Is FIRE realistic on an average salary?

Yes, FIRE is achievable on an average income, but the timeline depends far more on your savings rate than your paycheck. Because your required nest egg is a multiple of your spending (not your income), someone earning a median salary who lives well below their means and saves 30–40% can reach financial independence in their 50s — earlier than a high earner who saves only 10%. The catch is that a smaller income leaves less margin, so the big levers matter more: keeping housing affordable, avoiding car payments and consumer debt, and capturing every tax-advantaged dollar, like a full 401(k) match and a Roth IRA. Many average earners aim for a Lean or Coast FIRE target rather than Fat FIRE. The point isn't a flashy salary; it's a wide, sustained gap between earning and spending. See the steps at wealthserene.com/goals/build-wealth.