CalcMyFin

Retirement

401(k) Calculator

Project how much your 401(k) could grow by retirement. Enter your salary, contribution rate and employer match to see your future balance, how much your employer contributes, and whether you're leaving any match on the table.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Private: runs in your browser
  • Updated September 2026

Built and reviewed by the CalcMyFin team. The formula and a worked example are shown below, with sources.

You and your plan

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% of pay
% of yours
% of pay
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How to use the 401(k) calculator

  1. Enter your age, the age you plan to retire and your current 401(k) balance.
  2. Add your salary and the percentage of pay you contribute.
  3. Enter your employer's match, for example 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of salary.
  4. Adjust expected raises, investment return and inflation to test different scenarios.

How it's calculated

For each year until retirement:

  • Your contribution = salary × your contribution %, capped at the IRS limit for your age if the limit option is on
  • Employer match = salary × min(your %, match cap %) × match rate
  • New balance = previous balance × (1 + return) + your contribution + employer match

Your salary grows by the raise you enter each year. For 2026 the IRS employee limit is $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at age 50 or older, or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63. The calculator holds these limits at 2026 levels, which is conservative because they usually rise with inflation. The inflation-adjusted figure divides the result by (1 + inflation)years.

Example

A 30-year-old earning $70,000 with $25,000 saved contributes 8% of pay, and the employer matches 50% up to 6%. With 3% yearly raises and a 7% return, the 401(k) could reach about $1,780,000 by 65. The employer adds roughly $127,000 of that, and in today's dollars (2.5% inflation) the total is worth about $750,000.

Tips

  • An employer match is compensation contingent on your deferral level, not a rate of return on the account, and it stops at your plan's match cap.
  • Raise your contribution by 1% each year, or whenever you get a raise, until you reach 15% or more.
  • Check your plan's fund fees. A 1% difference in fees can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a career.
  • Plans set both the investment menu and the default fund. The default is a choice the plan made, not one made for your situation.
  • At 50 and older, catch-up contributions let you save thousands more each year.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?
The IRS limit on employee contributions is $24,500 for 2026. Workers aged 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution, for $32,500 in total, and those aged 60 to 63 can add $11,250 instead. Employer contributions don't count toward the employee limit.
What is a good 401(k) contribution rate?
A common guideline is to save 15% of pay for retirement, including any employer match. Deferrals above your plan's match cap receive no match, so the cap is worth knowing.
How does an employer match work?
A typical formula is '50% up to 6%': if you contribute 6% of your salary, your employer adds 3%. If you contribute only 4%, they add 2%. The calculator warns you if your rate is below your match cap.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional contributions lower your taxable income now and are taxed when withdrawn. Roth contributions are taxed now and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Roth tends to favor people who expect a higher tax rate in retirement. The growth projection is the same either way; only the taxes differ.
What return should I assume?
Long-run stock market returns have historically averaged high single digits per year before inflation, but with large swings. Many planners use 5% to 7% for a diversified portfolio. Try several rates to see a range.
Retirement calculatorProject your nest egg and retirement income.Investment Growth calculatorHow your investments could grow over time.FIRE (Early Retirement) calculatorYour FIRE number and when you could retire early.

Sources

This calculator provides educational estimates only and is not financial, tax, legal or investment advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter; actual market prices, returns and tax rules may differ.