Household Net Worth chart for Teenagers 15 years old

Chart Insights

Net worth for a household where the primary earner is 15 years old is typically very modest. The median net worth sits at $385, with most households in this 15-year-old age group holding between $135 (at the 25th percentile) and $963 (at the 75th percentile). However, the average net worth is significantly higher at approximately $2,380 because a small percentage of high-wealth households (often those with large trust funds, successful family businesses, or high-value assets) drastically pull the mathematical mean upward. This is why NettleWorth uses the median, as it represents the exact midpoint where 50% of households have more and 50% have less, making it a more accurate reflection of typical financial reality for most households with a 15-year-old primary earner or co-earner.

Milestones and Peer Comparisons

At 15, having a household where you're the primary (male or female) or co-earning member is quite rare, though it does happen in some families. Most 15-year-olds are still in school and financially dependent on parents or guardians. If you're contributing to household finances at this age, whether through part-time work, family business involvement, or other means, you're already taking on significant responsibility. It's completely normal for household net worth to be modest or even near zero at this stage, especially if the household is just beginning to build financial stability. The key milestone here isn't the dollar amount; it's establishing a foundation for future growth.

Tips & Growth Factors

If you're part of a household building wealth at 15, focus on creating sustainable financial habits. Opening a joint or household savings account helps track collective progress and encourages regular saving. Learning basic budgeting, understanding household expenses, and contributing even small amounts consistently builds financial discipline. If working part-time, setting aside 10-15% of earnings before other expenses creates a habit that compounds over time. These foundational steps may feel modest now, but they establish patterns that strengthen household financial security for years ahead.

Data Sources & Methodology

All statistics on this page are derived from reputable sources, including the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, anonymized data from NettleWorth users and our own research.

Net worth percentiles presented on this page are generated using a robust, age-based modeling framework designed to reflect realistic patterns of wealth accumulation throughout the lifespan. The approach applies a double exponential smoothing technique, calibrated to match Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances data using parameters. Our data spans across the "earning" life stages from adolescence to late retirement.

We use a range of separate percentiles (from the 2nd to the 99th) that are calculated for every age and demographic group with demographic adjustments that are built into the model to reflect currently observed population-level trends.

Primary data sources include the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (2022 release), Distributional Financial Accounts, IRS Personal Wealth Statistics, and leading financial research (see Federal Reserve, IRS, and Vanguard indices). Net worth figures are specified for U.S. residents in USD and follow the original percentile structure used in our calculations.

Further details on our assumptions and our transparent methodology are described in our documentation for those seeking deeper insight into the modeling process and its limitations. Just get in touch to discuss further or if you believe that an error has been made somewhere.