If you're wondering what is the average retirement age in the united states, the short answer is around 62, based on Gallup's annual poll of retirees. That number has climbed steadily over the past three decades — Gallup found the average retirement age rose from 57 in the early 1990s to 62 in recent surveys.
The problem is that "average" hides a lot of variation. Some workers retire at 55 with a pension; others work past 70 because they need the income or love the job.
This article breaks down five key facts: how the average is measured, how it compares to Social Security's full retirement age, why the number keeps rising, what factors push retirement earlier or later, and how to plan your own timeline. Each section ends with a practical step you can take today.
Fact 1: The Average Retirement Age Is Around 62
The most widely cited figure comes from Gallup's annual Economy and Personal Finance survey, which has consistently placed the average retirement age at 62 in recent years. The same survey reports the average expected retirement age among current workers is higher — typically in the mid-60s — suggesting the trend is still drifting upward.
Two definitions matter here:
- Actual retirement age: when retirees say they actually stopped working (Gallup: 62)
- Expected retirement age: when non-retired workers plan to stop (Gallup: mid-60s)
The gap between the two is a well-documented pattern. Many people plan to work longer than they end up working, often because of health issues, layoffs, or caregiving duties.
How to apply this: Don't anchor your plan to 62. Use the expected age of your own cohort as a baseline, but build a buffer for retiring earlier than planned.
When people ask what is the average retirement age in the united states, Gallup's long-running survey offers the clearest answer: about 62.
Gallup's annual Economy and Personal Finance survey has consistently answered what is the average retirement age in the united states with a figure of 62 in recent years.
Fact 2: Social Security's Full Retirement Age Is 67 for Younger Boomers and Beyond
The average retirement age and Social Security's full retirement age (FRA) are two different things. FRA is when you can claim unreduced Social Security benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, if you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.
The SSA states: "If you start receiving retirement benefits at age 62, you'll get 30% of your monthly benefit" compared to waiting until full retirement age (for those born in 1960 or later).
| Birth year | Full retirement age | Penalty if claiming at 62 |
|---|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 | ~25% reduction |
| 1955 | 66 + 2 months | ~26% reduction |
| 1957 | 66 + 6 months | ~27.5% reduction |
| 1959 | 66 + 10 months | ~29% reduction |
| 1960 or later | 67 | 30% reduction |
How to apply this: Look up your exact FRA using the Social Security Retirement Estimator, which pulls your earnings record to project your benefits at different claiming ages.
Understanding what is the average retirement age in the united states requires separating it from Social Security's full retirement age of 67.
For anyone born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67 — a key distinction from what is the average retirement age in the united states.
Fact 3: Retirement Ages Are Rising — But Not Evenly
The long-term trend is clear: Americans are retiring later than previous generations. Gallup's polling shows the average retirement age increased roughly five years since the 1990s.
The Social Security Administration's own retirement data shows the most common age for claiming benefits has shifted, with a large share of claims now happening at or after full retirement age rather than at 62.
Why the shift?
- Longer life expectancy means retirement savings must stretch further
- The decline of traditional pensions shifted risk from employers to workers
- Rising healthcare costs make pre-Medicare retirement (before 65) expensive
- Many workers simply enjoy their work or need the income
How to apply this: If your retirement plan assumes you'll work until 67 or 70, stress-test it against retiring at 62 instead — the earlier-than-planned scenario is statistically common.
What is the average retirement age in the united states today? It's roughly five years later than it was in the early 1990s.
The upward trend behind what is the average retirement age in the united states reflects longer lifespans, later Social Security claiming, and the decline of traditional pensions.
Fact 4: Health, Money, and Job Type Drive When You Actually Retire
The average retirement age in the united states masks huge differences across groups. Gallup's survey work and research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute's Retirement Confidence Survey consistently find that a meaningful share of retirees left the workforce earlier than planned, with health problems and job loss among the top reasons.
Key factors that pull retirement earlier:
- Health limitations — one of the most cited reasons for early retirement
- Downsizing or layoffs — older workers who lose jobs often retire rather than re-enter
- Access to a pension — public-sector workers with defined-benefit plans retire younger
Factors that push it later:
- Insufficient savings — workers without adequate 401(k) balances delay retirement
- Healthcare coverage — staying employed keeps insurance until Medicare at 65
- Job satisfaction — flexible or enjoyable work extends careers
How to apply this: Check your healthcare bridge plan. If you retire before 65, price out ACA marketplace coverage or COBRA now so the cost doesn't surprise you later.
Asking what is the average retirement age in the united states hides major differences driven by health, finances, and occupation.
Survey data from Gallup and the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows what is the average retirement age in the united states varies widely across income and job types.
