Updated October 27, 2026
How much should gig workers save for retirement?
A common guideline, not a rule
Fidelity has published a guideline of saving 15% of income a year, including an employer match, toward retirement. Gig workers do not get that match, so the whole percentage comes from net self-employment income. It is a planning guideline, not a requirement and not a promise of a result. Source: https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/how-much-money-should-I-save.
Save by percentage when income varies
A fixed dollar amount breaks in a slow week. A percentage of each payout scales: a $1,000 week contributes more than a $300 week, and a $0 week contributes nothing without cancelling the habit.
Order of operations
Set aside taxes first, including the 15.3% self-employment tax on net earnings. Then a cash reserve for slow weeks. Then retirement. Putting retirement money in before the quarterly tax payment is due can force a withdrawal.
Worked examples, hypothetical
These use 15% of net profit and ignore taxes on the contribution itself. At $25,000 net, 15% is $3,750 a year, which fits inside the 2026 Roth IRA limit. At $45,000, 15% is $6,750, still inside the Roth IRA limit for someone under 50. At $75,000, 15% is $11,250, which is more than the Roth IRA limit, so the rest would need a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k). Nothing here is a projected account balance.
Use the calculator
The gig worker retirement calculator shows a hypothetical balance at a rate you type in. The rate is an assumption. It is not a guarantee, and the balance can be lower.
Related
Questions
Is 15% required?
No. It is a published savings guideline, not a tax rule. Saving less still counts. Saving more can make sense in a strong year if the account limit allows it.
Educational only, not tax, legal, or investment advice. Gigaverse is not a bank. Brokerage services, when an account is open, are provided by a FINRA/SIPC-member broker-dealer. Contribution limits are from IRS Notice 2025-67 and can change.