American workers want to save. Keeping it saved is the hard part.

A new survey finds that many employees are dipping into savings just to get to payday—but the right financial benefit can help.

More than a quarter of American workers (27%) have had to move money out of their savings unexpectedly in the last day.1 That's one finding from a new survey of 1,000 hourly and 1,000 salaried workers about their financial health, savings habits, and the tools they use to manage their money, conducted by Talker Research in partnership with Chime.1  

The study revealed that hourly workers are drawing down their savings to make it to payday. And while building savings may be a top financial goal, many are struggling to keep that money in the bank. The results point to one tool that shows promise as a savings-enabler. Earned Wage Access allows employees to access their pay early, to help them cover daily expenses while leaving their savings untouched.

New Research

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Key survey findings

  • 55% of hourly workers withdraw from savings every week (average $216/month). (see disclosure 1)

  • 86% of workers with employer-sponsored Earned Wage Access say it makes saving easier. (see disclosure 1)  

  • 75% of hourly workers who can save from their paychecks report higher productivity; 72% report higher likelihood of staying with their employer. (see disclosure 1)

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New Report

The State of Employee Savings in 2026

See the full findings on hourly workers' savings habits. Chime Workplace’s new report covers what keeps employees stuck in the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, what savings mean for productivity and retention, and how Earned Wage Access can help workers build (and maintain) savings.

Inside the report:

  • The employer ROI of employee savings

  • Why hourly workers are drawing down savings to make it to payday

  • The savings tools hourly employees say they're missing

  • How EWA paired with saving tools helps workers keep their money saved

More insights from the research1

The gap between hourly and salaried workers is wide.

Just 5% of salaried workers have dipped into savings in the last few hours, compared with 20% of hourly workers. And the money is often covering groceries, medication, and gas in the days before payday.

Hourly workers spend an est. 20 hours/week distracted by financial worries.

The research points to one potential solution: Among workers with employer-sponsored Earned Wage Access (EWA), 86% say it makes saving easier.

Employees' savings can impact their work performance.

Hourly workers who can save from their paychecks report higher productivity, job satisfaction, and retention. For employers, helping people build and maintain savings appears to be a potentially impactful workforce strategy.

A headshot of Bill Gartland

“The findings suggest that when you give American workers access to the right tools, it’s much easier for them to save and to keep saving. The bigger opportunity with earned wage access is helping workers manage the gap between paychecks while still building savings for the future.”

Bill Gartland, Head of Go-to-Market, Chime Workplace