The short answer for 2026: a $100,000 immediate annuity purchased at age 65 pays roughly $605 to $665 per month for life on a single-life payout, and roughly $530 to $578 per month on a joint-life payout covering two spouses. Every other number on this page scales from that same math, and the tables below break it out by premium, age, and payout option so you can find your situation quickly.
These are ranges, not quotes. Immediate annuity pricing moves with interest rates and differs by carrier, your state, and your exact date of birth. Two highly rated insurers quoting the same 65-year-old on the same day can be 5 to 8 percent apart, which is exactly why comparing several carriers matters more than picking a brand you recognize.
Quick payout estimator
Uses the same 2026 ranges as the tables below.
Estimated monthly income
$1,515 – $1,665
Estimate only, not a quote. Actual offers vary by carrier, state, and exact date of birth.
How to read these tables
Every table shows estimated monthly income from a single-premium immediate annuity, the product type that starts paying within about 30 days of purchase. Three payout options appear in each one:
- Single life. Pays for one lifetime and stops at death. Highest monthly amount, nothing left to heirs.
- Single life with 10-year certain. Pays for life, and if you die inside the first 10 years the remaining payments go to your beneficiary. Costs about 4 to 9 percent of the monthly amount.
- Joint life, 100% to survivor. Pays as long as either spouse is living, at the full amount after the first death. Both spouses assumed to be the listed age.
Deferring the start date changes everything. A deferred income annuity bought at 60 and started at 70 pays far more than the age 60 row here, because the insurer holds the money and shortens the payout window. If you want the mechanics behind all of this, read how annuities work and annuitization explained.
$50,000 annuity: monthly payout by age
| Age at purchase | Single life | Single life, 10-year certain | Joint life (100% to survivor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 60 | $275 – $300 | $265 – $285 | $240 – $260 |
| Age 65 | $305 – $335 | $290 – $315 | $265 – $290 |
| Age 70 | $345 – $380 | $325 – $355 | $295 – $325 |
| Age 75 | $405 – $450 | $365 – $400 | $335 – $370 |
At this size the annuity is usually a supplement rather than a foundation. $50,000 at 70 produces somewhere around $345 to $380 a month for life, which is meaningful against a utility bill and a car payment but will not carry a household. Some carriers set minimum premiums at $50,000 or $100,000, so your carrier choices narrow at this level.
$100,000 annuity: monthly payout by age
| Age at purchase | Single life | Single life, 10-year certain | Joint life (100% to survivor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 60 | $545 – $595 | $525 – $570 | $480 – $520 |
| Age 65 | $605 – $665 | $580 – $630 | $530 – $580 |
| Age 70 | $690 – $760 | $645 – $705 | $590 – $645 |
| Age 75 | $810 – $895 | $730 – $800 | $670 – $740 |
This is the benchmark everyone quotes, and it is the cleanest way to compare offers. Ask each carrier for income per $100,000 rather than a total, then multiply. The age 65 single-life range of about $605 to $665 works out to an annual payout rate near 7.3 to 8.0 percent of premium, though that number includes a return of your own principal and is not an interest rate.
$250,000 annuity: monthly payout by age
| Age at purchase | Single life | Single life, 10-year certain | Joint life (100% to survivor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 60 | $1,365 – $1,490 | $1,315 – $1,425 | $1,200 – $1,300 |
| Age 65 | $1,515 – $1,665 | $1,450 – $1,575 | $1,325 – $1,445 |
| Age 70 | $1,725 – $1,900 | $1,615 – $1,765 | $1,480 – $1,615 |
| Age 75 | $2,025 – $2,240 | $1,825 – $2,000 | $1,680 – $1,850 |
At $250,000 a few carriers begin applying premium band pricing, a small uplift for larger deposits. It is usually worth a few dollars per $1,000 of income rather than a dramatic change, but it is free money when it applies, so make sure whoever runs your quotes checks the bands.
$500,000 annuity: monthly payout by age
| Age at purchase | Single life | Single life, 10-year certain | Joint life (100% to survivor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 60 | $2,725 – $2,975 | $2,625 – $2,850 | $2,400 – $2,600 |
| Age 65 | $3,025 – $3,325 | $2,900 – $3,150 | $2,650 – $2,890 |
| Age 70 | $3,450 – $3,800 | $3,225 – $3,525 | $2,960 – $3,225 |
| Age 75 | $4,050 – $4,475 | $3,650 – $4,000 | $3,360 – $3,700 |
Once a single contract is this large, state guaranty association coverage enters the conversation. Those limits commonly sit between $250,000 and $500,000 in present value of annuity benefits per person per insurer, depending on the state. Splitting the premium across two carriers can keep more of the income inside that protection while barely changing the total check.
