401(k) Calculator
See how payroll deductions and employer match can compound inside a 401(k) over time.
Calculator
401(k) Calculator
Add the gross pay sources that feed this retirement plan. For a single plan, this is usually just base salary.
Annual compensation total: $110,000.00
Enter the percentage of salary you contribute to the plan.
Enter the percentage the employer matches on eligible employee contributions, such as 100% or 50%.
Enter the share of compensation that is eligible for employer matching, such as 4% or 6% of pay.
Add the balances already sitting in the workplace retirement account, including rollover amounts now inside the same plan if relevant.
Current 401(k) total: $72,000.00
Use the number of years you expect contributions to continue.
Use the expected annual increase in compensation if you want future contributions to grow with pay.
Use a conservative estimate for long-run market growth.
Example values are loaded.
Result
Your result
With a 10% employee contribution rate and an employer match of 100% on the first 4% of pay, the projected 401(k) balance could reach about $2,114,316.60.
Projected 401(k) balance
$2,114,316.60
First-year employee contribution
$11,000.00
First-year employer match
$4,400.00
Plan snapshot
Next steps
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What this calculator shows
Workplace retirement plans compound two powerful behaviors: steady contributions and employer match. Both matter more when they start early and stay consistent.
This calculator is more useful when it reflects the actual match formula and lets compensation grow over time instead of freezing every contribution at today's pay level.
How to use it
- 1. Add the annual compensation sources feeding the plan and the percentage you contribute.
- 2. Enter the employer match percentage and the maximum employee contribution rate the employer will match.
- 3. Add the current balance, years to retirement, expected compensation growth, and a reasonable annual return assumption.
Formula and assumptions
Employee contributions are based on annual compensation multiplied by the employee contribution rate, while employer match is limited by the matched contribution cap you enter.
The calculator grows compensation once per year, then compounds the account monthly with the updated contribution level over the remaining working years.
How to read this result
The employer match is usually the highest-leverage number on this page. If the match is not being captured fully, the plan may be leaving obvious retirement value on the table.
Compensation growth matters because it changes future contribution size, not just current paycheck optics. Small annual raises can move the long-run projection more than expected.
Use this result to decide whether the current contribution rate is enough or whether the next savings dollar belongs in the workplace plan, an IRA, or another long-term account.
Common mistakes
Assuming the employer match applies to the full contribution rate when the plan actually caps the matched portion of pay.
Ignoring contribution limits, vesting, or plan-specific rules and treating the result like a payroll-system forecast.
Using this page for multiple unrelated plans with different match rules. If the plan mechanics differ meaningfully, separate runs are cleaner.
Notes
The calculator still does not enforce IRS contribution caps, catch-up rules, or vesting schedules, so use it as a planning estimate rather than a tax-accurate plan document.
Worked example
A worker with an existing balance and a modest employer match can see how much the plan may grow over decades.
This example uses the default sample inputs loaded on reset. It does not update with the live calculator entries above.
Projected 401(k) balance
$2,114,316.60
First-year employee contribution
$11,000.00
First-year employer match
$4,400.00
Feedback
Found a problem on this page?
Report confusing fields, broken math, or missing assumptions with the exact inputs you used so the issue can be reproduced.
FAQ
FAQ
Why is employer match so valuable?
Because it effectively increases the amount invested on your behalf, which then compounds for the rest of the time horizon.
FAQ
Does this calculator handle contribution limits?
No. It is a directional planning tool and does not enforce IRS limits or complex employer match formulas.
FAQ
Should I use this for more than one plan or employer?
Use it when the same match setup applies to the compensation sources you enter. If you have materially different plans or employers, run them separately or use the broader retirement calculator.