The median retirement income in the U.S. is $59,680 a year, or about $4,973 a month. That’s the Census Bureau’s 2025 figure for households headed by someone 65 or older. Most people mean this number when they search for the average. The mean runs higher, at $92,350, or roughly $7,696 a month. Both count Social Security, pensions, paychecks, and investment income before taxes.
The Census Bureau published the figures in September 2026 in its annual report on U.S. income. Because many people 65 and older still work, this article calls these households “older households.”
Most people look up this number wondering how they compare or if they’re going to be OK. Half of older households live on less than $59,680. What matters is whether your income covers the life you want for as long as you need it. The tables below show where you stand by age, household type, and state.
| Household type | Median annual income | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| All households 65 and older | $59,680 | $4,973 |
| Householder ages 65 to 74 | $68,800 | $5,733 |
| Householder 75 and older | $50,880 | $4,240 |
| Married-couple households, householder 65 and older | $93,890 | $7,824 |
| Men 65 and older living alone | $35,590 | $2,966 |
| Women 65 and older living alone | $31,540 | $2,628 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, table HINC-02, 2026 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Figures show 2025 money income before taxes.
What Is the Average Retirement Income in 2026?
Average retirement income comes in two versions: a median of $59,680 a year and a mean of $92,350. The gap between them says a lot about retirement.
About 30% of older households took in $100,000 or more in 2025, while many others got by on far less. In all, 41.9 million households have a householder 65 or older.
Median or mean: which number should you compare yourself to?
Compare yourself to the median. It’s the midpoint, so half of older households sit above it and half below. The mean adds up every household’s income, wealthy ones included, and divides by the count. A smaller group of high-income households pulls it up. If your income lands near the median, you’re in the middle of the pack.
Older Households Have Lower Incomes
Households with a householder 75 or older had a median income of $50,880 in 2025, compared with $68,800 for ages 65 to 74. That’s a gap of about $1,500 a month.
| Age of householder | Median annual income | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 64 | $99,320 | $8,277 |
| 65 to 69 | $71,400 | $5,950 |
| 70 to 74 | $66,030 | $5,503 |
| 75 and older | $50,880 | $4,240 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, table HINC-02, 2026 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (2025 income).
Part of the gap reflects age, and part reflects generation, since the older group often had lower lifetime earnings. Several things pull income down as people age. Paychecks fade as more people stop working. When a spouse dies, the household keeps the larger of two Social Security checks and loses the smaller one. Pensions without cost-of-living raises buy a little less each year.
Spending often eases down too: many retirees spend less as they age, so income and spending can slide together. Testing your plan at 80, after most paychecks have stopped, shows whether the numbers hold.
What Is the Average Retirement Income for a Single Person?
Among people 65 and older who live alone, men reported a median income of $35,590 in 2025, about $2,966 a month. Women reported $31,540, about $2,628 a month.
Women 75 and older who live alone had the lowest median of any group in this article, at $30,240. Women tend to live longer, and lower lifetime earnings mean smaller Social Security benefits and savings.
One income covers every bill when you live alone, from property taxes to a streaming subscription. List each month’s income and expenses, then test how long your savings last on that single income.
What Is the Average Retirement Income for a Married Couple?
Married-couple households headed by someone 65 or older took in a median $93,890 in 2025, about $7,824 a month. At 75 and older, the median falls to $82,570, or $6,881 a month.
Couples bring in more for simple reasons. Two people can collect Social Security, one partner may still work, and both may hold pensions or retirement accounts.
The harder planning question comes later. After one spouse dies, the survivor keeps only the larger Social Security benefit, while household expenses don’t drop by half. That’s why Social Security claiming decisions for married couples carry so much weight. Delaying the higher earner’s benefit raises the check the survivor keeps for life.
What Is a Good Monthly Retirement Income?
A good monthly retirement income covers your spending and your taxes for as long as you live. Older households spent an average of $61,432 in 2024, about $5,119 a month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That total leaves out federal income taxes, so the income you need runs higher than the spending figure.
The spending figure is an average, so it runs above what a typical household spends. It still works as a gut check. If your costs track the averages, $5,000 a month before taxes leaves little cushion.
A common starting target is 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income. Some people are content living on about two-thirds of their working income once the mortgage is paid off and the commute is gone. Your own number depends most on housing and healthcare, and on how you want to spend your days.
Start by listing what a normal month costs, then add the big irregular items, like a new roof or a replacement car.
What Is the Average Monthly Retirement Income in Each State?
Median monthly income for older households ranges from $3,669 in Mississippi to $7,616 in Hawaii. For the nation as a whole, the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey puts the median at $59,648 a year, or $4,971 a month.
