When a 401(k) balance starts to matter more than a bragging point, people in their 50s begin paying attention. This is the decade when retirement savings should be strongest and the stakes highest. According to Empower data, the average 401(k) balance for people in their 50s is $635,320. That looks solid until you see the median balance of $253,454. The median is a better reflection of what a typical person in their 50s actually has because it is not pushed upward by a few very large accounts. Don't Miss ...