Lower earnings and lower retirement savings rates have led to a large disparity in the median 401k balances of women compared to men.
Baby Boomer women have a median 401k savings balance of $59,000, far less than half of the $138,000, median balance of Boomer men, according to a recent T. Rowe Price survey focused on the financial behavior and attitudes related to gender.
This savings gap carries over to Millennial women who have a median 401k balance that is $30,000 less ($12,300) than the median balance of Millennial men ($42,300).
While the study did not include a comparison for Generation X, the median 401k balance for “all workers” was $73,500 for men and $38,100 for women. The gap actually shrunk between 2017 and 2018 in this comparison, as the median 401k balance for men in 2017 was listed at $82,300 and $32,000 for women.
The survey also found that, based on the median annual incomes of both men and women, women earn almost $27,000 less than men—underscoring the gender pay gap. Additionally, they are deferring less of their income to their 401ks in comparison, and 66% of the women who are contributing below the recommended rate say that they are saving as much as they can afford.
These women are also significantly less likely to be saving for retirement in accounts outside of their 401ks compared to men, with 10% saying they use other vehicles compared to the 32% of men.
Once in retirement, while a comparable amount of both men and women continue to work, women are most likely to say they continue to work because they need the money while men are most likely to say it’s for mental stimulation.
“The gender income gap is contributing to a domino effect on women’s finances; lower earnings can have an effect on their current financial decisions which ultimately impacts their financial future, including their retirement savings,” said Judith Ward, senior financial planner at T. Rowe Price. “As women, it’s critical for us to be proactive when it comes to our money and to seek the guidance and education that is necessary to put us on the path toward a successful financial future.”
Additional findings from the study
- Retirement Expectations: Women are more likely to believe they will have to reduce their standard of living in retirement (46%) compared to men (37%). Further, nearly half of men believe they will live as well or better in retirement compared to when they were working, compared to one-third of women who expressed that sentiment.
- Life in Retirement: Significantly more women are single or widowed once in retirement compared to men: Within the first five to 10 years of retirement, 33% of women respondents were either widowed or divorced compared to 17% of men, and after 11 years, the number of single or divorced women increased to 45%, while the number of men barely changed at 18%.
- Financial Advice: Both men and women cited ease of use as their most favored attribute for financial advice. However, women place more importance on advice that fits into their work or personal schedule, as opposed to men who place more importance on advice that alerts them to critical developments in their accounts.
“It is crucial for all retirement savers to make sound decisions that will set them up for success in retirement,” said Kevin Collins, head of Retirement Plan Services at T. Rowe Price. “Plan sponsors can offer financial wellness programs that are engaging and instructive to help bridge the retirement savings gap.”
The findings are based on a national study of 3,005 adults age 21 and older who have never retired and are currently contributing to a 401k plan or are eligible to contribute and have an account balance of at least $1,000, and of 1,005 current retirees who have a Rollover IRA or left-in-plan 401k balance. This is the fourth edition of the study, following the 2014, 2015, and 2017 installments.