That survey covers 2024 and uses a different method from the national figures above, so the two medians land close together without matching. Use the table to compare states with each other.
| State | Median annual income (65+ households) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $91,390 | $7,616 |
| Maryland | $75,539 | $6,295 |
| Alaska | $74,308 | $6,192 |
| New Jersey | $72,905 | $6,075 |
| California | $71,673 | $5,973 |
| Utah | $70,712 | $5,893 |
| District of Columbia | $70,668 | $5,889 |
| Connecticut | $69,395 | $5,783 |
| Massachusetts | $69,095 | $5,758 |
| Washington | $69,010 | $5,751 |
| New Hampshire | $67,530 | $5,628 |
| Colorado | $67,322 | $5,610 |
| Delaware | $66,859 | $5,572 |
| Virginia | $66,450 | $5,538 |
| Nevada | $63,688 | $5,307 |
| Arizona | $62,575 | $5,215 |
| Minnesota | $61,129 | $5,094 |
| Vermont | $60,814 | $5,068 |
| Illinois | $60,697 | $5,058 |
| Wyoming | $60,674 | $5,056 |
| Oregon | $60,405 | $5,034 |
| South Dakota | $60,166 | $5,014 |
| Florida | $60,005 | $5,000 |
| New York | $59,909 | $4,992 |
| Idaho | $59,657 | $4,971 |
| Rhode Island | $59,258 | $4,938 |
| Texas | $58,739 | $4,895 |
| Montana | $58,390 | $4,866 |
| North Dakota | $57,708 | $4,809 |
| Kansas | $57,155 | $4,763 |
| Iowa | $56,419 | $4,702 |
| Georgia | $56,010 | $4,668 |
| Nebraska | $56,008 | $4,667 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,938 | $4,662 |
| Maine | $55,568 | $4,631 |
| South Carolina | $55,385 | $4,615 |
| Wisconsin | $55,336 | $4,611 |
| North Carolina | $55,235 | $4,603 |
| Michigan | $54,599 | $4,550 |
| New Mexico | $54,478 | $4,540 |
| Tennessee | $53,889 | $4,491 |
| Ohio | $53,095 | $4,425 |
| Missouri | $53,027 | $4,419 |
| Indiana | $52,592 | $4,383 |
| Oklahoma | $51,209 | $4,267 |
| Alabama | $50,483 | $4,207 |
| Arkansas | $48,078 | $4,007 |
| Louisiana | $47,263 | $3,939 |
| Kentucky | $46,685 | $3,890 |
| West Virginia | $45,778 | $3,815 |
| Mississippi | $44,031 | $3,669 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table B19049 (median household income, householder 65 and over).
A higher median can come with higher costs. Hawaii, Alaska, and California sit near the top for income, and they also carry some of the country’s highest living costs. Taxes shape the math too: some states skip taxing Social Security or pension income, which stretches the same dollars further. If you’re weighing a move, the most tax-friendly states for retirees can change your monthly math.
How Do You Find Average Retirement Income by ZIP Code?
The Census Bureau’s free data.census.gov tool shows median household income by age of householder for any ZIP code, using table B19049.
- Go to data.census.gov and type “B19049” in the search bar.
- Open the table on median household income by age of householder.
- Choose Geography, then ZIP Code Tabulation Area, and select your ZIP code.
- Pick the 5-year estimates, which cover ZIP code areas and give steadier numbers for small places. Then read the row for householders 65 years and over.
ZIP-level figures come from a small sample, so margins of error run wide. Treat the number as a rough guide, and compare a few nearby ZIP codes before leaning on any one result. Run the lookup for where you live now and anywhere you’re thinking of moving, since local incomes hint at local prices.
Social Security Is a Major Income Source for Most Older Americans
Almost nine in 10 people 65 and older collect Social Security. It makes up about 30% of their income, according to the Social Security Administration. The average retired worker received $2,087.52 a month in August 2026, per SSA’s monthly statistical snapshot.
Among beneficiaries 65 and older, 37% of men and 42% of women count on it for at least half their income. For many households, it’s the base layer everything else sits on.
Your own check depends on your work record and when you claim. The average Social Security check by age peaks in the early 70s, at about $2,225 a month. Benefits rise each January with the cost-of-living adjustment, which SSA announces in October.
About 1 in 5 Adults 65 and Older Are in the Labor Force
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19.1% of people 65 and older were in the labor force in 2025, up from 12.9% in 2000. The labor force counts people who are working or looking for work.
For some, the paycheck covers essentials. Others keep working for the people and the sense of purpose. Many jobs for retirees offer flexible hours, which makes a gradual exit easier.
What Is the Average Pension in the USA per Month?
The median company or union pension paid $11,290 a year in 2025, about $941 a month, among people 65 and older who receive one. Government pensions run higher, with medians of $24,530 for state and local plans and $32,500 for federal plans. About 3 in 10 people 65 and older receive pension income.
| Pension type | Median annual benefit | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Company or union pensions | $11,290 | $941 |
| Annuities | $7,944 | $662 |
| State or local government | $24,530 | $2,044 |
| Federal government | $32,500 | $2,708 |
| Military | $24,280 | $2,023 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, table PINC-08, 2026 Annual Social and Economic Supplement. Medians are per person, for people 65 and older who received that type of pension income in 2025.
