Most Americans say they don’t feel financially secure.
A majority of Americans say they don’t feel financially secure. According to Bankrate’s 2025 Financial Freedom Survey, 77% of U.S. adults say they are not completely financially secure. That’s up from 75% in 2024 and 72% in 2023.
Many point to rising costs and slow wage growth as key reasons. A $100,000 salary in 2020 has the same buying power as $124,353 today. Without raises, many workers feel like they’ve lost $24,000 in income.
Feeling Financially Secure Key Findings:
- 77% of U.S. adults are not completely financially secure.
- 26% say they need to earn $150,000 or more to feel secure.
- Only 23% say they are financially secure.
- 45% say they need a six-figure income just to feel comfortable.
- 29% say their “American Dream” feels possible today.
- Women and Gen Xers are most likely to feel insecure.
- Just 12% of Americans earning under $50,000 say they’re financially secure.
More than half of Americans (56 percent) say they need more than they’re currently earning to feel comfortable. So, while the average U.S. salary is around $81,500, many feel they need nearly double — or more — to feel secure.
Feeling Rich Comes with a High Price Tag
Most Americans say comfort and wealth aren’t the same. While many feel $100,000 brings some security, 55% say they’d need at least $200,000 a year to feel rich. For others, even that’s not enough — 39% say $500,000, and 26% say $1 million or more is the true mark of financial freedom.
