CalcQuick

401(k) Calculator

Project your 401(k) balance at retirement, including employer match and salary growth.

For educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Does not model IRS contribution limits, vesting schedules, or taxes.

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e.g. 50 means 50¢ per $1 you contribute

Match applies up to this share of salary

401(k) balance at retirement

$2,357,227.74

Your contributions

$453,465.61

Employer match

$136,039.68

Investment growth: $1,742,722.44 · First-year employer match: $2,250.00

How to use

  1. Enter your current age and planned retirement age.
  2. Enter your annual salary and the percentage of salary you contribute.
  3. Set your employer match — e.g. 50% match up to 6% of salary.
  4. Add your current 401(k) balance, expected return and annual salary increase.
  5. Review your projected balance, total contributions and employer match at retirement.

How it works

Each month: Balance = Balance × (1 + r) + Employee contribution + Employer match, where r is the monthly return rate.

Employee contribution = Salary × contribution % ÷ 12.

Employer match = Salary × min(contribution %, match limit %) × match % ÷ 12.

Salary grows once per year by the annual salary increase rate.

Example

A 30-year-old earning $75,000 contributes 10% with a 50% employer match up to 6% of salary, starting from a $25,000 balance at 7% annual return and 3% yearly raises. By age 65:

Projected 401(k) balance ≈ $2.36M — about $453K from your contributions, $136K from employer match, and $1.74M from investment growth.

Frequently asked questions

How does employer matching work?
A common formula is 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary. If you earn $75,000 and contribute at least 6% ($4,500), your employer adds 50% of that ($2,250) per year. Contributing below the match limit leaves free money on the table.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At a minimum, contribute enough to get the full employer match. Many advisors suggest saving 10–15% of your income for retirement, including the match.
Does this calculator include IRS contribution limits?
No. The IRS caps employee 401(k) contributions each year ($23,500 in 2025, plus catch-up contributions from age 50). Check your inputs against the current limit for precise planning.
Are 401(k) contributions pre-tax?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax and lower your taxable income today, but withdrawals are taxed. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax with tax-free qualified withdrawals. This calculator projects the account balance without modeling taxes.
What annual return should I assume?
A diversified stock-heavy portfolio has historically returned about 7–10% per year before inflation. Using 6–7% is a common conservative assumption for long-term planning.
What happens to my 401(k) if I change jobs?
You can usually roll it over into your new employer's 401(k) or an IRA without taxes or penalties. Employer match funds may be subject to a vesting schedule.

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