Here’s the salary you need to claim the maximum $5,108 monthly Social Security benefit

The average Social Security benefit for a retired worker in February 2025 was $1,980 per month. That’s enough to help cover a few bills, but it’s far from what you may need for a comfortable retirement.

Many people dream of locking in the maximum Social Security benefit when they retire — and it’s easy to understand why. As the cost of living rises and traditional pensions disappear, that guaranteed monthly check becomes one of the few reliable sources of income retirees can count on.

Unfortunately, the path to that maximum benefit is anything but easy. If you’re aiming to max out your monthly check, you need to know exactly what it takes — and what could disqualify you.

Here’s everything you need to know.

How to get to the top Social Security benefit

Getting to the top benefit — $5,108 in 2025 — isn’t easy.

You need to hit two major requirements:

1. Earn above a specific income threshold for 35 year...
   [Short citation of 8% of the original article]