Want the Max $5,108 Social Security Benefit? Here's the Salary You Need
You'll need to be a high earner to get the maximum possible benefit, but there are a few other details you have to get right.
Social Security isn't designed to replace your entire income in retirement. The average retiree collected $1,979 in January. That's not going to cover a whole lot of your basic expenses once you're retired, especially when you consider the rising costs of healthcare and housing.
But some retirees may have collected as much as $5,108 last month, and they'll continue to receive those big checks each month throughout 2025. On top of that, they'll get an inflation adjustment every year, adding a small amount to their monthly checks thanks to the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
But you'll have to work a long and high-paying career to put yourself in a position for that $5,108 benefit. Only a handful of people meet the exact requirements necessary each year -- if you want to be one of them, here's the salary you need.
