Average U.S. Retirement Age

Do you know that lots of folks recently searched for the term "Average U.S. Retirement Age"?  WHY?  It's a very personal decision!

The retirement decision is really NOT about age. Many retire early, age 50, 55, 60. Others wait until long after Social Security eligibility at age 62 -- say age 65-70. 

Perhaps the Boomers Average Retirement Age differs from earlier generations. Will future generations postpone retirement due to the lack of pension plans?

Retirement age depends on your perspective, your working lifetime, your health,  financial status and so much more.

Some Average Retirement Age Stats:

Here you can see the average retirement age by state, and then around the world!

If you are seeking the average age for financial reasons, Dave Ramsey explains why the average retirement age doesn't matter.

U.S. News wrote about the Ideal Retirement Age and Why You Won't Retire Then Here. 

Here are some questions you might ask yourself -- where do you fit in and is retirement logical for you (at whatever age you choose)!

Early Retirement

  • Do you work a lifetime and save lots so you can retire early?
  • Were you forced into an early retirement because of a disability?
  • Does your family history have a shorter life expectancy so you choose to retire early?
  • Was your lifetime focus an early retirement so that you thought about this years ahead?
  • Do you live a frugal lifestyle so that you can retire earlier?
  • Do you choose to retire early for a career change (burned out)?
  • Do you retire early to start your own small business?
  • Do you retire early as you were forced into retirement due to the economy, layoffs, downsizing?

Later Retirement

  • Do you leave employment to go in a entirely different career direction - and enjoy working longer?
  • Do you simply enjoy your employment and feel you have lots to offer still?
  • Do you need to maximize your Social Security benefit (for financial reasons)?
  • Did you work a lifetime, but after paying for children, college, etc, you choose to work longer?
  • Did you stay home and raise kids, and need to work a bit longer now?
  • Are you single and your retirement depends on you alone?
  • Did you divorce late in life and now need to increase your savings before retirement?

I'm sure this quick list is just the tip of the iceberg... what IS the average retirement age?

Please please -- don't let an "Average Retirement Age" become your reason for retirement.

One Size (Retirement Age) Does Not Fit All!

What do YOU think the "Average Retirement Age" is?

Based on your experience, and your friends and family, what do you think is the normal, average retirement age?

If you have any stories on friends or family who retired too young, tell us about WHY you think they retired too early... same with someone who worked too long.

What did Other Visitos have to say about "Average Retirement Age"?

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Average Retirement Age is 65, and I'm 75! 
I retired at 55, after 32 years; too early for me. My wife found me another job in her government office, then retired 4 years later, at 58. Here I am, …

Early Retirement: Bored mom 
I am 47 and will be retired for almost a year in December. This was not my choice but health issue became too much after working twenty years. I …

A forced Early Retirement 
So, I retired when I realized I wasn't getting support from my Supervisor when I had asked for her intervention. I had been an Itinerant OT for several …

Forced into early retirement w. disability  
I found this site by accident and hope it's still active. I've read a few of the stories posted and can understand where a lot of you are coming from. …

Anxiety/depression early retirement  
I retired at 52 after 27 years in fire service. Was ready to go after watching a few buddies die of cancer. Sold my house up north, ended a relationship …

Age 63, reasonable age for retirement 
If in generally good health, I think 63 is reasonable. Retiring in the 50s, at least for me, was not a favorable decision. 63 would still allow someone …

Early Retiree 
Hi, I am a 56 year old single retiree. I have two grown children and three grandsons ages 7, 3, and 1. I have been retired for 3 years. I was the …

Early Retirement Blues 
Hi there Well my story started in November 2014. After 30 years of teaching I found I woke up one morning, sat on the toilet and burst into tears. …

Retirement is Personal... 
Retirement is a very personal thing. It depends on financial , physical, and mental conditions. I think of retirement as leaving a full time job …

Early Retirement, At 72  
Early Retirement: I think it is between 65 and 70. I am 72 and just retiring. I think it is a state of mind and how you feel working where you do. …

Early retirement 
After 18 years my current job is being out sourced and my services are no longer required. I am eligible for early retirement but can't live on approximately …

Young Retirees (age 58) 
As a teacher, I'm happy I got out of the traditional setting when I did. I am now in a "retirement job" where I get paid a fair amount and don't have any …

Retired early 
I am a 58 yr old nurse, no longer working. I would like to hear from people in my age group. I sometimes feel a little anxious about retiring early, leaving …

Early Retirement & my Pensions 
I am taking early retirement due to a lay off. I'll be age 57 or 58 depending on the final date of employment. The company I currently work for bought …

Early Retirement 
I am 56 and 7 months old. I lost my job at 49. My income was $35,000 a year (not much for a college graduate). I moved to a state I didn't care for …

Smart kid! (Retired Early) 
I knew a guy at one of my old jobs that never wanted to go hang out at the bar or movies, spent very little on shiny new things like cable and gadgets, …

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