401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement, including employer-match contributions.
% of salary
50% = employer adds $0.50 per $1 you contribute
Matched up to this % of pay
401(k) Balance at Retirement
$894,313($894.31K)
$72,000 of that is free employer money
Your Contributions
$164,000
Employer Match
$72,000
Investment Growth
$658,313
The employer match is effectively a guaranteed return on your contributions — contributing at least up to the match limit is the first rule of 401(k) saving. This projection assumes a steady return and a fixed salary; real figures vary.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your annual salary and your contribution as a percentage of it.
- Enter your employer’s match — the match rate (e.g. 50%) and the match limit (the % of salary they match up to).
- Enter your current 401(k) balance, expected annual return and years to retirement.
The calculator projects your balance at retirement and shows how much of it is employer money.
How it works
A 401(k) grows from three sources, and this calculator keeps them separate:
- Your contributions — the percentage of salary you defer, capped at the IRS annual limit.
- The employer match — your employer’s contribution, calculated as the match rate applied to your deferrals up to their match limit. This is money you never paid in.
- Investment growth — both streams compound at your expected return until retirement.
Surfacing the employer match on its own makes the key point visible: that match is effectively a guaranteed return, and contributing at least up to the match limit is the first rule of 401(k) saving.
Things to know
The IRS limits how much you can defer from your own pay each year (24,500 dollars in 2026); the calculator applies that cap and flags it. The match has its own limit set by your employer. This projection assumes a steady return and a fixed salary — real figures vary, and a raise or a change in market returns will move the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the employer match work in this calculator? ▾
An employer match is usually phrased as 'we match X% of your contributions, up to Y% of your salary.' You enter both numbers. The calculator works out the matched portion — your contribution percentage capped at the employer's limit — and applies the match rate to it. The result separates your contributions from the employer money so you can see exactly how much is free.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)? ▾
At a minimum, contribute enough to get the full employer match — that match is an immediate, guaranteed return on your money, and contributing less leaves it on the table. Beyond that, many planners suggest aiming for 10–15% of salary including the match. The IRS also sets an annual limit on your own contributions, which this calculator applies automatically.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit? ▾
For 2026 the IRS elective-deferral limit is 24,500 dollars for your own contributions (employer match is separate and does not count against it). If the percentage you enter would exceed the limit, the calculator caps it and tells you. The limit changes yearly, so check the current figure if you are near it.
Does the employer match count toward the IRS limit? ▾
No. The IRS elective-deferral limit applies only to the money you defer from your own paycheck. Employer match contributions are on top of that (a separate, higher combined limit applies). That is why the calculator caps your contribution but lets the full match through.
What return should I assume for my 401(k)? ▾
It depends on the funds you hold. A stock-heavy target-date or index fund has historically averaged roughly 7% per year over the long run before inflation; bond-heavy holdings return less. The return is an assumption — test a more conservative figure too, since markets do not deliver the same percentage every year.