Key takeaways

  • The Reality Gap: While most workers expect to retire at 65 or later, 70% actually exit the workforce before age 65, with a national median retirement age of 62.
  • Involuntary Exits: Early retirement is often forced; 59% of those leaving before 65 do so because of health issues, disability, or involuntary job loss rather than personal choice.
  • Industry & Health Influence: States with physically demanding industries (agriculture, mining) see earlier exits due to physical attrition, while professional and government hubs support longer careers.
  • Highest vs. Lowest Ages: Retirement ages range significantly by geography, with Washington, D.C. recording the highest average age at 67, while Alaska and West Virginia tie for the lowest at 61.

Retirement is a deeply personal decision, but most people still want to know how their timeline compares. Across the country, the average retirement age varies more than might be expected. Planning around an ideal age is one thing. Understanding the real-world age at which Americans leave the workforce, and why that age varies so significantly by geography, is another matter entirely.

The gap between the two is larger than most people expect. According to the 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), more than half of workers surveyed expected to retire at age 65 or older. Yet the same study reports 70 percent of retirees retired before age 65, with a median retirement age of 62. That gap between when workers expect to retire and when retirees actually leave the workforce is not the same everywhere. Where someone lives plays a measurable role in where they fall within that gap.

What follows is a state-by-state look at when Americans actually stop working, grounded in the latest available data, and an examination of the structural forces that explain why the numbers vary so widely across the country.

National trends

The national average retirement age sits at approximately 61 to 62.* Multiple organizations’ figures reflect the same upward trend: in 1991, Gallup found the average reported retirement age was 57. It has climbed steadily since.

Go Further: The average retirement age is the median or mean age at which workers in a given population stop working and exit the labor force. Figures vary depending on the data source and methodology, and how “retirement” is formally defined in each study.

The federal benchmark most people associate with retirement is the full retirement age, or FRA, set by the Social Security Administration. For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67, per the SSA’s retirement age calculator. Early Social Security benefits are available as early as age 62, but claiming before FRA carries a permanent monthly reduction, according to the Social Security Administration.

Go Further: The full retirement age is the age at which a person becomes eligible to receive full, unreduced Social Security retirement benefits, as set by the Social Security Administration based on birth year. For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67.

* The exact age depends on study methodology. Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance survey, which has tracked self-reported retirement ages since 1991, puts the figure at 61. The EBRI 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey, cited above, finds a median of 62 among current retirees.

The reality of leaving early

Retirement before age 65 is common, but it is rarely a choice. According to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, 59% of retirees left the workforce before age 65, yet many were forced out rather than opting out. In fact, nearly half of those who retired earlier than planned did so due to health problems or disability, while 43% cited involuntary employment changes like job losses or company restructuring.

A shrinking trend

While many individuals still exit the workforce before 65, the overall rate of early retirement has plummeted over the last two decades. Gallup data shows that between 2002 and 2022, the percentage of Americans aged 55 to 59 who were retired dropped from 19% to just 11%. This shift highlights a broader economic reality: as financial needs and life expectancies grow, the “early retiree” is becoming a much smaller minority of the American population.

Regional data

State-level retirement ages, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) analysis, range from approximately 61 to 67. The figures below reflect the most recent ACS five-year estimates (2019–2023). The variation reflects meaningful differences in cost of living, dominant industries, workforce composition, and access to employer-sponsored benefits.

Go Further: The American Community Survey is an ongoing annual survey conducted  by the U.S. Census Bureau that collects detailed data on income, employment, education, housing, and other social and economic characteristics of the American population. It is the primary data source for state-level retirement age analysis.

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Impact of the industry on retirement age

Industry composition is among the strongest predictors of when a state’s workforce retires. Gallup’s analysis of three decades of Economy and Personal Finance survey data found that the shift away from manufacturing and toward services and information-based work is a primary driver of the national trend toward later retirement ages. States where manual labor and physically demanding work dominate tend to show earlier averages, as physical attrition and accumulated health limitations accelerate workforce exit. States with significant mining, agriculture, and construction sectors consistently appear at the lower end of the retirement age range.

According to the same Gallup analysis, states with large concentrations of professional services, government employment, and higher education tend to show later retirement ages. Workers in those sectors face less physical attrition, are more likely to carry defined-benefit pensions tied to years of service, and have stronger financial incentives to delay Social Security and maximize their FRA benefit. Washington, D.C., with its dense concentration of federal government and professional employment, records the highest average retirement age in the country at 67.

Go Further:  A defined-benefit pension is a retirement plan in which an employer guarantees a specific monthly payment at retirement, typically calculated based on years of service and salary history. Unlike a 401(k) or IRA, the benefit amount is fixed in advance and does not depend on investment performance.

Healthcare access is another structural factor. In states where employer-sponsored coverage is the primary option before Medicare eligibility, workers often remain employed specifically to maintain health insurance. The SSA confirms that Medicare eligibility begins at 65, regardless of when Social Security benefits are claimed, making 65 a practical floor for many workers whose retirement decisions hinge on coverage continuity. States with higher healthcare costs and more limited public coverage options tend to skew toward later retirement ages for precisely this reason.

FAQs

Why do some states have much earlier average retirement ages than others? 

The primary drivers are industry composition, cost of living, and health. Gallup’s research identifies the decline of physically demanding industries as a key factor in rising retirement ages nationally, while states where those industries remain dominant continue to show earlier averages. States with lower costs of living also allow workers to retire earlier on comparable savings. Washington, D.C., with its concentration of professional and government employment, has the country’s highest average at 67.

Does the average retirement age affect when I should claim Social Security? 

The two are related but separate decisions. The national average retirement age of 61 to 62 coincides with the earliest age at which Social Security benefits can be claimed, but the SSA makes clear that claiming at 62 permanently reduces monthly benefits compared to waiting until Full Retirement Age. For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. Benefit estimates at different claiming ages are available through the SSA’s retirement planner.

Is the average retirement age rising over time? 

Yes, measurably. Gallup’s Economy and Personal Finance survey documents the increase from an average reported retirement age of 57 in 1991 to 61 today, with the share of Americans retiring between ages 55 and 59 dropping from 19 percent to 11 percent between 2002 and 2022. Longer life expectancies, changes to Social Security’s Full Retirement Age and the decline of defined-benefit pensions are among the structural factors researchers cite most consistently.

Glossary

Average retirement age: The median or mean age at which workers in a given population stop working and exit the labor force. Figures vary depending on the data source and methodology, and how “retirement” is formally defined in each study.

Full Retirement Age (FRA): The age at which a person becomes eligible to receive full, unreduced Social Security retirement benefits, as set by the Social Security Administration based on birth year. For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67.

American Community Survey (ACS): An ongoing annual survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that collects detailed data on income, employment, education, housing, and other social and economic characteristics of the American population. It is the primary data source for state-level retirement age analysis.

Defined-benefit pension: A retirement plan in which an employer guarantees a specific monthly payment at retirement, typically calculated based on years of service and salary history. Unlike a 401(k) or IRA, the benefit amount is fixed in advance and does not depend on investment performance.

Sources

Disclaimer: Steady Retire and MediaFeed are providers of educational content and information. This article is intended for informational and illustrative purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. The information provided does not create a professional-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a qualified financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, rules and regulations regarding retirement are subject to change. Always consult with a certified professional regarding your specific financial situation.