Putting money in a savings account allows you to have funds available for emergencies or to save for short-term purchases. You can also earn interest when you invest your money in a savings account, though.
Let's say you have a pretty good balance -- around $10,000 -- in your savings account. Here's how much you might earn with this much cash in savings.
Here's what your returns on a $10,000 balance could look like
If you have $10,000 in savings, the amount of interest you can earn on that balance is going to depend on the annual percentage yield (APY) your savings account pays. The FDIC reports that the national average interest rate on savings accounts is 0.46% as of mid-December 2023. However, if you have a high-yield savings account, you could earn up to 5.30% APY.
The table below shows the amount of interest you could earn over time both if you had an account at a bank paying the national average rate and if you found a competitive high-yield savings account paying 5.30%, assuming interest is compounded annually.
| 0.46% APY | 5.30% APY |
|---|
| After 1 Year | $46.00 | $530.00 |
|---|
| After 5 Years | $232.13 | $2,946.19 |
|---|
| After 10 Years | $469.64 | $6,760.37 |
|---|
Data source: Author's calculations.
As you can see, you can earn a pretty substantial amount of interest -- especially over a long time period -- but you'll need to find the right bank account in order to make that happen. You should also know that savings account APYs aren't fixed -- they change over time. If rates go down in 2024, as many people expect they will in the new year, you may not get that 5.30% APY. But the rates on a high-yield savings account are always going to be higher than the national average rate.
Take the time to find the right savings account to maximize your interest
When you put your money into a savings account, your potential returns are always going to be more limited than if you invested in a brokerage account and put your money into the stock market. That's because you are not taking on any risk of loss, up to FDIC insurance limits, as long as your account is FDIC insured.
That doesn't mean the account you pick doesn't matter, though. A high-yield savings account should provide the same safe place to put your money as a savings account paying a much lower APY does, as long as you make sure that your account has FDIC coverage. And, like a savings account paying a much lower rate, your money should still be accessible, so you can withdraw it whenever you want.
The big difference, though, is that the high-yield account is going to give you the chance to earn a lot more interest. You can earn more in a single year than you would after a decade if you find an account paying 5.30% instead of 0.46%. Of course, you will want to consider factors like customer service, fees, and the process of transferring funds -- but plenty of great accounts offering impressive yields also excel in other aspects of the customer experience.
The more money you have in savings, the more it matters that you find the right account -- but even if you have much less than $10,000 set aside, it's worth taking the time to try to maximize your returns. That's especially true as you have a lot to gain and nothing to lose if you just take the time to look for an account offering the most competitive rates.
These savings accounts are FDIC insured and could earn you 11x your bank
Many people are missing out on guaranteed returns as their money languishes in a big bank savings account earning next to no interest. Our picks of the best online savings accounts could earn you 11x the national average savings account rate. Click here to uncover the best-in-class accounts that landed a spot on our short list of the best savings accounts for 2024.
FAQs
And regular savings accounts have an average interest rate of just 0.46% right now, which equates to just $46 earned on a $10,000 deposit in one year.
How much interest will $10,000 earn in a savings account? ›
And regular savings accounts have an average interest rate of just 0.46% right now, which equates to just $46 earned on a $10,000 deposit in one year.
How much interest can you earn off 10k? ›
How much interest can you earn on $10,000? In a savings account earning 0.01%, your balance after a year would be $10,001. Put that $10,000 in a high-yield savings account that earns 5% APY for the same amount of time, and you'll earn about $500.
How much interest will I get for $10,000? ›
Monthly Interest Payout for an FD of ₹10,000
| Deposit Amount | Interest Rate (p.a.) | Monthly Interest Payout |
|---|
| ₹10,000 | 6.50% | ₹54 |
| ₹10,000 | 7.00% | ₹58 |
| ₹10,000 | 7.50% | ₹63 |
| ₹10,000 | 8.00% | ₹67 |
5 more rowsEarnings on a $10,000 CD Over Different Terms
| Term Length | Average APY | Interest earned on $10,000 at maturity |
|---|
| 1 year | 1.81% | $181 |
| 2 years | 1.54% | $310.37 |
| 3 years | 1.41% | $428.99 |
| 4 years | 1.32% | $538.55 |
1 more rowMay 14, 2024
A stocks and shares ISA is likely to be most suitable. That is unless you will turn 55 within 30 years, in which case a pension might be a better tax wrapper for you. If you're unsure about the time horizon, you could invest in both a pension and a stocks and shares ISA.
How much will $10,000 make in a money market account? ›
Currently, money market funds pay between 4.47% and 4.87% in interest. With that, you can earn between $447 to $487 in interest on $10,000 each year. Certificates of deposit (CDs). CDs are offered by financial institutions for set periods of time.
Is $10 000 a good amount of savings? ›
According to experts, having $10,000 in savings is an excellent position to be in, and there are several smart moves you can make to optimize your financial situation.
How much cash do I need to live off interest? ›
Key takeaways: The typical American making $40,480 a year needs at least $826k invested with a 4.9% annual return to live off interest alone. Estimate how much you need invested to live off interest with the formula: Annual income / Annual interest rate = Savings goal.
Can you turn 10K into 100K? ›
Whether starting your own business, investing in stocks, or buying into an established business, you must ensure that you have a plan and conduct research. If you're prepared to do these things, then turning 10K into 100K quickly is entirely possible for you.
Summary: An investment of $10000 today invested at 6% for five years at simple interest will be $13,000.
What is 5% interest on $10000? ›
For example, let's say you invest $10,000 in a simple-interest account that earns 5%. You'll earn an estimated $500 in interest and your account will be worth $10,500 after a year.
What is 3% interest of $10000? ›
For example, if you put $10,000 into a savings account with 3% interest compounded monthly: After five years, you'd have $11,616. You'd earn $1,616 in interest. After 10 years you'd have $13,494.
Why should you deposit $10,000 in CD now? ›
A one-year CD with a $10,000 opening deposit that earns the Bankrate partner average yield of 4.94 percent would be worth around $10,494 when it matures in 12 months' time. This high-yielding one-year CD would earn you around $320 more in total interest than a CD earning the national average rate.
What happens if you put $10,000 in a CD for 5 years? ›
The interest is significant and predictable
Let's say you put $10,000 into a 5-year CD with the rate discussed above – 4.75%. After the 5-year term is up you'll have earned $2,611 in interest for a total account balance of $12,611. That is a good rate of return for an option that comes with essentially zero risk.
Do I pay taxes on CD interest? ›
CD interest is subject to ordinary income tax, like other money that you earn. The IRS requires investors to pay taxes on CD interest income. The bank or financial institution that holds the CD is required to send you a Form 1099-INT by January 31.
Is 10k good for a savings account? ›
APYs are subject to change at any time without notice. There's nothing wrong with keeping $10,000 in a savings account. But it might not earn you the highest yields. CDs and brokerage accounts could be better homes for your cash in some situations.
What would 5% interest be on $10000? ›
For example, let's say you invest $10,000 in a simple-interest account that earns 5%. You'll earn an estimated $500 in interest and your account will be worth $10,500 after a year.
How much will $5000 make in a high-yield savings account? ›
The average APY on a savings account is just 0.46% -- you can do much better than this, though. A $5,000 balance could earn as much as $268 in a year with the highest-yield savings account on our radar -- and over $200 even with a slightly lower rate.
