401(k) calculator
A 401(k) grows from your contributions, your employer match and investment returns. A 30-year-old earning $75,000, saving 6% with a 50% match up to 6%, a 3% raise each year and a 7% return could have about $1.8 million at 67. The 2026 employee limit is $24,500, plus $8,000 from age 50.
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Estimate only. This tool is not tax or investment advice; actual results depend on your situation, and your tax return or plan statement is what counts.
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How the 401(k) projection works
Each year the calculator adds your contribution and your employer match, grows the previous balance by your expected return, and raises your salary by your assumed raise. Contributions stop at the IRS limit.
\[ \begin{gathered} \text{balance (next year)} = \text{balance} \times (1 + \text{return}) + \text{your contribution} + \text{employer match} \\ \text{employer match} = \text{match rate} \times \min(\text{your contribution} ,\ \text{match cap}\% \times \text{salary}) \end{gathered} \]
Time matters more than anything: money invested early has decades to compound. The calculator is nominal, so a result in 30 years is worth less in today's dollars.
2026 401(k) contribution limits
| Limit | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Employee deferral | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and over | + $8,000 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | + $11,250 instead of $8,000 |
| Employee plus employer total | $72,000 |
| IRA contribution limit | $7,500 |
Employer match counts toward the total limit but not the employee limit. Roth 401(k) contributions share the same limit as traditional ones.
Get the full employer match first
A match is part of your pay. If your employer matches 50% of the first 6% of salary, contributing 6% earns an immediate 50% return on those dollars. After the match, compare more 401(k) savings with a Roth IRA or an HSA. Check your plan for the vesting schedule, because unvested match dollars can be forfeited if you leave early, and for fees, which reduce returns every year.
3 real-life examples
Age 30, $75,000 salary, 6% with a 50% match up to 6%
Starting balance $20,000, 3% raises, 7% return, retire at 67. Total contributions: $297,784 from you and $148,892 from your employer. Projected balance: $1,803,451, of which $1.34 million is investment growth.
Age 25, $60,000 salary, 10% with a 100% match up to 4%
Starting from zero, 2% raises, 6% return, retire at 65. You contribute $362,412, your employer adds $144,965 and the balance reaches $1,696,312.
Age 50, $300,000 saved, $120,000 salary, 15%
The $18,000 contribution is within the limit and catch-up applies from 50. With a 50% match up to 6%, 2% raises, 6% return and retirement at 65, the balance reaches $1,286,340.