How much can a $50,000 CD account earn in 2026?

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If you've been able to save a large, five-figure amount like $50,000 in the economic climate of recent years, then you'll probably want to safeguard it now. With inflation cooler but sticky, concerns over unemployment rising and interest rate cuts a bit harder to predict, it's critical that a savings amount of this size is invested in the right place. Ideally, you can store it in an account that will both protect your principal and grow interest at the same time.

For many savers, a certificate of deposit (CD) account could be the way to accomplish both goals. Interest rates are admittedly lower than they were a year or two ago, but they're exponentially higher than they were at the beginning of the decade. And these rates are fixed, meaning that they'll remain the same for the entire CD term, even if the interest rate climate cools during that period, as many expect it to in 2026 and beyond. At the same time, savers will have to sacrifice access to this money for the full CD term or risk having to pay an early withdrawal fee, which could be exorbitant with an account of this size. So it's not a clear-cut decision to be made.

To better decide the merits of a $50,000 CD account, then, it helps to know how much interest this account is positioned to earn in 2026. Fortunately, this is simple to calculate thanks to the account's fixed interest rate structure. Below, we'll complete the calculations you need to know.

Start earning more interest on your money with a high-rate CD here.

How much can a $50,000 CD account earn in 2026?

CD interest rates remain competitive in the final weeks of 2025, with many to be found in the low 4% range. Here's how much a $50,000 CD account could earn in 2026, calculated against today's available rates and terms, on the assumption that they'll be the same on January 1 and that no early withdrawal penalties will be levied against the account:

3-month CD at 4.00%: $492.67 upon account maturity
6-month CD at 4.15%: $1,026.95 upon account maturity
9-month CD at 4.15%: $1,548.31 upon account maturity
1-year CD at 4.10%: $2,050.00 upon account maturity

Savers can earn hundreds and, potentially, thousands of dollars with a $50,000 CD account in 2026. And they can do so without the stress of a variable-rate account (like a high-yield savings one) and the concern over a volatile market (like they would with stocks and bonds). Just remember that CD account interest can be taxable, so it's worth speaking with a financial advisor or accountant before getting started with a CD of this size.

Learn more about your CD account options here.

How much can a $50,000 high-yield savings account earn in 2026?

While high-yield savings accounts come with variable interest rates, therefore making interest-earning calculations over an extended period highly speculative, they also don't come with the same access restrictions that CD accounts do. And rates here are approximately the same as the best CD rates heading into 2026. So it can be a viable, alternative home for your $50,000. Here's how much a $50,000 high-yield savings account stands to earn in 2026, calculated against the same CD time frames and the assumption that rates stay static:

High-yield savings account at 4.20% after three months: $516.93
High-yield savings account at 4.20% after six months: $1,039.20
High-yield savings account at 4.20% after nine months: $1,566.87
High-yield savings account at 4.20% after one year: $2,100.00

Technically, then, high-yield savings accounts will earn savers slightly more than CD accounts will in 2026. But these calculations are based on the assumption that rates won't move in the new year, when they inevitably will. So, if you want to earn a similar return – and have it be guaranteed – then a CD is still likely your better alternative.

The bottom line

A $50,000 CD account can earn savers between $493 and $2,050 in 2026, assuming today's rates remain the same over the next few weeks. That's easy money to be made with very little effort required on behalf of the saver. Take the time, then, to explore your CD account options carefully to see if they work within your savings strategy for the new year. And weigh this option closely against alternatives like high-yield savings accounts to accurately gauge the value of a CD account of this size now.

Edited by Angelica Leicht

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