Project your 401(k) balance with salary growth, employer match and IRS contribution limits.
| Age | Salary | Your contribution | Employer match | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | $101,295.79 | $10,129.58 | $3,038.87 | $129,751.34 |
| 45 | $117,429.59 | $11,742.96 | $3,522.89 | $267,362.65 |
| 50 | $136,133.08 | $13,613.31 | $4,083.99 | $473,968.41 |
| 55 | $157,815.54 | $15,781.55 | $4,734.47 | $779,508.38 |
| 60 | $182,951.47 | $18,295.15 | $5,488.54 | $1,226,319.60 |
| 65 | $212,090.90 | $21,209.09 | $6,362.73 | $1,874,181.89 |
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the 401(k) Calculator?
A 401(k) calculator estimates your account at retirement from salary, contribution rate, employer match, salary growth and investment return, and checks the annual IRS limit.
How a 401(k) grows
A 401(k) grows from three sources: your contributions, your employer match and investment returns. Contributions come out of your pay before income tax in a traditional account, which lowers your taxable income today. Taxes are paid when you withdraw in retirement.
Getting the full employer match
An employer match is part of your compensation. If your employer matches a percentage of what you contribute, contributing at least enough to receive the full match is usually the best first step. Enter the match formula from your plan documents so the projection reflects it, and check the yearly IRS contribution limit, which the calculator flags.
Where to go next
Compare your projected balance with your goal in the retirement calculator. If you also save in an IRA, test it with the Roth IRA calculator or IRA calculator. To see how a raise or a bonus changes your contribution in dollars, use the salary calculator.
How to use the 401(k) Calculator
- Enter your numbers. Start with Current age, Retirement age, Annual salary ($), then fill in Salary growth (% per year), Your contribution (% of salary), Employer match rate (% of your contribution), Current 401(k) balance ($). Use today’s balances and your real contribution amounts, then test a more cautious return. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Choose your options. Contribution limits for change how the result is worked out, and the form updates to match your choice.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the 401(k) balance at 65, and the cards below show Your contributions, Employer match, Investment growth. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the 401(k) Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Contribution limits for | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Current age | 35 |
| Retirement age | 65 |
| Annual salary ($) | 90,000 |
| Salary growth (% per year) | 3 |
| Your contribution (% of salary) | 10 |
| Employer match rate (% of your contribution) | 50 |
| Current 401(k) balance ($) | 40,000 |
| Annual return (%) | 7 |
| Inflation (% per year) | 2.5 |
Results
| 401(k) balance at 65 | $1,874,181.89 |
|---|---|
| Your contributions | $428,178.74 |
| Employer match | $128,453.62 |
| Investment growth | $1,277,549.53 |
| In today's dollars | $893,502.51 |
| Income at 4% withdrawal | $6,247.27 / mo |
| Limit (under 50) | $24,500.00 + catch-up $8,000.00 |
With these inputs the calculator returns 401(k) balance at 65: $1,874,181.89. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the 401(k) Calculator reports 401(k) balance at 65, your contributions, employer match, investment growth, in today's dollars, income at 4% withdrawal and limit (under 50). Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Tips for better results
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Retirement results depend on returns, inflation and contribution limits that change over time. They are projections, not promises. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 401(k) limits?
For 2026: $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up at 50 and over, or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63.
What is an employer match?
Money your employer adds to your account, for example 50% of your contributions up to 6% of salary.
Are results in future or today dollars?
This calculator has an inflation field, so results are shown in future dollars and in today’s purchasing power.
How much should I save for retirement?
Many planners suggest saving 10% to 15% of income, including employer match, starting early. The retirement calculator shows the monthly amount you need for your own goal.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
Related retirement calculators
- 403b Calculator
- Roth IRA Calculator
- IRA Calculator
- Retirement Calculator
- Annuity Calculator
- Annuity Payout Calculator
- RMD Calculator
- Deferred Annuity Calculator
- Variable Annuity Calculator
- Pension Calculator
- Social Security Calculator
- Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
Guides that use this calculator
- Pay Off Your Mortgage Early: What Extra Payments Really Save
- 2026 401(k) and IRA Contribution Limits, Explained
- How Much Do You Need to Retire? A Practical Way to Find Your Number
- How Much Should You Have Saved for Retirement by Age? Benchmarks for 30 to 67
- Pay Yourself First: How to Automate Saving So You Actually Do It