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401k Calculator

Project your retirement balance from your salary, contribution rate, employer match and expected return. Enter your details, then press Calculate.

Written by TopicDrill Editorial Team·Updated June 2026

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Your 401(k) plan

Fill in the details, then press Calculate.

$
$

Balance at retirement

$889,146

Your contributions$135,000
Employer match$67,500
Investment growth$661,646

Balance over time

Balance Contributed
$0$222.3k$444.6k$666.9k$889.1k0 yr15 yr30 yr

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How a 401(k) grows

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account you fund directly from your paycheck. Three forces drive the final balance: the money you contribute, the match your employer adds, and the investment growth that compounds on top of both. Because contributions are made every pay period over many years, even modest percentages turn into large sums by the time you retire.

This calculator simulates your account month by month. Each month it adds your contribution, calculated as your chosen percent of salary, then adds the employer match up to the match limit, and finally grows the whole balance at the monthly equivalent of your expected annual return. The chart above shows the gap between what you and your employer put in and what the account is actually worth widening over time.

Why the employer match matters

The employer match is one of the few guaranteed returns in investing. A 50% match on the first 6% of salary means every dollar you contribute up to that limit instantly becomes $1.50. Failing to contribute enough to capture the full match leaves real money on the table. As a rule of thumb, contribute at least up to the match limit before prioritizing other savings goals.

Things to keep in mind

Projected returns are long-term averages, not promises, and real markets rise and fall from year to year. Contribution limits are set annually by the IRS, so confirm the current cap before raising your rate. For trustworthy retirement basics see Investor.gov from the SEC, and explore our other financial calculators to plan the rest of your finances.

Frequently asked questions

How does an employer 401(k) match work?

Your employer adds money to your 401(k) based on what you contribute, up to a cap. A common setup is 50% of your contributions on the first 6% of salary. If you earn $75,000 and put in 6%, you add $4,500 and the employer adds $2,250. Contributing at least up to the match limit is essentially free money.

How is the future 401(k) balance calculated?

This tool simulates your account month by month. Each month it adds your contribution, adds the employer match, and grows the whole balance at the monthly equivalent of your expected annual return. The result is your projected balance plus a breakdown of your contributions, the employer match and investment growth.

What return rate should I use?

Historically, a diversified stock-heavy 401(k) has averaged roughly 6% to 8% a year over long periods, before inflation. Markets fluctuate, so treat any single rate as a long-term average rather than a guarantee, and consider running a lower rate to see a more conservative outcome.

Should I contribute more than the match limit?

Often yes. Once you capture the full employer match, extra contributions still grow tax-advantaged and compound for decades. The IRS sets annual contribution limits, so check the current cap, but for most savers raising the contribution rate is one of the most powerful levers for retirement.

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