How Much Money Do Americans Need to be Financially Comfortable?

Below is a video on income and comfortability. There is even a discussion on some of the strategies that people use to mitigate those costs. i.e. cheaper locations. What I find surprising is the very large number that people feel they need. Wages are not always rising as fast. To improve wages means we need to improve overall output in the U.S. as well as the value of the worker through education/training and technology.