401(k) Calculator
Estimate how much your 401(k) could grow by retirement based on your contributions, employer match, and expected investment return.
Example
With a $60,000 salary, contributing 10% ($6,000/yr), an employer match of 50% on the first 6% of salary ($1,800/yr), a 7% annual return over 30 years:
- Your contributions: $180,000.00
- Employer match: $54,000.00
- Investment growth: $558,981.15
- Projected balance: $792,981.15
How it works
Enter your salary, the percent you contribute, your employer match terms, an expected annual return, and years until retirement. The tool compounds monthly deposits to project your balance, splitting it into your contributions, employer match, and investment growth.
Good to know
This 401(k) Calculator projects what your workplace retirement account could be worth on the day you retire. You enter your annual salary, the percentage of pay you defer, your employer's match terms (the match rate and the salary cap it applies to), an expected annual return, and the number of years left until retirement. It then compounds steady monthly deposits and breaks the ending balance into three parts: your own contributions, the employer match, and investment growth. It's aimed at employees comparing how a higher deferral rate or a different time horizon changes the long-term outcome.
Reach for it when you're deciding whether to bump your contribution from, say, 6% to 10%, when you start a new job and want to understand the match, or when you simply want a ballpark of where you're headed. Because all the math runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere, you can plug in real salary figures without privacy concerns.
Read the result as four moving pieces. "Your contributions" and "Employer match" are the dollars actually deposited over the years; "Investment growth" is everything compounding added on top, and it usually dwarfs the deposits over a long horizon. The match is calculated only on pay up to the cap, so contributing beyond the cap adds your money but no extra employer dollars. Watch the bars to see how the three components stack up against each other.
A practical caveat: the projection assumes a single constant return and a fixed salary, and it does not stop at the IRS annual deferral limit, so a very high percentage on a high salary can produce contributions that aren't legally allowed. Treat the output as a smooth average rather than a forecast of any single year, and try a lower return like 5% to 6% to see a more conservative scenario alongside your optimistic one.
Frequently asked questions
How does the employer match work in this calculator?
The employer contributes the match percentage of your contributions, but only on the portion of your salary up to the match cap. For example, a 50% match up to 6% of salary means if you contribute 6% or more, your employer adds 3% of your salary. Contributions above the cap are not matched.
Does this account for annual IRS contribution limits?
No. The projection uses your stated contribution percentage directly and does not cap deposits at the IRS annual elective-deferral limit ($23,500 in 2025, plus catch-up amounts). If your contributions would exceed the legal limit, reduce your inputs accordingly. This tool is an estimate, not tax advice.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are educational estimates — consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.
People also ask
What is a good percentage to contribute to a 401(k)?
A common rule of thumb is to contribute at least enough to capture your full employer match, since that match is effectively part of your compensation. Many guides reference saving 10% to 15% of salary across all retirement accounts, but the right figure depends on your income, age, and other savings.
How much will $60,000 salary with 10% contribution grow in 30 years?
Using this calculator's example assumptions, a $60,000 salary at 10% with a 50% match on the first 6% and a 7% return over 30 years projects to about $792,981. That total includes roughly $180,000 of your contributions, $54,000 in employer match, and the remainder from investment growth.
What does a 50% employer match up to 6% mean?
It means your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, but only on contributions up to 6% of your salary. If you defer 6% or more, the employer contributes an amount equal to 3% of your salary.
What return rate should I assume for a 401(k) projection?
There is no single correct number, since returns vary by investment mix and market conditions. People often model a range, such as 5% to 8% annually, and many calculators default to around 7% to represent a long-term diversified stock-heavy portfolio before inflation.
Does the employer match count toward my contribution limit?
No. The IRS elective deferral limit applies only to your own contributions, while employer matching dollars fall under a separate, higher overall combined limit. This calculator does not enforce either limit, so verify your inputs against current IRS figures.
Why is investment growth larger than my actual contributions?
Over long periods, compounding lets earlier deposits earn returns for many years, and those returns then earn returns themselves. With a multi-decade horizon, the accumulated growth commonly exceeds the sum of what you and your employer actually deposited.
Does this calculator account for inflation or fees?
No. The projection shows a nominal balance using a constant return and does not subtract investment fees, taxes, or inflation. To gauge spending power in today's dollars, you would need to discount the result separately or model a lower net return.
What happens if I contribute more than my employer's match cap?
You can still contribute above the cap, and those extra dollars are added to your own contributions and continue to grow. However, the employer match stops at the cap, so amounts beyond it receive no additional matching funds.
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