Quarterly summary
According to the Fidelity Investments® Q3 2025 retirement analysis, average 401(k), IRA and 403(b) account balances reached new record highs in Q3. The average 401(k) balance increased 5% from the previous high in Q2 and marked the sixth quarter-over-quarter average balance increase in the last eight quarters (since Q3 2023).
Average retirement account balances
Account balances and saving rates remain high
9.5%
employee contribution rate
Remained consistent at 14.2% for the second quarter in a row. This is a result of an employee contribution rate of 9.5% and an employer contribution rate of 4.7%. This number is also close to Fidelity's suggested savings rate of 15%.
$501,100
average balance for women in 401(k) for 15 years continuously
The average balance for women who have been in their 401(k) for 15 years continuously crossed the half-million-dollar mark for the first time ever, rising to $501,100. This marks a 16.5% increase from Q3 2024.
17.5%
401(k) participants contributing to a Roth 401(k)
Almost one in five (17.5%) 401(k) participants contributed to a Roth 401(k) in Q3, up from 15.9% the year prior. The younger generations are leading this trend, with 19% of Millennials⁴ and 20% of Gen Z choosing to contribute to a Roth 401(k).
95%
of Gen Z contributions are in Roth accounts
Roth also continues to be the IRA of choice among younger participants, with Gen Z investing 95% of their contributions in Roth accounts, as compared to Millennials and Gen X⁴ (who are contributing 75% and 66% to Roth, respectively).
“Americans are continuing to exhibit impactful savings behaviors such as staying the course and focusing on long-term goals, which clearly is having a positive effect on retirement savings. To see balances and saving behaviors increase across all savings vehicles is encouraging, especially as savers continue to navigate an uncertain economic environment.”
Sharon Brovelli,
President of Workplace Investing at Fidelity Investments
Spotlight: Increased adoption of auto portability
To help workers retain their retirement savings when they are changing employers, Fidelity joined Retirement Clearinghouse and five other industry recordkeepers in 2022 to create the Portability Services Network (PSN) – a consortium of service providers accelerating the adoption of “Auto Portability,” a rollover service for employees moving small retirement savings from one employer to another.
9,200+
Fidelity 401(k) plans have adopted Auto Portability to date⁵
$24 million
in retirement savings has been preserved through Fidelity-enabled rollovers
3.7 million
Active Fidelity participants in the network
Copyright 1998-2025 FMR LLC. All Rights Reserved.
¹ Fidelity business analysis of 18.3 million IRA accounts as of September 30, 2025. Considers only active participants with balance.
² Fidelity Investments Q3 2025 401(k) data based on 26,000 corporate defined contribution plans and 24.8 million participants as of September, 30, 2025. These figures include the advisor-sold market but exclude the tax-exempt market. Excluded from the behavioral statistics are non-qualified defined contribution plans and plans for Fidelity’s own employees.
³ Fidelity Investments Q3 2025 403(b) data based on 10,670 Tax-exempt plans and 9.25 million plan participants as of September 30, 2025. Considers average balance across all active plans for 6.81 million unique individuals employed in tax-exempt market.
⁴ Generations as defined by Pew Research: Baby Boomers are individuals born between 1946 – 1964, Gen X are individuals born between 1965-1980, Millennials include individuals born between 1981 – 1996 and Gen Z includes individuals born between 1997 – 2012.
⁵ Fidelity's Auto Portability Network Dashboard, updated as of September 30, 2025.
Keep in mind that investing involves risk, including the risk of loss. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time, and you may gain or lose money.
Views expressed are as of the date indicated, based on the information available at that time, and may change based on market or other conditions. Unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the speaker or author and not necessarily those of Fidelity Investments or its affiliates. Fidelity does not assume any duty to update any of the information.
Be sure to consider all your available options and the applicable fees and features of each before moving your retirement assets.
Portability Services Network (PSN) is an independent consortium of workplace recordkeepers that facilitates the matching and rollover of employee workplace retirement accounts for the benefit of plan participants.
PSN is not affiliated with Fidelity Investments or its affiliates.
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917
Fidelity Distributors Company LLC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917
National Financial Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110
© 2025 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
1225720.1.0