401K CalculatorFree online financial calculator — instant results, no sign-up
401(k) balance with employer match.
Estimates only, based on the inputs and assumptions shown. This is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Prices, rates and local rules may change; crypto scenarios do not predict returns. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional.
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About the 401K Calculator
This calculator projects the growth of a 401(k) retirement savings account over time, incorporating ongoing personal contributions, employer matching, salary increases, and investment compounding. It is designed for employees planning retirement contributions and evaluating the long-term value of workplace retirement benefits.
- Annual salary
- Your current gross yearly earnings before taxes, specified in dollars (e.g., $20,000 to $500,000+).
- Your contribution
- The percentage of your annual salary you contribute to the plan each year, typically between 1% and 25%.
- Employer match
- The percentage of your contributions matched by your employer, such as 50% (50 cents per dollar) or 100% (dollar for dollar).
- Match limit
- The maximum percentage of your salary eligible for employer matching, typically between 3% and 6%.
- Current balance
- The existing balance in your 401(k) account today, entered in dollars.
- Return
- The expected annual nominal rate of return on your invested portfolio, typically between 4% and 10%.
- Years
- The number of investment years until retirement, typically between 1 and 45.
- Annual raise
- The estimated annual percentage increase in your salary, typically between 0% and 5%.
Formula and method
c = min(s × pct / 100, 24500) e = s × min(pct, cap) / 100 × (match / 100) b_(t) = (b_(t-1) + c + e) × (1 + rate / 100) s_(t+1) = s_(t) × (1 + raise / 100)
- sAnnual salary for the current year
- pctEmployee contribution rate (as a percentage)
- capEmployer match ceiling as a percentage of salary
- matchEmployer match percentage of eligible contributions
- cEmployee contribution for the year, capped at $24,500
- eEmployer matching contribution for the year
- bAccount balance
- rateAnnual investment return percentage
- raiseAnnual salary growth rate percentage
For each year in the projection period, the calculator determines the employee contribution (capped at $24,500) and the employer matching contribution based on salary. The starting balance and both contributions are compounded at the annual return rate, after which the salary is adjusted upward by the annual raise percentage.
Worked example
These are the calculator's starting values and the results it actually produces for them.
Inputs
- Annual salary80000 $
- Your contribution8 %
- Employer match50 % of yours
- Match limit6 % of salary
- Current balance30000 $
- Return7 %
Results
- Balance at end$1,448,914.90
- Your contributions$304,482.66
- Employer contributions$114,181.00
How to use the 401K Calculator
- 1Calculate the personal contribution as salary multiplied by your contribution percentage, capped at $24,500.
- 2Calculate the employer contribution by applying the match percentage to salary up to the match limit.
- 3Add personal and employer contributions to the prior balance and multiply the total by (1 + return rate / 100).
- 4Increase salary by the annual raise percentage and repeat for the total number of years.
Reading your result
The primary output shows the estimated total balance at the end of the term, alongside cumulative totals of your own contributions and your employer's contributions. The difference between the final balance and total contributions represents total investment earnings generated through compounding.
Limitations
The model uses an annual compounding cycle and assumes contributions occur at the start of each year rather than per pay period. It caps personal elective deferrals at a static $24,500 without adjusting for future inflation, catch-up contributions for age 50+, overall Section 415(c) limits, vesting schedules, plan fees, or income taxes upon withdrawal.
Common questions
What does a 50% match up to 6% of salary mean?+
It means the employer matches 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, but only on contributions up to 6% of your salary. If you contribute 6% or more, your employer contributes an additional 3% of your salary.
Why is employee contribution capped at $24,500 in this calculator?+
The IRS sets statutory annual limits on elective deferrals to 401(k) plans. The calculator applies a fixed $24,500 ceiling per year to approximate modern statutory contribution caps.
Does this calculation account for investment fees or inflation?+
No, it assumes a constant nominal return rate. To account for fees or inflation, you can input a net rate of return (nominal return minus fee expense ratio and expected inflation rate).
Does the calculator save my information?+
Calculations run in your browser. While signed in, inputs and results are automatically recorded in account history; saving a result creates a separate saved record.
Further reading
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Results are estimates for informational purposes and are not financial, medical or legal advice.