401(k) Calculator
Project a 401(k) balance from your contributions, the employer match, salary growth, and investment returns — and see it split three ways into what you added, what your employer added, and what growth did.
401(k) growth
Example: $80,000 salary, 6% contribution, 50% match up to 6%, 7% for 30 years → about $731,983.
Three sources, one balance
In the worked example — an $80,000 salary, contributing 6%, with a 50% match up to 6%, at a 7% return for 30 years — the account grows to about $731,983. What makes that number land is where it comes from: $144,000 is money you contributed, $72,000 is the employer match you'd otherwise leave on the table, and the largest slice — $515,983 — is investment growth on the whole pile. Every figure is computed by the same tested engine as the calculator above.
Capture the full match first
The match is the highest-return move in personal finance: a 50% match is an instant 50% return on those dollars before markets do anything. If your budget only allows one retirement action, it's contributing enough to capture every matched dollar — in the example, the $72,000 of match compounds into a meaningful share of the final balance entirely for free.
The case for going past it
Above the match, 401(k) dollars still grow tax-deferred, and the annual IRS contribution limit is far higher than a typical 6% match threshold. Raising your contribution rate a couple of points — especially early, when there are decades left to compound — moves the final balance far more than most people expect. Try nudging the contribution percentage and watch the growth line respond.
Frequently asked questions
How does an employer match work?
A common formula is "50% of your contributions up to 6% of pay." That means if you contribute at least 6% of salary, your employer adds 3% of salary (half of 6%). The match is free money and an immediate 50% return on those dollars — contributing at least enough to capture the full match is the near-universal first move in retirement saving.
Should I contribute more than the match?
Often yes. The match caps out quickly, but 401(k) contributions still grow tax-deferred above it, and the annual IRS limit is far higher than most match thresholds. Whether to max it depends on your other goals and whether a Roth account fits your tax situation better — this tool shows the growth side of that decision.
Does this use my salary growth?
If you enter a salary-growth rate, the calculator raises your salary each year, so your percentage-based contributions and the match grow with it. Leave it blank to model a flat salary. Real raises are lumpy, so treat the growth rate as a long-run average.
Are taxes included?
No. A traditional 401(k) is funded with pre-tax dollars and taxed on withdrawal; a Roth 401(k) is the reverse. This calculator projects the account balance before any withdrawal tax. Compare with the Roth IRA Calculator to see the tax-free-growth side.
Not financial advice: a general educational estimate that assumes a constant return and excludes withdrawal taxes and contribution limits. Values are processed locally in your browser and never transmitted. See the methodology page.