Retirement Monthly Savings Guide
How much to save each month at every age, the cost of delay, and projections for common contribution amounts.
The 15% Rule
Save 15% of gross income for retirement (including employer match). Starting before 30? 10–12% may be enough. Starting after 40? Aim for 20%+.
$50K salary: $625/mo (15%)$75K salary: $938/mo (15%)$100K salary: $1,250/mo (15%)
Retirement Balance by Starting Age & Monthly Contribution
Retiring at 67, no initial savings, 7% annual return:
| Start Age | $300/mo | $500/mo | $750/mo | $1,000/mo | $1,500/mo | $2,000/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 22 (45 yrs) | $1,137,778 $162,000 deposited | $1,896,297 $270,000 deposited | $2,844,446 $405,000 deposited | $3,792,595 $540,000 deposited | $5,688,892 $810,000 deposited | $7,585,189 $1,080,000 deposited |
| Age 25 (42 yrs) | $913,112 $151,200 deposited | $1,521,854 $252,000 deposited | $2,282,780 $378,000 deposited | $3,043,707 $504,000 deposited | $4,565,561 $756,000 deposited | $6,087,415 $1,008,000 deposited |
| Age 30 (37 yrs) | $628,963 $133,200 deposited | $1,048,272 $222,000 deposited | $1,572,408 $333,000 deposited | $2,096,544 $444,000 deposited | $3,144,817 $666,000 deposited | $4,193,089 $888,000 deposited |
| Age 35 (32 yrs) | $428,523 $115,200 deposited | $714,206 $192,000 deposited | $1,071,308 $288,000 deposited | $1,428,411 $384,000 deposited | $2,142,617 $576,000 deposited | $2,856,822 $768,000 deposited |
| Age 40 (27 yrs) | $287,132 $97,200 deposited | $478,553 $162,000 deposited | $717,830 $243,000 deposited | $957,106 $324,000 deposited | $1,435,660 $486,000 deposited | $1,914,213 $648,000 deposited |
| Age 45 (22 yrs) | $187,394 $79,200 deposited | $312,323 $132,000 deposited | $468,484 $198,000 deposited | $624,646 $264,000 deposited | $936,968 $396,000 deposited | $1,249,291 $528,000 deposited |
| Age 50 (17 yrs) | $117,038 $61,200 deposited | $195,063 $102,000 deposited | $292,595 $153,000 deposited | $390,126 $204,000 deposited | $585,189 $306,000 deposited | $780,252 $408,000 deposited |
What Happens If I Delay Retirement by 5 Years?
Comparing retiring at 65 vs. 70 with $500K savings at 60, adding $15K/year, at 7% return:
Retire at 65
$798,304
Extra contributions: $75,000
Extra growth: $223,304
Retire at 70
$1,221,187
Extra contributions: $150,000
Extra growth: $571,187
+$422,883 vs retiring at 65
5-year delay also means 5 fewer years drawing from the portfolio, meaningfully extending how long savings last.
How Much Do You Need to Save Monthly?
To reach $1,500,000 by age 67 at 7% return:
$723.45/month
You have 32 years. Current savings of $50,000 will grow to $466,620 — contributions cover the rest.
Full Retirement Projection
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard guideline is to save 15% of your gross income for retirement (including any employer match). On a $70,000 salary that's $875/month. If you're starting late (after 35), aim for 20–25%. The most important thing is to start now — every year of delay requires a meaningfully higher monthly contribution to reach the same goal.