older couple walking along the beach
older couple walking along the beach

2000

National Average Wage: $32,154.82
Cost to Retire: $321,548.20

active couple on a walk through long grass
active couple on a walk through long grass

2001

National Average Wage: $32,921.92
Cost to Retire: $329,219.20

Discover how 9/11 impacted the economy.

elderly couple making food with a blender
elderly couple making food with a blender

2002

National Average Wage: $33,252.09
Cost to Retire: $332,520.90

older couple shopping at a farmer's market
older couple shopping at a farmer's market

2003

National Average Wage: $34,064.95
Cost to Retire: $340,649.50

active elderly couple on a hike
active elderly couple on a hike

2004

National Average Wage: $35,648.55
Cost to Retire: $356,485.50

older women having drinks together outside
older women having drinks together outside

2005

National Average Wage: $36,952.94
Cost to Retire: $369,529.40

older couple getting coffee
older couple getting coffee

2006

National Average Wage: $38,651.41
Cost to Retire: $386,514.10

clouds reflecting on a window with a african american couple looking out
clouds reflecting on a window with a african american couple looking out

2007

National Average Wage: $40,405.48
Cost to Retire: $404,054.80

elderly couple taking their dog on a walk
elderly couple taking their dog on a walk

2008

National Average Wage: $41,334.97
Cost to Retire: $413,349.70

couple having coffee and discussing retirement planning
couple having coffee and discussing retirement planning

2009

National Average Wage: $40,711.61
Cost to Retire: $407,116.10

older man surfing in the ocean
older man surfing in the ocean

2010

National Average Wage: $41,673.83
Cost to Retire: $416,738.30

Start Today: 17 Clever Ways to Save More for Retirement

older couple on a roadtrip in a convertible
older couple on a roadtrip in a convertible

2011

National Average Wage: $42,979.61
Cost to Retire: $429,796.10

adults playing with a young child
adults playing with a young child

2012

National Average Wage: $44,321.67
Cost to Retire: $443,216.70

couple hugging by a lake
couple hugging by a lake

2013

National Average Wage: $44,888.16
Cost to Retire: $448,881.60

group of older friends meeting up
group of older friends meeting up

2014

National Average Wage: $46,481.52
Cost to Retire: $464,815.20

elderly couple on an outing by the docks
elderly couple on an outing by the docks

2015

National Average Wage: $48,098.63
Cost to Retire: $480,986.30

couple walking through a park together
couple walking through a park together

2016

National Average Wage: $48,642.15
Cost to Retire: $486,421.50

Up Next: 10 Signs You’re Not Saving Enough for Retirement

Love lives forever! Senior couple at home.
Love lives forever! Senior couple at home.

2017

National Average Wage: $50,321.89
Cost to Retire: $503,218.90

Two business men working at coffee storage room and looking at digital tablet.
Two business men working at coffee storage room and looking at digital tablet.

2018

National Average Wage: $52,145.80
Cost to Retire: $521,458.00

Pensive woman looking away drinking tea at laptop.
Pensive woman looking away drinking tea at laptop.

2019

National Average Wage: $54,099.99

Cost to Retire: $540,999.90

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much It Cost To Retire in the Year You Were Born

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