401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance including your contribution rate, employer match, and investment growth.
Understanding the 401(k) Calculator
A 401(k) grows from three sources: your own contributions (usually a percentage of salary, deducted automatically), an employer match (many companies match a percentage of what you contribute, up to a cap), and investment growth on everything already in the account.
The employer match is worth paying close attention to — it’s effectively free money, but only up to the matching limit. Contributing below that limit means leaving part of your match on the table; this calculator applies the match only up to the “match applies up to” percentage you enter, mirroring how most real plans cap the benefit.
This is a simplified projection: it assumes a constant salary, contribution rate, and return, and it doesn’t model contribution limits set by law, vesting schedules for employer contributions, or taxes on withdrawal. Check your plan documents for the specifics that apply to your account.
See it in practice
Example 1 — 8% contribution with a 50% match up to 6%
Example 2 — Contributing below the match cap
Common questions
If your contribution percentage is below your plan’s match limit, yes — you’re not receiving the full employer match you’re eligible for. Try raising ‘your contribution’ to at least the match limit and compare the projected balance.
No, this is a simplified model based on percentages of salary. Check the current IRS 401(k) contribution limit separately, since a high salary and contribution percentage together could exceed it.
Not always — many plans use a vesting schedule, meaning you earn full ownership of employer contributions gradually over a few years of employment. This calculator doesn’t model vesting; check your plan’s summary description.
Include it at its current value, but be aware that concentrated single-stock exposure carries more risk than a diversified fund — the growth rate you choose should reflect your actual investment mix.
A common starting point is contributing at least enough to get your full employer match, since that’s effectively free money. Beyond that, many financial planners suggest working toward 10-15% of gross salary over time, including any employer match, though your own target depends on your age, other savings, and retirement timeline.
A 50% match up to 6% of salary is a common structure and generally considered solid. Some employers offer a full 100% match up to a set percentage, which is even more valuable. Any match is worth capturing, since it’s compensation you’d otherwise leave unclaimed.
Yes, contributing to both is allowed, and many savers do both to diversify their tax treatment. Your 401(k) contribution limit and your IRA contribution limit are separate, though a traditional IRA deduction can phase out at higher incomes if you’re also covered by a workplace plan.
Unvested employer contributions are forfeited if you leave before meeting your plan’s vesting schedule. Your own contributions, and any employer contributions that have already vested, remain yours and can be rolled into a new employer’s plan or an IRA.