401(k) calculator: see what your contributions and employer match could grow into
Choosing a 401(k) contribution rate can feel like guesswork, and plan documents rarely make it clear what a few percentage points mean over a career. Seeing how your contributions, your employer’s match and investment growth add up, and whether you’re leaving any match unclaimed, can help you choose a rate that balances today’s budget with your future.
401(k) calculator
- Projected 401(k) at retirement
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- Your contributions
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- Employer contributions
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- Investment growth
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Your contributions are capped at the 2026 IRS limit for your age each year: $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at 50 and over, or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63. The IRS adjusts these limits most years; here they stay at 2026 levels. Assumes a steady return and that you stay with an employer offering the same match. Vesting schedules, taxes, fees and withdrawals are not included. Everything here runs in your browser; nothing you enter is stored or sent.
What this calculator can help you understand
- Your projected 401(k) balance at retirement.
- How much comes from you, your employer and investment growth.
- Whether you’re contributing enough to receive the full employer match.
- When the IRS limit caps your contributions, using the 2026 limits for your age.
When it’s useful
- When you start a new job and choose a contribution rate.
- When you get a raise, to consider increasing your percentage.
- During open enrollment, to review your choices.
- When you’re 50 or older, to see the effect of catch-up contributions.
Who it’s for
- Employees with a 401(k), or a similar 403(b) or 457 plan, especially those with an employer match.
- People deciding whether to raise their contribution rate.
What to enter
| Input | What it means | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Annual salary | Your yearly pay before taxes | Your offer letter or pay stub |
| You contribute | Your contribution as a percent of pay | Your plan account |
| Employer matches | The match as a percent of your contribution | Your plan’s summary plan description |
| Up to | The share of pay the match applies to | Your plan’s summary plan description |
| 401(k) balance now | Your current balance | Your plan statement |
| Yearly raise | Assumed annual salary increase | An assumption |
| Expected annual return | An assumed average return after fees | An assumption; try a range |
| Your age and retirement age | Your timeline | Your plan |
How to use it
- Enter your salary and contribution rate.
- Enter your employer’s match formula, for example 50% up to 6%.
- Enter your current balance, an expected raise and return.
- Enter your age and planned retirement age.
- Read the projected balance, then how it splits between you, your employer and growth.
- If you see a note about unclaimed match, try raising your contribution to the match limit.
Understanding your results
- Projected 401(k) at retirement is your balance grown at the assumed return, plus monthly contributions from you and your employer.
- Your contributions add up your percentage of each year’s salary, capped at the IRS limit for your age.
- Employer contributions apply the match formula to your contributions, up to the match limit.
- Investment growth is everything else: returns on your balance and contributions.
What it leaves out: vesting, taxes, fees, loans and withdrawals, job changes, and future changes to IRS limits.
A worked example
Suppose you’re 30, earn $80,000 a year, contribute 6%, and your employer matches 50% up to 6%. You have $25,000 in your 401(k) and assume 3% yearly raises and 6% average returns (assumptions, not forecasts), retiring at 65.
- First year: you contribute $4,800 and your employer adds $2,400.
- Projected balance at 65: about $1,393,304.
- Where it comes from: $290,218 from you, $145,109 from your employer and $932,977 from investment growth.
How the result changes
Different contribution rates, with everything else as in the example:
| You contribute | Employer contributions | Balance at 65 |
|---|---|---|
| 3% | $72,554 | $792,728 |
| 6% | $145,109 | $1,393,304 |
| 10% | $145,109 | $1,927,150 |
| 15% | $145,109 | $2,594,166 |
Contributing at least up to the match limit, 6% here, collects the full match; above that, the employer’s contribution stays the same and the extra comes from you and its growth.
Common mistakes
- Contributing below the match limit. It leaves employer contributions on the table.
- Assuming the match vests immediately. Check your vesting schedule before changing jobs.
- Using an optimistic return. Try a cautious rate to see a conservative outcome.
- Ignoring fees. Fund expense ratios and plan fees reduce growth; your plan’s fee disclosure lists them.
What to do with your result
- Consider contributing at least enough to receive the full match, if your budget allows.
- Some plans let you increase your contribution automatically each year; check whether yours does.
- See how your 401(k) fits into your overall retirement picture with the retirement calculator.
- Compare the fees on your plan’s investment options with the investment fee calculator.
Limitations to keep in mind
The projection assumes a constant return, steady raises, the same employer match throughout, and 2026 IRS contribution limits held constant. It doesn’t include vesting, taxes, fees or withdrawals. Contribution limits are from the IRS announcement for 2026 and change in future years. It isn’t investment or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 401(k) contribution limits for 2026?
The IRS limit on your own contributions is $24,500 for 2026. If you’re 50 or older you can add a catch-up contribution of $8,000, or $11,250 if you’re 60 to 63. Employer contributions don’t count toward this limit, though a separate, higher limit applies to the total.
How does an employer match work?
A common formula matches a percentage of what you contribute, up to a percentage of your pay. For example, “50% up to 6%” means your employer adds 50 cents for each dollar you contribute, on contributions up to 6% of your salary. Your plan’s summary plan description has the details.
What if I contribute less than the match?
You’d receive less of the match your employer offers. In our example, contributing 3% instead of 6% leaves about $1,200 a year of matching contributions unclaimed at the starting salary.
What is vesting?
Your own contributions are always yours. Employer contributions may vest over time, meaning you keep them only after working a certain number of years. Check your plan’s vesting schedule, especially if you might change jobs.
Should I choose traditional or Roth 401(k) contributions?
Traditional contributions reduce your taxable income now and are taxed when withdrawn; Roth contributions are taxed now and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The right mix depends on your tax situation now and in retirement, and is worth discussing with a tax professional.
Why do the limits stay at 2026 levels?
Future limits aren’t known yet; the IRS usually raises them over time for inflation. Holding them constant keeps the projection conservative for high contribution rates.
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This calculator gives estimates for illustration, based on the figures you enter and the assumptions described on this page. It isn’t financial, tax or legal advice, an offer, or a guarantee of any outcome.