Want $5,108 in Social Security Benefits? Here’s the Income You Need To Qualify

The average Social Security retirement benefit was $1,921.56 in September. While this monthly amount may help supplement your retirement savings, it’s often not enough to cover all expenses, especially with rising costs in healthcare and housing. However, if you earn a high enough salary over your career, you could see a much larger Social Security check in retirement.

For 2025, the maximum monthly benefit is $5,108, and this amount will continue to grow due to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). Here’s what it takes to reach that maximum benefit.

Three Key Factors

Before looking into salary requirements, it’s essential to know the three main factors determining the size of your Social Security check:

1. Your Earnings History: Social Security reviews your lifetime earnings, adjusts them for wage inflation, and calculates your benefits based on the highest 35 years of earnings.
2. Year of Birth: The year you were born affects your “full retirement age” (FRA), which is the age at which you’re eligible to receive 100% of your Social Security benefit.
3. When You Claim Benefits: Claiming benefits before your FRA results in a reduced amount, while delaying beyond your FRA increases your payout each month up to age 70.

These factors combine to produce your primary insurance amount (PIA), or the monthly benefit you receive if you claim at your full retirement age.

Benefits

To maximize your Social Security benefit, you must consistently earn at least the maximum taxable earnings limit, which is the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes each year. Any income above this limit won’t be included in your benefit calculations. In 2025, the wage base limit is set at $176,100. Only those who earn at or above this amount for at least 35 years will qualify for the maximum payout.

Here’s a look at the maximum taxable earnings over the past decades:

If your salary doesn’t increase alongside this wage base limit, you might fall short of the maximum benefit.

Maximum Payout

The age at which you claim your Social Security benefits greatly impacts your monthly amount. To receive the full benefit amount, you must delay claiming until age 70. Here’s how different ages impact your benefit:

• Claiming before FRA: Claiming as early as age 62 results in reduced benefits.
• Claiming at FRA: You receive your full benefit at your FRA, which is 66 or 67, depending on your birth year.
• Delaying Until Age 70: Each month you delay claiming beyond your FRA adds roughly 2/3 of 1% to your benefit, or about 8% per year, until age 70.

For those born in 1955, the FRA is 66 years and two months, and delaying until age 70 results in nearly a 31% increase in benefits.

Maximum Benefit

It’s worth noting that only a small percentage of Social Security recipients qualify for the maximum benefit. That’s because many don’t consistently earn the maximum taxable earnings each year or may claim benefits before age 70.

Additionally, high earners often have other retirement savings, so delaying Social Security may not be a priority. Those who manage to receive the maximum payout usually have had a long, steady career with earnings above the wage base limit and have worked well into their 60s.

Bonus

Few people are aware that certain strategies can help boost Social Security payouts. For example, delaying claims, knowing spousal benefits, and maximizing high-earning years could add up to $22,924 more per year. While not everyone can reach the maximum benefit, smart planning can significantly increase your retirement income.

If you aim to maximize your Social Security benefit, a high salary throughout your career and delaying claims until age 70 will be crucial. However, balancing that with personal retirement goals and additional savings can provide a comfortable, financially secure retirement.

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