401(k) Contribution Calculator
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter your Annual Salary
Provide your gross annual income before taxes, which forms the basis for contribution calculations.
- 2
Set Your Contribution percentage
Input the percentage of your salary you contribute to your 401(k) each year (e.g., 10%).
- 3
Enter the Employer Match Rate
Specify how much your employer matches per dollar you contribute (e.g., 50% means $0.50 per $1 you put in).
- 4
Set the Employer Match Cap
Enter the maximum percentage of your salary that the employer will match (e.g., 6% means they only match on the first 6% of salary you contribute).
- 5
Specify Years to Contribute
Input the number of years you plan to keep contributing to your 401(k).
- 6
Set the Expected Annual Return
Enter the average yearly return you expect on your investments, typically 6-8%.
- 7
Optionally expand Advanced Options
Set your Current 401(k) Balance and Current Age for more accurate projections. Age is used for IRS catch-up contribution eligibility (50+).
- 8
Review your results
Examine the Projected 401(k) Balance, Total You Contribute, Total Employer Match, Total Investment Growth, and Effective Annual Contribution. The breakdown bar shows the composition of your final balance.
Example Calculation
A 30-year-old professional earning $85,000 wants to project their 401(k) growth over 25 years, contributing 10% with a 50% employer match up to 6% of salary, starting with $15,000 already saved.
Annual Salary
85,000
Your Contribution
10
Employer Match Rate
50
Employer Match Cap
6
Years to Contribute
25
Expected Annual Return
7
Current 401(k) Balance
15,000
Current Age
30
Results
Projected 401(k) Balance
$831,822.29
Total You Contribute
$212,500.00
Total Employer Match
$63,750.00
Total Investment Growth
$540,572.29
Effective Annual Contribution
$11,050.00
Insights card shows employer match value and compound growth power.
Tips
Maximize the Employer Match
Always contribute at least enough to receive the full employer match. For example, if your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary, contribute at least 6% to capture the full 3% employer contribution — that is an immediate 50% return on those dollars.
Consider Catch-Up Contributions
For individuals aged 50 and older, the IRS allows additional catch-up contributions. In 2026, the standard limit is $23,500 and the catch-up limit raises the total to $31,000, significantly boosting retirement savings for those nearing retirement.
Review Your Investment Allocation
The Expected Annual Return significantly impacts your final balance. Periodically review your 401(k) investment allocation to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and time horizon, aiming for a diversified portfolio that can achieve a 6-8% average annual return over the long term.
What the result includes
The projected balance combines your current 401(k) balance, your contributions, the employer match calculated from your inputs, and investment growth. The projection assumes the salary, contribution rates, and expected return stay constant; it does not subtract taxes or fees or account for vesting.
How the result is calculated
Each year, your contribution is the lesser of your salary times your contribution rate or the calculator’s age-based annual cap. The employer match is your match rate multiplied by the lesser of your contribution or your salary times the match cap. The calculator adds one-twelfth of those annual contributions each month, after applying that month’s return to the existing balance.
Monthly balance = Previous balance × (1 + annual return / 12) + (annual employee contribution + annual employer match) / 12
With the default inputs, your annual contribution is $85,000 × 10% = $8,500. The employer match is min($8,500, $85,000 × 6%) × 50% = $2,550, so monthly contributions total ($8,500 + $2,550) / 12 = $920.83. Over 25 years, the monthly return is 7% / 12 and the balance calculation is $15,000 × (1 + 0.07 / 12)^300 + $920.8333 × ((1 + 0.07 / 12)^300 − 1) / (0.07 / 12) = $831,821.91.
What changes the result
Changing only “Your Contribution” from 10% to 8% reduces your annual contribution from $8,500 to $6,800. Because $6,800 still exceeds the $5,100 match cap (6% of $85,000), the annual employer match remains $2,550. The monthly deposit falls to ($6,800 + $2,550) / 12 = $779.17, and the projected balance becomes $717,061.81, using the same return, duration, and starting balance.
When this formula does not apply
For a 403(b) plan rather than a 401(k), use the 403(b) contribution calculator. For after-tax contribution treatment, use the after-tax contribution calculator. If contributions are made daily or biweekly instead of being spread across monthly deposits, use the daily-contribution calculator or the biweekly-contribution calculator.
The sourced rule next to the result
The calculator’s code caps annual employee contributions at $23,500 for people under 50 and $31,000 for people 50 or older, but those are 2025 limits; for 2026, the IRS sets the elective-deferral limit at $24,500 and the age-50 catch-up limit at $8,000, so the calculator’s cap can affect projections when contributions reach it (IRS 2026 limits).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum I can contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?
For 2026, employees under age 50 can contribute up to $23,500 to their 401(k) plans. If you are 50 or older, the catch-up provision raises the limit to $31,000 total.
How does an employer match work in a 401(k)?
An employer match typically involves the company contributing a percentage of what you put in, up to a cap on your salary. For example, an employer might match 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary. If you earn $85,000 and contribute 10% ($2,300), the matchable portion is capped at 6% of salary ($5,100), and the employer contributes 50% of that ($2,550).
What is vesting in a 401(k) plan?
Vesting refers to the point at which you gain full ownership of the money your employer contributes to your 401(k). Many plans have a vesting schedule, such as 3-year cliff vesting or 6-year graded vesting, meaning you gradually gain ownership over time. Your own contributions are always 100% vested immediately.
Should I prioritize paying off debt or contributing to my 401(k)?
It generally depends on the interest rate of your debt. If you have high-interest debt (e.g., credit cards at 18%+), paying it off might be a priority. However, if your employer offers a 401(k) match, contributing at least up to that match is often recommended, as it's an immediate, guaranteed return on your investment that can outweigh many debt interest rates.