401(k) Calculator
Estimate what your 401(k) could grow to. Enter your salary, contribution percent, employer match, expected return and number of years to project your balance and see how much of it comes from your money, the match and investment growth.
How to use the 401(k) calculator
- Enter your salary, current 401(k) balance and the percent of pay you contribute.
- Set your employer match and the percent of salary it applies up to.
- Pick an expected return and number of years to see your projected balance and breakdown.
Examples
60k salary, 6% contribution, 50% match up to 6%, 7% return, 30 years
salary 60000, contribute 6%, match 50% up to 6%, return 7%, 30 years
Projected balance about 548,987 from 108,000 contributed, 54,000 matched and the rest growth
Getting the full match
salary 80000, contribute 5%, match 100% up to 5%
You add 4,000 a year and the employer adds another 4,000, doubling your contribution
Frequently asked questions
What is an employer 401(k) match?
A match is money your employer adds to your 401(k) based on what you contribute. A common formula is 50 percent of your contributions up to 6 percent of pay, so contributing 6 percent earns an extra 3 percent of salary. It is effectively free money on top of your own savings.
How do I get the full employer match?
Contribute at least up to the match limit. If the plan matches up to 6 percent of pay, contributing 6 percent or more captures the entire match. Contributing less leaves part of that free money on the table every paycheck.
Does contributing more than the match limit help?
Your own balance keeps growing because you are investing more, but the employer match stops at the limit. In this calculator the match is capped at the match limit percent, so contributing above it raises your savings without adding extra match.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k)?
The IRS sets an annual contribution limit that is adjusted most years, with an additional catch-up amount allowed once you reach age 50. Check the current year limit, since this calculator does not cap your contribution automatically.
Why does a small contribution grow so much over time?
Compounding. Each year your balance earns a return, and that return earns its own return in later years. Over 20 to 30 years the growth can dwarf the amount you actually contributed, which is why starting early matters.
Does this account for taxes, fees or inflation?
No. The result is a nominal projection before taxes, plan fees and inflation. Traditional 401(k) withdrawals are taxed as income in retirement, so treat the balance as a gross estimate of growth at the return you enter.
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