High earning Americans living 'paycheck to paycheck'?

More than a third of respondents earning above $300,000 say they are living paycheck to paycheck in a recent Goldman Sachs survey.

Even a high income does not always mean financial breathing room. Among those surveyed, 42% earning below $100,000 and 36% earning above $300,000 said they relied on their next paycheck to cover expenses.

Meeting daily expenses has become challenging for many Americans. The survey found that close to 70% of respondents had postponed major financial goals. The pressure extends beyond the household and into the workplace: more than half of workers (54%) said financial concerns made it difficult to focus at work.

What is making it harder for Americans to save?

It is their daily expenses.

Inflation and the rising cost of living affect people’s ability to save. Respondents identified the following costs as obstacles:

• Housing costs: 31%
• Everyday living expenses: 31%
• Debt payments: 27%

As these expenses compete for a share of household income, retirement savings are slipping off track.

What can help Americans save better today?

Greg Wilson, Head of Retirement & Co-Head of Americas Third-Party Wealth, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, suggests that better planning, personalized advice, stronger portfolios and income strategies can help savers make every dollar saved yield more.

What are Americans doing to save more and secure their retirement plans?

Workers are supplementing their income through additional work to build long-term financial security. According to the Goldman Sachs survey, 71% of those engaged in additional work said they were doing so out of financial need.

Who did Goldman Sachs survey, and what was its methodology?

The firm organized a survey in July, 2026. They polled 5,106 people in total, of which 3,612 were working individuals across generations and 1,494 were retired individuals between the age 45 to 75.