Fact 5: Planning Tools Can Sharpen Your Personal Retirement Age
The national average is a starting point, not a target. Your ideal retirement age depends on your savings rate, expected expenses, health, and claiming strategy. A few reliable tools help you model this:
| Tool | What it does | Action to take |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security Retirement Estimator | Projects your benefits at different claiming ages | Enter your earnings record |
| Fidelity Retirement Score | Assesses whether your savings are on track | Link your accounts and review |
| AARP Retirement Calculator | Models income needs vs. savings | Run scenarios at 62, 65, and 67 |
Running all three takes under an hour. AARP's research and the Employee Benefit Research Institute both emphasize that workers who use planning tools report higher retirement confidence than those who guess.
How to apply this: Pick one tool this week and run a scenario retiring five years earlier than your current plan — then adjust your savings rate accordingly.
Once you know what is the average retirement age in the united states, tools like retirement calculators can help you find your own ideal date.
Comparing your personal plan against what is the average retirement age in the united states is a smart first step toward setting realistic savings goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About what is the average retirement age in the united states
How does the average retirement age in the US compare to other countries?
The US average of around 62 sits in the middle of the pack. Many European countries — including France and Italy — report earlier average exit ages, while workers in Japan, Korea, and several Nordic countries tend to retire later, often past 65.
If you're comparing yourself internationally, note that pension design and healthcare systems differ so much that direct comparisons have limited planning value. The average retirement age that matters most is the one in your own industry and income bracket.
Internationally, what is the average retirement age in the united states — around 62 — places America squarely in the middle of the pack.
European workers often retire earlier, while those in Japan and Korea work longer, giving useful context to what is the average retirement age in the united states.
Can I retire at 62 and still get Social Security?
Yes — 62 is the earliest age you can claim Social Security retirement benefits, but your monthly check is permanently reduced (30% less than your full benefit if your FRA is 67). An exception: if you claim at 62 but keep working, the SSA's earnings test temporarily withholds benefits above an annual limit.
Once you reach full retirement age, that withheld amount is recalculated back in. Run both scenarios in the SSA estimator before deciding.
Yes, you can retire at 62 — the answer to what is the average retirement age in the united states — though claiming Social Security then means a permanently reduced benefit.
Knowing what is the average retirement age in the united states helps clarify that 62 is simply the earliest claiming age, not a benefit-maximizing one.
What is the earliest age I can access my 401(k) without penalties?
Generally 59½, when the IRS early-withdrawal penalty no longer applies.
A notable exception is the "Rule of 55": if you leave your employer in or after the year you turn 55, you can take penalty-free withdrawals from that employer's 401(k) — even though the average retirement age in the united states is 62, this rule makes retiring at 55 possible for some.
IRA withdrawals don't qualify for Rule of 55, so don't roll over funds you plan to use early.
At 59½ — well before what is the average retirement age in the united states — you can access your 401(k) without the IRS early-withdrawal penalty.
Why do men and women report different average retirement ages?
The gap is relatively small in recent Gallup polling, but the drivers differ. Women's retirement timing is more often shaped by caregiving — for spouses, parents, or grandchildren — which can push retirement earlier or later. Women also face longer life expectancies, meaning their savings must last more years on average.
If you're married, plan retirement ages jointly: a two-year gap in claiming dates can meaningfully change household Social Security income.
Gender differences in caregiving responsibilities help explain the small gap in what is the average retirement age in the united states between men and women.
What if I can't afford to retire at the average age?
Working longer is the most powerful lever, but it's not the only one.
Options include claiming Social Security later (each year of delay past FRA adds roughly 8% to your benefit through delayed retirement credits, per the SSA), relocating to a lower-cost area, downsizing housing, or transitioning to part-time "semi-retirement." The average retirement age is not a requirement — many people build phased plans that blend part-time income with partial withdrawals.
A fee-only fiduciary advisor can help model these.
If retiring near what is the average retirement age in the united states isn't financially possible, delaying Social Security or adjusting expenses can close the gap.
Conclusion
The average retirement age in the united states is roughly 62, but the numbers behind that figure tell a richer story. Key takeaways:
- Gallup's survey data puts actual retirement at about 62, while workers expect to retire in the mid-60s
- Social Security's full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, with reduced benefits if you claim at 62
- Retirement is happening later than in the 1990s, driven by longer lifespans and the shift from pensions to 401(k)s
- Health and layoffs force early exits more often than most plans assume
Don't plan around the national average — plan around your own numbers. This week, create your account at sssa.gov or run the Retirement Estimator, compare your projected benefit at 62 versus 67, and adjust your savings rate to close any gap. Your retirement age should be a decision, not an accident.
Ultimately, what is the average retirement age in the united states is a benchmark worth knowing — but your health, savings, and goals should shape your actual decision.
