Group 1 - The upper class is generally defined as households earning twice the national median income, which is approximately $150,000 per year based on the U.S. median household income of around $74,000 [2][3] - Vanguard's 2025 How America Saves report indicates that participants earning $150,000 or more have an average 401(k) balance of about $336,000, with a median balance of $188,000, highlighting a significant disparity in retirement savings among high earners [4][5] - For households earning $200,000 a year, a 401(k) balance of $336,000 represents only 1.5 years of income, suggesting that even substantial balances may not be as impressive relative to income [4] Group 2 - Earners in the $100,000–$149,999 bracket have an average 401(k) balance of $178,818 and a median of $91,323, while those earning $75,000–$99,999 have an average balance of $106,875 and a median of $51,073 [7] - The overall average 401(k) balance for all participants is $148,153, with a median of just $38,176, indicating that many individuals have significantly lower retirement savings [7]