Where's Your Retirement Net Worth Landing? 6 Wealth Tiers Decoded

Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: 25% of U.S. retirees clock out with under $69.5K net worth—basically one emergency away from trouble. Meanwhile, the top 1% (those with $21.7M+) are sipping mojitos on yachts without a care.

So where does the average retiree actually stand?

Level 1: At-Risk ($69.5K or less) — Heavily dependent on Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps. One hospital bill = game over.

Level 2: Working Class ($69.5K–$394K) — Not poor, but cramped. Tight in major U.S. cities; you’d need to go rural or international (Mexico, Portugal, Poland).

Level 3: Solid Middle ($394K–$1.16M) — 50th-75th percentile. Real comfort here. Can retire comfortably most places, though mega-cities are still pricey.

Level 4: Upper Class ($1.2M–$2.9M) — Less common. You live longer due to better lifetime healthcare access. Can travel anywhere, live anywhere.

Level 5: Wealthy ($2.9M–$21.7M) — Top 10%. Lawyers, execs, finance folks. Money’s not the worry; boredom is.

Level 6: Top 1% ($21.7M+) — The dream tier. Private jets, multiple vacation homes, legacy planning instead of budgeting.

Quick reality check: Even a few years out from retirement? You can still move up. Cut expenses strategically, boost side income, invest aggressively now. The gap between tiers isn’t as impossible as it looks.