Here’s the Average Monthly Income for Boomers in 2025

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In 2025, baby boomers — people born between 1946 and 1964 — make up around a quarter of the U.S. population, according to the Population Reference Bureau. Some are fully retired, some semi-retired, but many are still working full time.

According to data from ZipRecruiter, the average monthly income for boomers in 2025 is approximately $6,038, which translates to about $72,456 per year. But that number only tells part of the story.

When broken down by factors like employment status, location, and personal financial planning, there’s significant variation within this generation.

Income Diversity Among Boomers

Unlike younger generations, like millennials, who are largely working full-time, boomers have a broader range of income scenarios. Some are making money via full-time or part-time jobs, while others are living primarily off Social Security, pensions or investments. 

That said, the relatively high monthly average of $6,038 isn’t that surprising, since boomers typically benefited from:

• Longer and more stable careers
• Higher rates of homeownership
• Access to traditional pensions
• Earlier entry into the workforce, without the burden of massive student loan debt.

And because they’ve had decades to accumulate wealth, many boomers are now able to live comfortably, even if they’ve drastically reduced their working hours or fully retired.

Geographic Differences in Boomer Income

Where boomers live has a huge impact on how much money they make. In states with higher costs of living — and higher salaries — like California and New York, many boomers still bring in lucrative income, especially if they work in sectors like healthcare, law or consulting.

According to ZipRecruiter’s state-level breakdown, boomer income varies considerably:

• Washington: $82,066/year ($6,868/month)
• New York: $79,272/year ($6,606/month)
• California: $71,510/year ($5,959/month)
• Louisiana: $61,961/year ($5,163/month)
• Arkansas: $59,916/year ($4,993/month)
• Florida: $54,148/year ($4,512/month)

Retired vs Working Boomers

It’s also important to note that though many boomers are already collecting retirement income, a large number are still working, either out of necessity or choice.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate for people aged 65 and older has been steadily increasing and is projected to keep climbing into the next decade. As of 2023, 26.9% of people between 65 and 74 were working, and 8.3% of those 75 and older were working.

The income streams from boomers who are still working can push their average earnings significantly higher than those of fully retired peers.

On the other hand, retirees living off fixed incomes — Social Security, pensions, investment withdrawals — often earn far less than the national boomer average, sometimes under $3,000 per month. This gap is why averages can sometimes be misleading without context.

How Boomers Stack Up to Other Generations

Boomers, on average, do much better financially than other generations, especially when you include investment and retirement income.

For example, many millennials — born between 1981 and 1996 — are still in mid-career phases and haven’t yet hit their peak earning years, which typically fall within the late 40s to 50s, whereas boomers are already benefiting from decades of wealth accumulation.

Boomers also tend to own more assets. Many have already paid off their houses or built a good amount of equity in their homes. Some may also earn passive income from rental properties or dividends from stocks.

Plus, strong economic growth, accessible housing markets and sustained stock market performance during their peak working years helped boomers amass a level of wealth to which no other generation can compare. According to Allianz, boomers are the richest generation in history, and no one will come close to their savings.

What This Means for Retirement Planning

The relatively high average monthly income for boomers in 2025 doesn’t mean every boomer is financially secure, but it does show that many are benefiting from decades of career stability, homeownership and disciplined saving.

Younger generations are facing a different reality. High housing costs, student debt and a more unpredictable job market make saving harder than it used to be. But even so, long-term planning still matters.

If you can, start saving early and diversifying your income sources so you can set yourself up for a more comfortable retirement, just as many boomers did decades ago.

Sources

• ZipRecruiter, “Boomer Salary.”
• Population Reference Bureau, “Just How Many Baby Boomers Are There?”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Civil labor force participation rate by age, sex, race, and ethnicity.”
• Allianz, “Financial assets: surprising relief.”

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