401K Calculator

Project your 401(k) balance at retirement from salary, contribution rate, employer match, expected return, annual raises, and age-based 2026 IRS contribution caps.

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US plan scope

This calculator models US 401(k) contribution rules, so all balances and limits are shown in U.S. dollars.

Result

$2,250,531.12

Projected 401(k) balance at age 65 after 35 years of contributions and growth.

Your contributions
$453,465.61
Employer contributions
$136,039.68
Investment gains
$1,636,025.82
Years until retirement
35

Contribution limits

2026 IRS elective deferral limit: $24,500.00. Ages 50 and older generally can add $8,000.00 for a total of $32,500.00. Ages 60 to 63 can use the higher SECURE 2.0 catch-up of $11,250.00 for a total of $35,750.00.

View year-by-year breakdown
AgeSalaryYouEmployerGainsBalance
30$75,000.00$7,500.00$2,250.00$2,091.25$36,841.25
31$77,250.00$7,725.00$2,317.50$2,930.38$49,814.13
32$79,567.50$7,956.75$2,387.03$3,849.02$64,006.92
33$81,954.53$8,195.45$2,458.64$4,853.38$79,514.39
34$84,413.16$8,441.32$2,532.39$5,950.09$96,438.18
35$86,945.56$8,694.56$2,608.37$7,146.28$114,887.38
36$89,553.92$8,955.39$2,686.62$8,449.59$134,978.98
37$92,240.54$9,224.05$2,767.22$9,868.22$156,838.47
38$95,007.76$9,500.78$2,850.23$11,410.98$180,600.46
39$97,857.99$9,785.80$2,935.74$13,087.29$206,409.28
40$100,793.73$10,079.37$3,023.81$14,907.26$234,419.73
41$103,817.54$10,381.75$3,114.53$16,881.75$264,797.76
42$106,932.07$10,693.21$3,207.96$19,022.38$297,721.31
43$110,140.03$11,014.00$3,304.20$21,341.63$333,381.15
44$113,444.23$11,344.42$3,403.33$23,852.85$371,981.75
45$116,847.56$11,684.76$3,505.43$26,570.38$413,742.31
46$120,352.98$12,035.30$3,610.59$29,509.57$458,897.76
47$123,963.57$12,396.36$3,718.91$32,686.88$507,699.91
48$127,682.48$12,768.25$3,830.47$36,119.95$560,418.58
49$131,512.95$13,151.30$3,945.39$39,827.68$617,342.94
50$135,458.34$13,545.83$4,063.75$43,830.34$678,782.87
51$139,522.09$13,952.21$4,185.66$48,149.63$745,070.37
52$143,707.76$14,370.78$4,311.23$52,808.80$816,561.17
53$148,018.99$14,801.90$4,440.57$57,832.77$893,636.41
54$152,459.56$15,245.96$4,573.79$63,248.24$976,704.39
55$157,033.34$15,703.33$4,711.00$69,083.81$1,066,202.54
56$161,744.35$16,174.43$4,852.33$75,370.11$1,162,599.42
57$166,596.68$16,659.67$4,997.90$82,139.97$1,266,396.96
58$171,594.58$17,159.46$5,147.84$89,428.54$1,378,132.80
59$176,742.41$17,674.24$5,302.27$97,273.47$1,498,382.78
60$182,044.69$18,204.47$5,461.34$105,715.10$1,627,763.69
61$187,506.03$18,750.60$5,625.18$114,796.61$1,766,936.08
62$193,131.21$19,313.12$5,793.94$124,564.27$1,916,607.41
63$198,925.14$19,892.51$5,967.75$135,067.63$2,077,535.31
64$204,892.90$20,489.29$6,146.79$146,359.73$2,250,531.12

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Retirement Savings

401(k) contributions, employer matching, and projected retirement growth

A 401(k) calculator projects how your workplace retirement account may grow over time based on your salary, contribution rate, employer match, expected investment return, and annual raises. It shows the combined effect of employee deferrals, employer contributions, and compound growth so you can evaluate whether your current savings pace is on track for retirement.

How a 401(k) grows over time

A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement savings plan offered by employers in the United States. Each pay period, a percentage of your pre-tax salary is deferred into the account. Many employers match a portion of your contribution, effectively adding free money to your retirement savings. Both your contributions and the employer match are then invested, and the returns compound year after year until you withdraw the funds in retirement.

The power of a 401(k) comes from three sources working together: your own contributions, employer matching funds, and investment growth. Over a 30-year career, compound returns often account for more than half of the final balance, which is why starting early and maintaining consistent contributions has such a large impact on the outcome.

Contribution limits and employer matching

The IRS sets annual limits on how much an employee can defer into a 401(k). For 2026, the elective deferral limit is $24,500 for participants under age 50. Participants aged 50 and older generally can contribute up to $32,500 with the standard catch-up provision, and participants aged 60 to 63 can use the higher SECURE 2.0 catch-up limit to reach $35,750. These limits apply to employee deferrals only and do not include the employer match.

Employer matching formulas vary. A common arrangement is a 50% match on contributions up to 6% of salary. In that scenario, if you earn $80,000 and contribute 6% ($4,800), your employer adds 50% of that ($2,400). Contributions above the match limit still grow tax-deferred but do not attract additional employer funds.

Employee contribution = Salary x Contribution rate (capped at IRS limit)

The annual employee deferral is a percentage of gross salary, subject to the IRS annual maximum for the participant's age.

Employer contribution = min(Employee contribution, Salary x Match limit) x Match rate

The employer matches a percentage of the employee's contribution, but only up to a specified percentage of salary.

Assumptions and limitations

This calculator assumes a constant annual rate of return, which is useful for planning but does not reflect the volatility of real investment markets. Actual returns vary year to year, and sequence-of-returns risk can significantly affect the final balance. The projection also does not model taxes on withdrawals, required minimum distributions (RMDs), or the impact of inflation on purchasing power.

Salary growth is modelled as a fixed annual percentage increase, which simplifies career trajectories that may include promotions, job changes, or periods without income. Despite these simplifications, the calculator remains a practical tool for comparing different contribution strategies and understanding the long-term benefit of employer matching.

Worked example: 75,000 salary with a 10% contribution rate

Suppose you are age 30, already have 25,000 in your 401(k), earn 75,000 a year, contribute 10% of salary, receive a 50% employer match on the first 6% of pay, expect a 7% annual return, and receive 3% raises each year until age 65. In that case, the calculator shows how employee deferrals, employer matching, and investment gains build together over 35 years rather than treating the final balance as investment growth alone.

This type of worked example is useful because it separates the three main drivers of the result. You can then test whether a higher contribution rate, richer employer match, or earlier starting balance has the largest effect on your retirement projection.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

A common recommendation is to contribute at least enough to capture the full employer match, since that is effectively a guaranteed return on your money. Beyond that, financial planners often suggest saving 10% to 15% of gross income for retirement, including both employee and employer contributions. The right amount depends on your age, retirement goals, other savings, and overall financial situation.

 What happens if I contribute more than the IRS limit?

If you exceed the annual deferral limit, excess contributions must generally be withdrawn before the tax filing deadline to avoid double taxation. Most payroll systems automatically stop deferrals when you reach the limit, but changing jobs mid-year can create situations where combined contributions exceed the cap.

 Does this calculator account for taxes on 401(k) withdrawals?

No. Traditional 401(k) contributions are made pre-tax, so withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. This calculator projects the gross balance only. Your actual spendable income in retirement will depend on your tax bracket, state taxes, and other income sources at the time of withdrawal.

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