If you have a pension, the biggest decision comes before the first check arrives. You’ll pick between a lump sum and monthly payments, and between a single-life and a joint-and-survivor payout. Those choices set your income for life, so give them time.
How Much Income Can Your Savings Generate?
In the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, families headed by someone 65 to 74 that have a retirement account hold a median $257,000. About 49% of families in that age group have one. A 4% first-year withdrawal on $257,000 comes to about $10,280 a year, or $857 a month.
On its own, $857 a month won’t carry a household, but paired with Social Security it can cover a good share of the basics. A $500,000 portfolio at the same 4% rate produces about $1,667 a month. The income from $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000 shifts with the withdrawal rate you choose. Younger families hold far less, as Boldin’s retirement savings by age breakdown shows.
A market drop early in retirement can shrink what your savings produce for years, which is why the withdrawal rate you start with matters.
How Can You Raise Your Retirement Income?
Four levers do most of the work: claiming age, years of work, pension choices, and withdrawal order.
Delay Social Security if you can
Waiting past full retirement age adds 8% a year to your Social Security benefit, up to age 70. For someone with a full retirement age of 67, waiting until 70 means a check 24% larger. That boost lasts for life and grows with every cost-of-living adjustment.
Work a few more years, even part-time
Each extra year of paychecks gives your savings another year to grow and shortens the stretch they have to cover. Strong earnings can also replace a lower-earning year among the 35 years Social Security uses to figure your benefit.
Weigh your pension options before you sign
A joint-and-survivor option pays less each month and keeps income flowing to your spouse after you’re gone. A lump sum hands you control, along with the job of making it last.
Plan the order of your withdrawals
Pulling from taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth accounts in a deliberate order can lower lifetime taxes and stretch savings. The order you tap your accounts in changes your tax bill every year. A bucket strategy keeps near-term spending money steady while the rest stays invested. Guardrails and income floors are two more retirement income strategies that smooth out your paycheck.
Averages help you get your bearings. The Boldin Planner takes it from there, pulling your Social Security, savings, pensions, and spending into one projection. You can see your own monthly income for every year ahead, and small changes, like claiming a year later, show up right away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Average Retirement Income
How much is the average retirement income per month?
According to the Census Bureau, households headed by someone 65 or older had a median income of $59,680 in 2025, about $4,973 a month. The pretax figure counts income from Social Security, pensions, work, and investments. Households with a householder 75 or older sat lower, near $4,240 a month.
What is the median retirement income for a single person?
Among Americans 65 and older who live alone, the 2025 median income was $35,590 for men and $31,540 for women. That works out to about $2,966 and $2,628 a month. A one-person household covers every fixed cost on one income, so Social Security often supplies a larger share of the budget.
What is the average retirement income for a married couple?
Married-couple households with a householder 65 or older reached a median income of $93,890 in 2025, per Census Bureau data, which works out to $7,824 a month. Two Social Security benefits and sometimes two pensions explain much of the gap with single households. Income drops after one spouse dies, which makes survivor planning central to a couple’s plan.
What is the average pension payout per month?
Census Bureau data shows the median company or union pension paid about $941 a month in 2025 to people 65 and older who receive one. State and local government pensions paid about $2,044 a month, and federal pensions about $2,708. About 3 in 10 people 65 and older receive pension income.
Is $5,000 a month a good retirement income?
A monthly income of $5,000 sits near the middle in terms of a good retirement income. The median monthly income of households led by someone 65 or older was $4,973 in 2025. They spent an average of about $5,119 a month in 2024, excluding federal income taxes. Whether $5,000 works depends on housing costs, healthcare, taxes, and where you live.
Why is average retirement income higher than the median?
Among households headed by someone 65 or older, the mean income was $92,350 in 2025, well above the $59,680 median. A minority of households with large pensions, investments, or wages pull the mean up. Half of households sit above the median and half below, so it describes a typical household better.
How much of retirement income comes from Social Security?
Social Security supplies about 30% of the total income of Americans over 65, based on SSA figures, but the share varies a lot. Among beneficiaries 65 and older, 37% of men and 42% of women get half or more of their income from it. Retired workers averaged $2,087.52 a month in benefits as of August 2026.
About this data: National, age, couple, and single-person figures come from table HINC-02 of the Census Bureau’s 2026 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. It reports 2025 income before taxes. Pension figures come from table PINC-08 in the same survey. State figures come from the 2024 American Community Survey, table B19049. Savings figures come from the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances. Census releases new income data each September, and this page is updated each fall.
