Vanguard Puts 65+ 401(k) Median at $103,202 as Average Reaches $330,186

2 articles · Updated · FinanceBuzz · Jul 18

$103,202 is the median 401(k) balance for Americans 65 and older in Vanguard’s 2026 report, far below the $330,186 average across nearly 5 million plan participants.
That gap shows how a small number of large accounts skew the average upward; for retirees already taking withdrawals, the median is the clearer benchmark of typical savings.
Using a 4% withdrawal rule, the median balance would generate about $344 a month; added to the average retired-worker Social Security benefit of $2,084, that totals roughly $2,428 monthly.
That income trails the $4,650 average monthly spending for households led by someone 75 or older by more than $2,200, highlighting pressure on older retirees’ budgets.
The report points to home equity, part-time work and spending cuts as the main late-retirement levers, while missed required minimum distributions can trigger a 25% IRS penalty.