$1,000,000 annuity: monthly payout by age
| Age at purchase | Single life | Single life, 10-year certain | Joint life (100% to survivor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 60 | $5,450 – $5,950 | $5,250 – $5,700 | $4,800 – $5,200 |
| Age 65 | $6,050 – $6,650 | $5,800 – $6,300 | $5,300 – $5,780 |
| Age 70 | $6,900 – $7,600 | $6,450 – $7,050 | $5,920 – $6,450 |
| Age 75 | $8,100 – $8,950 | $7,300 – $8,000 | $6,720 – $7,400 |
A million-dollar premium at 65 generates roughly $6,050 to $6,650 a month for life on a single-life payout. At this level almost nobody should put the entire amount into one immediate annuity. The common approach is laddering: annuitize enough to cover fixed expenses now, keep the rest growing, and add income later at higher ages when payout rates are better.
What moves your actual number
- Interest rates. Immediate annuity pricing tracks long-term bond yields. Quotes are typically locked for 7 to 14 days.
- Gender. Outside of qualified plan settings, women generally receive slightly lower payments than men at the same age, usually 3 to 5 percent, because of longer average life expectancy.
- State. Product availability and pricing differ by state, and a few states restrict certain riders.
- Cost-of-living increases. Adding a 2 or 3 percent annual increase typically cuts the starting payment by 20 to 28 percent, with the inflated payments catching up around year 12 to 15.
- Cash refund or installment refund. Guaranteeing that your heirs receive at least the premium back usually reduces the monthly amount by 5 to 10 percent.
- Health. A handful of carriers offer medically underwritten income annuities that pay more if you have qualifying health conditions.
Immediate annuity payouts vs. income riders
The tables above cover immediate annuities, where you exchange the balance for payments. The alternative is a deferred annuity with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit, where you keep the account value and the contract pays a set percentage of a benefit base each year. Income riders usually pay somewhat less per month than annuitizing at the same age, carry an annual fee near 0.75 to 1.25 percent, and preserve access plus a death benefit. Neither is automatically better. It comes down to whether you value the larger check or the remaining balance.
FAQ
Does a higher premium always mean a higher monthly payment?
In dollar terms, yes. Payout rates on immediate annuities are close to linear, so doubling the premium roughly doubles the check. What does not automatically improve is the payout rate itself. A $1,000,000 premium usually earns the same rate per $100,000 as a $250,000 premium, though some carriers add a small band bonus above certain thresholds, often starting around $100,000 or $250,000. Spreading a very large premium across two or three highly rated carriers frequently pays more than putting it all in one place, and it keeps you inside state guaranty association limits.
How does age affect the payout?
Age is the single biggest driver. The insurer prices your payment on how long it expects to pay you, so every year you wait shortens that period and raises the monthly amount. On the same $100,000, a 75-year-old typically receives 40 to 50 percent more per month than a 60-year-old on a life-only payout. Waiting is not free, though. You give up the payments you would have collected in the meantime, and it usually takes many years of the higher check to catch up to the earlier start.
What's the difference between single-life and joint-life payouts?
A single-life payout covers one person and stops at that person's death. A joint-life payout continues as long as either spouse is living, often at 100, 75, or 50 percent of the original amount after the first death. Because the insurer expects to pay across two lifetimes, joint-life pays roughly 10 to 15 percent less per month than single-life at the same age and premium. Married couples who both depend on the income almost always choose joint-life anyway, because the protection is worth more than the difference in the check.
Are these payout numbers guaranteed?
The payment on an immediate annuity is contractually guaranteed once you sign, backed by the issuing insurer. The numbers in these tables are not a quote. They are realistic 2026 ranges based on current carrier pricing, and actual offers move with interest rates, your state, your exact date of birth, and the carrier. Always compare live quotes from several carriers before committing.
Is annuity income taxable?
It depends on the money used. If you buy with after-tax savings, each payment is split between a tax-free return of principal and taxable interest using an exclusion ratio. If you buy inside an IRA or with pre-tax retirement money, the full payment is taxable as ordinary income in the year received.
Rate note: figures on this page reflect realistic 2026 single-premium immediate annuity ranges across highly rated carriers and are reviewed periodically. They are illustrative estimates, not offers, and no carrier is bound by them. Request live quotes before making a decision.