401(k) calculator
Your plan
Projection horizon: 32 years. Contributions and match are treated as annual additions before that year's growth.
Contributions
The employee cap includes catch-up when eligible. Employer contributions do not count against that employee elective deferral limit.
Employer match
Assumptions
Net annual return is 6.65% after subtracting fee drag. This tool does not model taxes, withdrawals, loans, vesting, or plan-specific restrictions.
Return scenarios
Lower and higher scenarios adjust only the return assumption by two percentage points.
Balance over time
Starting balance, employee contributions, employer match, and estimated growth are separated.
Annual schedule
Rows use annual additions before growth. Growth is net of the annual fee drag assumption.
| Year | Age | Salary | Employee | Employer match | Growth | Fees | Ending balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 | $95,000 | $9,500 | $2,850 | $6,474 | $341 | $103,824 |
| 2 | 36 | $97,850 | $9,785 | $2,936 | $7,750 | $408 | $124,294 |
| 3 | 37 | $100,786 | $10,079 | $3,024 | $9,137 | $481 | $146,533 |
| 4 | 38 | $103,809 | $10,381 | $3,114 | $10,642 | $560 | $170,671 |
| 5 | 39 | $106,923 | $10,692 | $3,208 | $12,274 | $646 | $196,845 |
| 6 | 40 | $110,131 | $11,013 | $3,304 | $14,042 | $739 | $225,204 |
| 7 | 41 | $113,435 | $11,344 | $3,403 | $15,957 | $840 | $255,907 |
| 8 | 42 | $116,838 | $11,684 | $3,505 | $18,028 | $949 | $289,124 |
| 9 | 43 | $120,343 | $12,034 | $3,610 | $20,267 | $1,067 | $325,036 |
| 10 | 44 | $123,953 | $12,395 | $3,719 | $22,686 | $1,194 | $363,836 |
| 11 | 45 | $127,672 | $12,767 | $3,830 | $25,299 | $1,332 | $405,732 |
| 12 | 46 | $131,502 | $13,150 | $3,945 | $28,118 | $1,480 | $450,945 |
| 13 | 47 | $135,447 | $13,545 | $4,063 | $31,159 | $1,640 | $499,712 |
| 14 | 48 | $139,511 | $13,951 | $4,185 | $34,437 | $1,812 | $552,286 |
| 15 | 49 | $143,696 | $14,370 | $4,311 | $37,969 | $1,998 | $608,936 |
| 16 | 50 | $148,007 | $14,801 | $4,440 | $41,774 | $2,199 | $669,950 |
| 17 | 51 | $152,447 | $15,245 | $4,573 | $45,870 | $2,414 | $735,638 |
| 18 | 52 | $157,021 | $15,702 | $4,711 | $50,277 | $2,646 | $806,328 |
| 19 | 53 | $161,731 | $16,173 | $4,852 | $55,019 | $2,896 | $882,372 |
| 20 | 54 | $166,583 | $16,658 | $4,997 | $60,118 | $3,164 | $964,146 |
| 21 | 55 | $171,581 | $17,158 | $5,147 | $65,599 | $3,453 | $1,052,050 |
| 22 | 56 | $176,728 | $17,673 | $5,302 | $71,489 | $3,763 | $1,146,514 |
| 23 | 57 | $182,030 | $18,203 | $5,461 | $77,817 | $4,096 | $1,247,994 |
| 24 | 58 | $187,491 | $18,749 | $5,625 | $84,612 | $4,453 | $1,356,981 |
| 25 | 59 | $193,115 | $19,312 | $5,793 | $91,909 | $4,837 | $1,473,994 |
| 26 | 60 | $198,909 | $19,891 | $5,967 | $99,740 | $5,249 | $1,599,593 |
| 27 | 61 | $204,876 | $20,488 | $6,146 | $108,144 | $5,692 | $1,734,371 |
| 28 | 62 | $211,022 | $21,102 | $6,331 | $117,160 | $6,166 | $1,878,964 |
| 29 | 63 | $217,353 | $21,735 | $6,521 | $126,830 | $6,675 | $2,034,050 |
| 30 | 64 | $223,874 | $22,387 | $6,716 | $137,200 | $7,221 | $2,200,353 |
| 31 | 65 | $230,590 | $23,059 | $6,918 | $148,317 | $7,806 | $2,378,647 |
| 32 | 66 | $237,508 | $23,751 | $7,125 | $160,233 | $8,433 | $2,569,756 |
Formula and methodology
The calculator estimates annual employee contributions from salary and contribution rate, applies the 2026 employee deferral cap, adds a simple employer match, then grows the balance by expected return after annual fee drag.
2026 contribution limits
The 2026 employee elective deferral limit is $24,500. Catch-up is $8,000 for age 50+ and $11,250 for ages 60 through 63. The defined contribution annual addition limit is $72,000 before catch-up amounts. See the IRS pages for 2026 retirement plan limit changes and 401(k) contribution limits.
Employer match
Employer match uses one simple formula: match percent multiplied by employee contributions up to a salary-based match cap. Employer contributions do not count against the employee elective deferral cap.
Assumptions and scenarios
Salary growth changes future contributions and match. Lower and higher scenarios adjust only the return assumption by two percentage points, so they are sensitivity checks, not forecasts.
Limitations
This educational tool does not model taxes, Roth versus traditional contributions, vesting, true-up rules, highly compensated employee limits, Roth catch-up requirements, loans, withdrawals, or RMDs.
Need help?
See the 401(k) calculator help page for inputs, methodology, FAQ, and troubleshooting.
Related calculators
Compare this topic with the Retirement , Investment , Compound interest pages.
Getting the most from a 401(k)
A 401(k) combines three growth engines: your payroll contributions, an employer match, and decades of tax-deferred compounding. The match is the part people most often leave on the table, and it is the one input in this calculator with a guaranteed return.
Employer match math
A common formula is 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. On an $80,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,800) earns a $2,400 match — an immediate 50% return before any market growth. Contribute only 3% and the match drops to $1,200, leaving $1,200 of compensation unclaimed every year. Whatever else a plan allows, contributing at least up to the full match is usually the first milestone.
2026 contribution limits in practice
The calculator caps employee deferrals at the 2026 limit of $24,500, with catch-up room of $8,000 from age 50 and $11,250 for ages 60 through 63. Employer contributions sit outside that cap but inside the $72,000 annual addition limit. The IRS pages on 2026 retirement plan limit changes and 401(k) contribution limits are the authoritative sources when plans or payroll systems disagree.
How salary growth changes contributions and match
Because contributions and the match cap are percentages of salary, a salary growth assumption raises both every year. A 3% annual raise roughly doubles salary over 24 years, and contributions scale with it. That compounding of bigger deposits on top of market growth follows the same mechanics shown in the compound interest calculator and the investment calculator.
Traditional vs Roth is out of scope here
This calculator projects one pre-tax balance and does not model the traditional-versus-Roth decision, current or future tax rates, or withdrawal taxation. That choice depends on personal tax circumstances a generic projection cannot know. To see how a projected 401(k) balance fits into overall readiness and spending, carry the result into the retirement calculator. For a closer look at match formulas and vesting, read 401(k) Employer Match: How Not To Leave Free Money Behind.