By Leada Gore
al.com
(TNS)
The average checking account balance in the U.S. is probably way higher than you would guess.
According to financial website The Motley Fool, the average household checking account balance in the U.S. was $15,472. That amount has more than doubled over the last three decades but fell from a recent high of $18,485 in 2022.
While the average balance is likely much higher than you’d expect, the key word is “average,” meaning it is skewed by accounts with high balances.
The median balance—meaning half accounts have more, half have less—is much lower at $3,000. According to The Motley Fool, male heads of households have a median checking balance of $4,420 while female heads of households have a median balance of $1,000.
Americans who are married or living with a partner have a median balance of $5,500 compared to $1,200 of those who aren’t.
Age is a key factor. Americans 75 and older have the highest median checking account balance at $5,000. Here’s more of The Motley Fool’s age and checking account balance breakdown:
- Under age 35 – Median balance $1,900
- Ages 35-44 – Median balance $2,400
- Ages 45-54 – Median balance $3,700
- Ages 55-64 – Median balance $3,430
- Ages 65-74 – Median balance $4,000
- Ages 75 and older – Median balance $5,000
Education plays a role, too.
- No high school diploma or GED – Median balance $300
- High school diploma or GED – Median balance $1,500
- Some college – Median balance $2,020
- College degree – Median balance $6,600
Photo credit: Money Knack/Unsplash
_______
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit al.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
Sign in to get access to this free resource, and all of our whitepapers and reports.
Download this content today!
Register Now Already registered? Click here to Log In
