The average Social Security payment in 2024 is about $1,907 per month for a retired worker
That figure comes from the Social Security Administration itself and represents what people who have already started collecting retirement benefits receive. The actual amount you get depends almost entirely on your work history and the age you start taking benefits — not on some formula applied equally to everyone.
The $1,907 average includes people who started collecting at 62, at full retirement age, and at 70. It also includes people who worked for 10 years and people who worked for 50. So while it gives you a ballpark, your own payment will almost certainly be different.
Key Takeaways
- The average monthly payment for retired workers is roughly $1,907, but this varies widely based on your earnings record and when you start collecting.
- Someone who started benefits at 62 receives less per month than someone who waited until 70, even though they started collecting earlier.
- Your actual payment amount is calculated by Social Security based on your 35 highest-earning years, not by a standard rate everyone receives.
- You can see your own estimated payment by creating an account on ssa.gov and viewing your Social Security statement.
How your payment amount gets calculated
Social Security looks at your earnings record — specifically your 35 highest-earning years — and calculates a Primary Insurance Amount, or PIA. This is the payment you would receive if you started benefits at your full retirement age, which is between 66 and 67 for people born between 1943 and 1960.
If you start before full retirement age, your payment is reduced. If you wait past full retirement age, it increases by roughly 8 percent per year until age 70. So two people with identical work histories can receive very different monthly amounts depending on when they claim.
The calculation itself uses a formula that replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings than higher earnings. This is why someone who earned $30,000 a year for 35 years will receive a higher percentage of their average earnings than someone who earned $150,000 a year for 35 years.
Why the average is not your number
The $1,907 average masks enormous variation. Someone who worked part-time for 20 years and full-time for 15 years will have a different payment than someone who worked full-time for 35 years. Someone who took time out to raise children or care for a parent will have a different record than someone with no gaps.
The average also shifts over time. Social Security adjusts payments each year for cost-of-living increases, so the average in 2025 will be higher than the average in 2024. And the average changes as new cohorts of people start collecting — someone retiring today may have a different average earnings history than someone who retired five years ago.
For these reasons, the national average is useful mainly for understanding the ballpark. Your own payment depends on your specific record, which only Social Security can calculate.
Payments for spouses and survivors
The $1,907 average applies to retired workers. Spouses, ex-spouses, and survivors receive different amounts based on different rules. A spouse who never worked can receive up to 50 percent of the retired worker's full retirement age amount. A child can receive up to 75 percent. A widow or widower can receive 100 percent of what the worker was receiving, or would have received.
These payments come from the same Social Security trust fund, so they do not add to the worker's payment — they are calculated as percentages of it. A family's total benefit is capped at roughly 150 to 180 percent of the worker's full retirement age amount.
How to find your own estimated payment
The Social Security Administration publishes your own estimated payment on your Social Security statement, which you can view online at ssa.gov. You will need to create a my Social Security account using your email, Social Security number, and other identifying information.
Your statement shows three estimates: what you would receive if you started at 62, at full retirement age, and at 70. These are based on your actual earnings record as Social Security has it, so they are far more accurate than any national average. The statement updates each year after you turn 60.
If you do not have online access or prefer to work by phone, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask for a statement to be mailed to you. This takes longer but produces the same information.
What happens to the average over time
The average Social Security payment increases each year because of cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2023, it was 8.7 percent. These adjustments are tied to inflation and vary year to year.
The average also changes as the population of people collecting benefits shifts. When younger, higher-earning workers start collecting, the average may rise. When a cohort of lower-earning workers starts collecting, it may fall. These demographic shifts happen slowly and are not usually noticeable year to year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $1,907 what I will receive?
Probably not. The average includes people with very different work histories and claiming ages. Your payment depends on your specific earnings record and when you start benefits. Check your Social Security statement at ssa.gov to see your own estimate.
Does everyone get the same Social Security payment?
No. Each person's payment is based on their own earnings history and the age they start collecting. Two people born the same year can receive very different amounts depending on how much they earned and when they claimed.
What if I worked part-time or took time off?
Social Security counts your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked fewer than 35 years, the missing years count as zero, which lowers your average. Time off for caregiving, unemployment, or other reasons reduces your payment unless you have 35 years of substantial earnings.
Can I see what I will get before I claim?
Yes. Your Social Security statement shows estimated payments at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70. Create an account at ssa.gov to view it online, or call 1-800-772-1213 to request it by mail.
Does the average include people on disability?
No. The $1,907 average is for retired workers only. Social Security also pays disability benefits and survivor benefits, which have their own averages and are calculated differently.