401(k) Calculator: How Much Will You Have at Retirement?

How this 401(k) calculator works

Each year the calculator takes your salary, works out your contribution and your employer's match, and adds them to the account in twelve monthly deposits, the way they come out of your paychecks. The balance grows at the return you enter, compounded monthly. Your salary then rises by the raise percentage before the next year starts.

Your own contribution is capped at the IRS limit of $24,500 for 2026, plus the catch-up amount once you reach 50 ($8,000, or $11,250 between ages 60 and 63). The calculator keeps those limits fixed, which is conservative because the IRS raises them with inflation most years.

Example: $75,000 salary, 10% contribution, 50% match up to 6%

A 30-year-old earning $75,000 with $20,000 already saved puts in 10% ($7,500 in the first year). The employer matches 50 cents per dollar on the first 6% of pay, adding $2,250. With 3% yearly raises and a 7% average return, at 65 the account reaches about $2.3 million. Of that, about $453,000 is the worker's own money and $136,000 is employer match; the rest, about $1.69 million, is investment growth.

That sounds like a lot, but it is in future dollars. With 2.5% inflation over 35 years, $2.3 million buys roughly what $970,000 buys today. Use the retirement calculator to see what monthly income that could support.

Getting the most from your 401(k)

• Always take the full match. In the example, cutting the contribution from 6% to 3% would give up $1,125 a year of free money from the employer.
• Raise your rate with every raise. Increasing your contribution by 1% each time you get a raise means your take-home pay never goes down.
• Watch fees. A fund charging 1% a year instead of 0.1% can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over a career. Index funds and target-date funds usually have the lowest fees.
• Know your vesting schedule. Your own contributions are always yours, but employer money may take 2 to 6 years to vest fully.

Traditional 401(k) contributions also lower your income tax this year. Try a contribution percentage in the paycheck calculator to see how little your take-home pay actually drops.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?

You can defer up to $24,500 of your pay in 2026. Workers aged 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up (up to $32,500 total), and those aged 60 to 63 get a larger $11,250 catch-up instead. Employer matching does not count toward your $24,500.

How much should I put in my 401(k)?

At a minimum, contribute enough to get the full employer match, because that is an instant return of 50% or 100% on the money. Many planners suggest saving 15% of pay for retirement in total, counting the match.

Is a 50% match up to 6% good?

It is the most common formula. If you earn $75,000 and contribute at least 6% ($4,500), your employer adds $2,250 a year. Contributing less than 6% leaves part of that money on the table.

Should I choose a traditional or Roth 401(k)?

A traditional 401(k) lowers your tax now and is taxed when you withdraw. A Roth 401(k) is taxed now and withdrawn tax-free. If you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than today, Roth tends to win; if lower, traditional does.

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