Oct 22, 2026

Gen Z Says They Need Six Figures To Feel Rich — Is That Achievable in the Next 10 Years?

Gen Z is not playing around when it comes to salary expectations, and they are armed with influencer-backed money hacks. However, becoming rich is not only subjective in context, it also no longer means owning a yacht, let alone a house in an affluent neighborhood.

These days, it might simply mean paying rent, buying groceries and not having a mild panic attack every time the car makes a weird noise. In fact, making six figures may now just be a survival instinct, according to Jacob Bayer, founder at wealth management firm JBayerWealth.

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“‘Six figures' isn't one number. In a high-cost combined market, $100,000 for one person can seem middle-class after paying for rent and taxes— take-home pay is about $70,000, and a one-bedroom can take $30,000 [or more]," Bayer said. "In a lower-cost city, that rent and salary can actually leave you with some cash. The truthful answer to [will six figures make someone feel rich] is generally, likely, no.”

This is probably why many members of Gen Z believe a six-figure income is the minimum needed to feel financially secure, whereas feeling rich would just be a bonus in that contract. So, is realistically getting there within the next decade ambitious? Absolutely, but not necessarily unrealistic. Here's the full picture.

Why Gen Z's Earning Expectation Is So High

Though the magic number for making all your financial problems go away varies, many economists estimate that a majority of Americans need to earn at least $100,000 annually to live comfortably. In contrast, some in more expensive locations would likely need over $200,000 a year to feel rich, as reported by CBS News.

Yes, again, that may sound ambitious, but Gen Z has spent much of adulthood watching housing prices soar, rents climb and fast-food combo meals require the same financial commitment as a small investment portfolio.

“The distinction that matters most is that making six figures doesn’t mean that you have six-figure wealth… You need to understand that income is what you bring home, and wealth is what you hold on to and continue to expand,” Bayer said. "If you make $100,000 and spend $100,000, you have a high salary and a net worth that is essentially zero. If a person makes $80,000 and invests 15% of that with the money put into low-cost diversified funds that grow and compound with approximately 7% real growth annually over the long term, that person is now wealthy and is able to slow that down to enjoy the time he/she has bought back."

The Reality of Where Gen Z's Income Actually Stands

Here’s something you don’t hear too often anymore, but there is some good news when it comes to personal finances in 2026.

MSN reports that the average net worth of people in their 20s at $139,243, and $325,952 for those in their 30s. That trajectory is actually encouraging: A 22-year-old earning $60,000 today who invests consistently and grows their salary could realistically cross $100,000 by their early 30s in the right field.

Final Take: How To Get There in 10 Years

The roadmap to six figures in a decade is clear: “Skills and certifications that speed it," according to Bayer. "The things that make the most money are the things that the market demands, like cloud certifications, nursing and physician assistants, data analytics and SQL, certified public accountants (CPAs), and trades that lead to owning your own business."

Negotiate from day one: Many new graduates accept first offers without negotiating, potentially leaving thousands on the table annually. Bayer said, “The first key move is to negotiate a pay raise for every job offer. This can add a pay raise of $5,000 to $10,000 and gets added to every following pay raise.”
Choose the right field and change jobs within it: Tech, finance, healthcare, and engineering consistently produce six-figure salaries within five to 10 years of entry. “The second key move is changing jobs more frequently, as most people only get about 3% more with every annual raise. Moving jobs strategically can yield a pay raise of 10% to 20%. The goal is to move jobs only two to three times in a decade, as that is much more lucrative than staying with a single employer,” Bayer said.
Stack income streams: The ones most likely to get there are combining career income with freelancing, investing and building equity in something, not waiting for a single paycheck to carry all the weight.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by

Caitlyn Moorhead

Edited by

Zuri Anderson