401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance with your contributions, employer match, and growth.
How to use
- Enter your current balance, salary, and contribution percentage.
- Enter your employer's match percentage and expected return.
- Click Calculate to see your projected balance and contribution breakdown.
Estimates only — not financial advice. Assumes constant salary and annual compounding; fees and taxes not modeled. Verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
What Is a 401(k) Calculator?
A 401(k) calculator projects how your workplace retirement account could grow between now and retirement, combining your current balance, your ongoing contributions, your employer's matching contributions, and investment growth over time. Because a 401(k) builds up over an entire career, small decisions — contributing 6% instead of 4%, or capturing the full employer match — compound into differences of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars by retirement age. A projection makes those differences visible while there is still time to act on them.
The employer match deserves special attention: it is effectively additional pay that only arrives if you contribute. Many employers match a portion of what you put in — for example, matching part of the first few percent of salary you contribute — and employees who contribute less than the full match amount leave that money unclaimed every single paycheck. This calculator includes the match in the projection so you can see its long-term value clearly.
How to Use the 401(k) Calculator
- Enter your current 401(k) balance and your annual salary.
- Enter the percentage of salary you contribute, and the percentage your employer matches.
- Enter an expected annual return — long-term diversified portfolios have historically averaged in the mid-single to high-single digits, but returns are never guaranteed.
- Enter the years until retirement and click Calculate to see your projected balance and how it splits between your contributions, your employer's, and growth.
How 401(k) Growth Works
Each paycheck, your contribution and the employer match are added to the account and invested. The balance then compounds: returns are earned on contributions and on all previous returns. The IRS sets annual limits on how much an employee can contribute from salary, and those limits are adjusted periodically for inflation, so check the current year's limit if you are contributing near the maximum. Contributions to a traditional 401(k) are pre-tax today and taxed at withdrawal; Roth 401(k) contributions are taxed today and qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
Tips for a Stronger 401(k)
- Contribute at least enough to capture the entire employer match — it is the closest thing in finance to free money.
- Increase your contribution by 1% a year; most people barely notice the change in take-home pay, but the projection changes a lot.
- Revisit your expected return assumption — using an optimistic rate can make a plan look healthier than it is.
What is a typical employer 401(k) match?
A common structure is for the employer to match 50% of what you contribute, up to 6% of your salary — meaning contributing 6% earns a 3% match. Formulas vary widely by employer, so check your plan document or HR portal for your exact match rule.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k)?
The IRS sets an annual elective deferral limit for employees, with an additional catch-up amount for workers aged 50 and over. The limit is adjusted for inflation from time to time, so look up the current year's figure on the IRS website rather than relying on an older number.
Is the projected balance guaranteed?
No. The calculator assumes a steady return every year, while real markets rise and fall unpredictably. The projection is a planning illustration that shows the power of contributions, matching, and time — not a promise of what your account will be worth.
What happens to my 401(k) if I change jobs?
Your balance stays yours. You can usually leave it in the old employer's plan, roll it into your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Each option has different fees, investment choices, and rules, so compare carefully before moving money.