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A 401(k) calculator helps you project how much your employer-sponsored retirement account will be worth when you retire. Enter your salary, contribution percentage, employer match details, and expected return to see your projected balance at retirement. This calculator factors in annual salary increases so your contributions grow over time, models employer matching with configurable match rates and limits, accounts for IRS contribution limits (including catch-up contributions for workers 50 and older and the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up for ages 60 to 63), and estimates your annual tax savings from pre-tax contributions. The year-by-year schedule shows exactly how your contributions, employer match, and investment growth combine to build your retirement nest egg. Everything runs in your browser, nothing is stored, and no signup is required.
Done with the 401(k) Calculator? Try this next:
Retirement Calculator →Type in your current age and the age you plan to retire. The calculator uses the difference to project how many years of contributions and growth your 401(k) will accumulate. Most people use 65, but you can model early retirement at 55 or later retirement at 70.
Input your existing 401(k) balance as the starting point and your current annual salary. If you have balances in multiple 401(k) accounts from previous employers, add them together. Your salary determines how much you and your employer contribute each year.
Enter the percentage of your salary that you contribute to your 401(k). For example, if you earn $75,000 and contribute 10%, that is $7,500 per year ($625/month). The calculator caps contributions at the IRS annual limit and adds catch-up amounts automatically when your age qualifies.
Enter two values: the match rate (what percentage of your contribution your employer matches, such as 50%) and the match limit (up to what percentage of your salary the match applies, such as 6%). A common match is 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary, meaning the employer adds 3% of your salary if you contribute at least 6%.
The default 7% return matches the long-term stock market average. The 3% salary increase reflects typical annual raises. Adjust these to model optimistic or conservative scenarios. The inflation rate lets you see your balance in today's purchasing power.
Check the summary cards for your projected balance, total contributions, employer match, and estimated retirement income. The smart insights panel tells you if you are leaving match money on the table. Click the Year-by-Year tab to see exactly how your salary, contributions, match, and growth change each year.
A 401(k) calculator projects your retirement account balance by combining your contributions, employer matching, salary growth, and investment returns over time. Our calculator shows you whether you are capturing your full employer match, estimates your tax savings, and gives a year-by-year breakdown of how your 401(k) grows. All calculations run in your browser with no signup required.
FV = PV(1 + r)^n + (Employee + Employer) x [((1 + r)^n - 1) / r]
A 25-year-old earning $55,000, contributing 6%, employer matches 100% of first 3% of salary, 7% return, retiring at 65.
A 40-year-old earning $120,000 with $150,000 saved, contributing 15%, employer matches 50% up to 6%, 7% return, retiring at 65.
A 50-year-old earning $90,000 with $100,000 saved, contributing 20% (using catch-up), employer matches 50% up to 6%, 6% return, retiring at 67.
| Start Age | $200/mo | $500/mo | $750/mo | $1,000/mo | $1,500/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $526,687 | $1,316,718 | $1,975,077 | $2,633,436 | $3,950,155 |
| 30 | $365,991 | $914,978 | $1,372,467 | $1,829,956 | $2,744,934 |
| 35 | $249,382 | $623,454 | $935,181 | $1,246,908 | $1,870,363 |
| 40 | $164,845 | $412,113 | $618,170 | $824,226 | $1,236,339 |
| 45 | $104,185 | $260,464 | $390,696 | $520,928 | $781,391 |
| 50 | $60,776 | $151,940 | $227,910 | $303,880 | $455,820 |
Assumes 7% annual return, $0 starting balance, no employer match (employee contributions only). Actual balances will be higher with employer matching. Contributions are assumed constant (no salary growth modeled in this table).
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</p>At minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match, because that is an immediate 50% to 100% return on your money. Beyond that, financial advisors generally recommend saving 10% to 15% of your gross salary for retirement (including the employer match). If you started saving late, aim for 15% to 20%. The IRS allows up to $23,500 in employee contributions for 2026, plus catch-up contributions if you are 50 or older.
An employer match is free money your company adds to your 401(k) based on your own contributions. A common formula is '50% match up to 6% of salary.' This means if you earn $75,000 and contribute at least 6% ($4,500), your employer adds 50% of that ($2,250). If you contribute less than 6%, you lose part of the match. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match.
For 2026, the IRS allows $23,500 in employee elective deferrals. If you are 50 or older, you can add a $7,500 catch-up contribution for a total of $31,000. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, workers aged 60 to 63 get an enhanced super catch-up of $11,250 (instead of $7,500) for a total of $34,750. Employer contributions are separate and do not count toward these limits.
A traditional 401(k) reduces your taxable income now (you pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement). A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax dollars (you pay taxes now but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free). If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, Roth may save you more. If you expect a lower bracket in retirement, traditional may be better. This calculator models traditional 401(k) tax savings, since that is the more common default.
When your salary increases, your contribution amount increases automatically (since you contribute a percentage of salary). For example, at 10% contribution on a $75,000 salary, you contribute $7,500/year. After a 3% raise to $77,250, you contribute $7,725/year. Over 35 years of compounding, these incremental increases add up significantly. This calculator models annual salary growth to give you a realistic projection.
You have several options: leave the money in your old employer's plan, roll it over to your new employer's 401(k), roll it into a traditional IRA, or cash it out (which triggers taxes and a 10% penalty if you are under 59 and a half). Rolling over to an IRA or new 401(k) keeps your tax-deferred growth intact. When using this calculator, include all your 401(k) balances (current and previous) in the 'Current Balance' field.
Returns depend on your investment choices within the plan. A portfolio of stock index funds has historically returned about 10% before inflation (7% after). A balanced stock/bond mix typically returns 6% to 8%. Target-date funds, which many 401(k) plans offer as defaults, gradually shift from stocks to bonds as you approach retirement. For conservative planning, use 6%; for moderate, use 7%; for aggressive, use 8%.
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income dollar for dollar. If you are in the 22% federal tax bracket and contribute $10,000, you save $2,200 in federal taxes that year. State taxes may add additional savings. This calculator estimates your annual federal tax savings based on your contribution and tax bracket. Note that you will pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement.
Yes. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your salary, balance, and contribution details are never sent to any server, stored in any database, or shared with anyone. You can safely enter your real financial information.
FreeToolPark. "401(k) Calculator." FreeToolPark, 2026, www.freetoolpark.com/tools/401k-calculator. Accessed April 16, 2026.