401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement with employer match and contribution scenarios.
Retirement inputs
Adjust US dollar assumptions and the projection updates instantly.
Percent of salary you save each year.
How much your employer matches your contribution.
The salary percentage eligible for matching.
A long-term assumption, not a guarantee.
Projected balance
$1,194,138.87
Estimated value after 30 years, assuming 7% annual growth.
Estimated income
$3,980.46/mo
Based on a 4% annual withdrawal rule.
Your contributions
Includes your current balance and future deposits.
Employer contributions
50% match up to 6% of salary.
Investment growth
73% of the projected balance comes from growth.
Total annual savings
Employee contributions plus estimated employer match.
Employer match impact
Your employer match contributes approximately $67,500.00 before investment growth over the projection period.
Growth drives the long-term result
Investment growth accounts for nearly 73% of the final balance in this projection.
Small contribution increases matter
Increasing your contribution by 2 percentage points could add about $152,496.37 by retirement.
401(k) basics
How a 401(k) works
Pre-tax saving
Traditional 401(k) contributions can lower taxable income today, while Roth 401(k) contributions use after-tax money.
Employer match
Many employers add money when you contribute, often using a match formula tied to your salary.
Tax-deferred growth
Investments can compound inside the account without annual tax on dividends, interest, or gains.
Retirement withdrawals
Traditional withdrawals are generally taxed as income, while qualified Roth withdrawals may be tax-free.
Compound time
Starting earlier gives each contribution more time to earn returns on returns.
Employer match
Why the match formula matters
Common match examples
100% match up to 4%
If you contribute 4% of salary, your employer contributes another 4%. Contributing less leaves part of the match unused.
50% match up to 6%
If you contribute 6%, your employer contributes 3%. This is one of the most common plan formulas.
Match caps define how much of your salary is eligible for matching. Vesting rules define when employer contributions fully belong to you, so check both before comparing job offers or changing employers.
High-value planning insight
Not capturing the full employer match is effectively turning down free compensation. If cash flow is tight, the match threshold is often the first retirement savings target to prioritize.
Compound growth
Starting earlier can change the outcome
Starting at 25
$2,132,660.89
A 40-year runway gives the same monthly savings more time to compound.
Starting at 35
$991,226.43
A 30-year runway can still build wealth, but each dollar has less time to grow.
Difference
$1,141,434.45
This simple comparison uses your current savings rate and return assumption.
Planning strategy
Ways to strengthen your retirement plan
Raise contributions gradually
Increasing your contribution by 1% each year can be easier than making one large jump later.
Capture the full match
Treat the employer match threshold as a practical baseline before optimizing other investment accounts.
Avoid early withdrawals
Taking money out early can create taxes, penalties, and a permanent loss of compounding time.
Balance debt and investing
High-interest debt may deserve priority, but matching contributions can still be valuable.
Use catch-up contributions
Workers age 50 and older may be eligible to contribute extra under current retirement plan rules.
Review assumptions
Revisit return expectations, salary changes, fees, and inflation so projections stay realistic.
FAQ
401(k) planning questions
A common starting point is to contribute enough to capture the full employer match, then work toward saving 10% to 15% of income including employer contributions. Your ideal rate depends on age, income, existing savings, debt, and retirement target.