Life Milestones
Where Should I Be at 40?
The midlife checkpoint — compare your finances, health, career, and relationships to data-backed benchmarks for 40-year-olds.
Forty is when the midlife reckoning begins. Career trajectories become clearer, health markers start to matter more, and the gap between "where I thought I'd be" and reality demands attention. Here's what the data says about where 40-year-olds actually stand.
Is my salary normal for my job?
$55,000-$75,000Median for 40-year-olds (US, full-time)
💼 Career — Check your percentile →Is my net worth normal?
$125,000-$175,000Median net worth 35-44: $91K — top quartile starts at $350K
💰 Money — Check your percentile →Am I saving enough for retirement?
$100,000-$150,000Recommended: 3x salary — only 25% reach this by 40
💰 Money — Check your percentile →Do I sleep enough?
6.9 hoursSleep quality declines — average awakenings per night: 2-3
❤️ Health — Check your percentile →Do I exercise enough?
2x/weekConsistent exercise at 40 predicts health outcomes at 60
🌟 Lifestyle — Check your percentile →Is my blood pressure normal?
122/78 average33% of 40-year-olds have elevated blood pressure (CDC)
❤️ Health — Check your percentile →Do I have enough close friends?
2-3 close friendsAverage adult has only 3 close friends by 40 (Survey Center on American Life)
💑 Relationships — Check your percentile →Am I more stressed than average?
49% high stressFinancial stress peaks: mortgage + kids' education costs
🧠 Mental Health — Check your percentile →Am I behind on getting therapy?
15-20% in therapyTherapy use has doubled since 2019 — highest growth in 35-50 bracket
🧠 Mental Health — Check your percentile →Have I been at my job too long?
4.7 yearsMedian tenure rises with age; mid-career moves carry higher stakes
💼 Career — Check your percentile →Is my relationship healthy?
72% married or partneredPeak divorce age: 30-40 — then rates decline
💑 Relationships — Check your percentile →Is my heart rate normal?
68-76 BPMResting heart rate is one of the best predictors of cardiovascular health
❤️ Health — Check your percentile →The Reality of Turning 40
The "midlife crisis" is real, but not in the way pop culture portrays it. Research by David Blanchflower (Dartmouth) and Andrew Oswald (Warwick) found that life satisfaction follows a U-curve, with the lowest point around ages 40-50 across 132 countries. The good news: it consistently rises again after the trough.
Financially, the gap between median and mean widens dramatically in the 35-44 bracket. The median net worth is ~$91,000 while the mean is $549,000 (Federal Reserve SCF, 2022) — meaning a small number of very wealthy individuals skew the average. Comparing yourself to the "average" 40-year-old is comparing yourself to a statistical phantom.
Health becomes a leading indicator rather than a trailing one. Blood pressure, cholesterol, resting heart rate, and body composition at 40 strongly predict outcomes at 60 and beyond. The American Heart Association recommends cardiovascular risk assessment starting at 40 for everyone, regardless of symptoms.
Career-wise, 40 is typically when earnings peak for non-managerial roles. According to PayScale data, salary growth flattens around 40-45 for most workers. Those who continue to see growth are typically in management, specialized professions, or self-employment. This plateau is structural, not personal.