The median annual income for full-time workers ages 25 to 34 was approximately $60,000 as of September 2025. That would be about $45,500 after federal and state income taxes even in the worst scenario. Financial advisors recommend saving 20% of after-tax income for retirement, which means $9,100 per year ($758 per month) for the median worker in that age group.
However, even half that sum could grow into a sizable portfolio given enough time. History says $375 invested monthly in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 0.28%) could grow into $798,600 over three decades, and that sum would then generate…
