Everyone dreams of having enough money to not have to worry about money, but what is that magic dollar amount? A new survey from Bankrate asked Americans how much money they would need to earn each year to feel financially secure. The magic number is $186,000 – which is more than double what the average full-time worker typically makes (about $79,000, according to the Census Bureau). To feel rich, the average American feels they need to earn $520,000 a year.