401(k) Calculator

Project your balance with employer matching and the 2026 IRS contribution limits

You & Your Salary

Current Age

Retirement Age

Annual Salary ($)

Annual Salary Growth (%)

Contributions & Match

Your Contribution (% of salary)

Current 401(k) Balance ($)

Employer Match (%)

50 = 50¢ per $1 you contribute

Matched Up To (% of salary)

"50% of the first 6%" → enter 6

Expected Annual Return (%)

Estimate only: Assumes constant returns and applies the 2026 IRS contribution limits to all future years (the IRS raises them with inflation, so this is conservative). Employer matching formulas and vesting schedules vary — check your plan documents. Not investment advice.

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Quick summary

Enter your age, salary, contribution percentage, employer match, current balance, and expected return to project your 401(k) balance at retirement. The calculator caps your contributions at the 2026 IRS limit of $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at age 50+ or $11,250 at ages 60–63, and adds contributions at the end of each year. Contributing at least enough to get the full employer match is a common first goal. Results are projections, not guarantees.

Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed July 11, 2026

For planning only — not financial or tax advice. Results are estimates based on your inputs and the stated assumptions. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional.

How to use this calculator

Enter your Current Age, Retirement Age, Annual Salary ($), and expected Annual Salary Growth (%) from raises.
Enter Your Contribution (% of salary) and your Current 401(k) Balance ($).
Enter your plan's Employer Match (%) and Matched Up To (% of salary); for "50% of the first 6%", enter 50 and 6.
Enter an Expected Annual Return (%) for your investments.
Read the Projected 401(k) Balance at your retirement age, then compare Your Contributions, Employer Match, and Investment Growth, and watch for any unclaimed-match or contribution-limit notes.

401(k) Formulas

Annual Employer Match

\text{Match} = \text{Salary} \times \min(c,\ L) \times m

Salary: Annual salary for that year
c: Your contribution as a % of salary
L: Matched Up To: the % of salary your employer matches
m: Employer Match rate (50% = 50¢ per $1 you contribute)

Worked example

"50% of the first 6%" on an $80,000 salary when you contribute 6%

Given: Salary = $80,000
c = 6%
L = 6%
m = 50%
Calculation: $\text{Match} = 80{,}000 \times 0.06 \times 0.50$
Result: Match = $2,400 per year (on your $4,800 contribution)

Year-by-Year Balance

B_{k+1} = B_k \times (1 + r) + \min(\text{Salary}_k \times c,\ \text{IRS limit}) + \text{Match}_k

B_k: Balance at the start of year k
r: Expected annual return (as a decimal)
Salary_k: Salary in year k (grows by your annual salary growth rate)
IRS limit: 2026 elective deferral limit: $24,500, plus $8,000 at 50+ or $11,250 at ages 60–63
Match_k: Employer match for year k (formula above)

Worked example

First year for a 30-year-old with $20,000 saved, $75,000 salary, 8% contribution, 50% match up to 6%, 7% return

Given: B_0 = $20,000
r = 0.07
Your contribution = $6,000 (8% of $75,000)
Match = $2,250 ($75,000 × 6% × 50%)
Calculation: $B_1 = 20{,}000 \times 1.07 + 6{,}000 + 2{,}250$
Result: B_1 = $29,650 after one year

Frequently asked questions

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

The 2026 employee contribution limit for a 401(k) is $24,500. Workers aged 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution, and workers aged 60 to 63 get a higher $11,250 catch-up under SECURE 2.0, for a maximum of $35,750 in employee deferrals. This calculator applies these limits by age and holds them constant in future years, which slightly understates future room.

How does employer matching work?

An employer match adds money to your 401(k) based on how much you contribute, up to a set percentage of your salary. With a "50% of the first 6%" formula, your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute up to 6% of pay. On an $80,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,800) earns a $2,400 match. Contributing less than the matched percentage leaves part of that money unclaimed.

How is my 401(k) balance projected?

This calculator projects your balance one year at a time. Each year it grows the existing balance by your expected return, then adds that year's contribution, capped at the IRS limit for your age, and the employer match. Your salary rises by the growth rate you enter. The model assumes a steady return every year, while real markets rise and fall.

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

A common starting point is to contribute at least enough to receive the full employer match, since that is money you would otherwise not get. Beyond that, the right amount depends on your goals, other savings, and budget. Many people raise their contribution by a percentage point each year or with each raise until they reach their target savings rate.

How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?

Your 401(k) balance at retirement depends on your contributions, employer match, returns, and time. With this calculator's default inputs, a 30-year-old earning $75,000 with 3% annual raises, $20,000 already saved, an 8% contribution, a 50%-of-6% match, and a 7% return projects to about $1.84 million at 65. Lower returns or contributions would reduce that figure substantially.

What is 401(k) vesting?

Vesting is the schedule that determines when employer contributions become permanently yours; your own contributions are always 100% vested. For matching contributions, federal rules allow either cliff vesting of up to 3 years or graded vesting that reaches 100% within 6 years. If you leave before you are fully vested, you can forfeit the unvested part of the match.

What are common 401(k) mistakes?

A common mistake is contributing less than the matched percentage and missing part of the employer match, which this calculator flags. Others include cashing out when changing jobs, which can trigger taxes and penalties, leaving money in default investments without checking fees, and not increasing contributions as income grows. Reviewing your contribution rate once a year helps avoid most of these.

Key terms

Elective Deferral Limit: The IRS cap on employee 401(k) contributions — $24,500 for 2026, adjusted annually for inflation.
Catch-Up Contribution: Extra contribution room at 50+ ($8,000 in 2026); SECURE 2.0 raised it to $11,250 for ages 60–63.
Employer Match: Money your employer adds based on your contributions, e.g. 50 cents per dollar up to 6% of salary — effectively an instant 50% return.
Vesting Schedule: The timeline over which employer contributions become permanently yours.

Methodology, sources & limitations

This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.

For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.

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