Key Takeaways The typical employee contribution rate falls between about 8% and 10%, depending on the data source. When employer matches are added, total savings climb to about 12% to 14% of an employee's salary. Contribution rates climb with age: workers under 25 save a combined 9.3% of income, according to Vanguard, while those 55 to 64 save 13.8%. If you aren't reaching the typical figures for your income and age range, you can start by contributing enough to capture your full employer match. ...