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More than one quarter of American workers (27%) have unexpectedly had to move money out of their savings account in the last day, per new research.
And a little more than one in 10 (12%) have done so in the last few hours, according to the survey of 1,000 hourly and 1,000 salaried workers, which found that most of those polled have a savings account (92%).
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.
Though 84% of workers polled said that building savings is one of their top financial goals, savings habits also differ dramatically between demographics. Just 5% of salaried workers have had to dip into savings within the last few hours, compared to the 20% of hourly workers who have done so in that same timeframe.
In the survey, more than half of hourly workers (55%) also said they withdraw money from savings on a weekly basis, totaling an average of $216 per month.
And the money isn’t necessarily going toward major emergencies. Over one-third (34%) of hourly workers said they’ve tapped their savings for everyday necessities such as groceries, medications, and gas.
The study, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Chime, surveyed workers about their financial health, savings habits and the tools they use to manage their money. The findings point to a disconnect between workers’ desire to build savings and their ability to leave that money untouched, especially among those paid hourly.
“Hourly workers aren’t telling us they don’t want to save. They’re telling us they can’t keep their savings saved,” said Bill Gartland, head of go-to-market at Chime Enterprise. “When money set aside for the future repeatedly has to cover groceries, medication or the days before payday, it becomes much harder to build a financial cushion.”
The strain doesn’t necessarily end when the workday begins. Hourly workers surveyed estimated that they spend 20 hours per week distracted by financial issues or concerns.
Highlighting this, two-thirds of eligible hourly workers (66%) have taken a 401(k) loan or hardship withdrawal at least once.
When hourly workers with little or no savings were asked how having $1,000 saved would affect their lives, their responses included “feel more mentally stable,” “less stress in my life” and simply “everything.”
The research also explored whether the way hourly workers access their pay could affect their ability to save. Among all respondents with employer-sponsored earned wage access (EWA), 86% said that access makes it easier for them to save.
And when EWA was paired with a savings account, 92% of respondents with those features said it helps them save more.
There may also be implications for the workplace. Hourly workers who are able to save from their paycheck reported greater job satisfaction (74%), productivity (75%), and likelihood of staying with their employer (72%). Nearly three-quarters (74%) also reported greater participation in their retirement fund.
Despite the challenges, hourly workers remain optimistic about their ability to build a financial cushion. The average hourly worker surveyed hopes to increase their savings by 42% over the next five years.
“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,” said Gartland. “The bigger opportunity with earned wage access is helping workers manage the gap between paychecks while still building savings for the future. Over time, the goal should be needing that early access less, not more.”
Research methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 hourly and 1,000 salaried workers who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Chime and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Sept. 3 and Sept. 8, 2026.