How is employer match calculated?

The tool matches your employer's match rate applied to whichever is smaller: your contribution percentage or the employer's match cap percentage, multiplied by your salary each year.

What is a typical employer match?

A common structure is 50% match up to 6% of salary, meaning the employer contributes 3% of salary if you contribute at least 6% — but this varies widely by employer.

Is this projection guaranteed?

No. It is a mathematical projection based on your assumed rate of return, not a guaranteed outcome — actual investment returns vary year to year.

What is the current 401(k) contribution limit?

The IRS elective deferral limit is shown in the tool as a reference note and updates each tax year — it is not enforced by the calculator itself.

Does this account for catch-up contributions after age 50?

No, this version projects standard contributions only. Add extra manually to your contribution percentage if you plan to make catch-up contributions.

Should I include expected salary growth?

Yes, if you expect regular raises — leaving it at 0% will understate your likely contribution growth over a long career.

Does this account for taxes on withdrawal?

No. This models pre-tax account growth only. See the Roth vs. Traditional comparison for after-tax outcomes.

Can I model an aggressive or conservative return assumption?

Yes, adjust the expected return field to run optimistic, moderate, or conservative growth scenarios side by side.

401(k) / Retirement Growth Calculator

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

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Current AgeRetirement AgeCurrent 401(k) BalanceAnnual SalaryYour Contribution %Expected Annual Return %Employer Match Rate %Employer Match Cap (% of salary)Annual Salary Growth %

Projected Balance

1306794.81

Your Contributions

209976.81

Employer Match

104988.40

Projected balance by year

2026 IRS employee elective deferral limit: 24,500. This calculator does not enforce contribution limits.

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About 401(k) / Retirement Growth Calculator

401(k) / Retirement Growth Calculator projects your retirement account balance from your current age to retirement using year-by-year compounding, explicitly modeling employer match rather than treating contributions as one lump growth number. Enter your current balance, salary, employee contribution percentage, employer match rate and cap, expected annual return, and optional salary growth rate. The projection separates your own contributions, employer match, and investment growth so you can see exactly where your final balance comes from — a distinction general compound-interest tools don't show. The current-year IRS elective deferral limit is shown as a reference note.

Key Features

Explicit Employer Match Modeling
Calculates employer match based on a configurable match rate and cap, not just a flat contribution boost.
Year-by-Year Compounding
Projects balance year by year from current age to retirement age rather than a single lump-sum formula.
Optional Salary Growth
Models rising contributions over time if you expect annual raises.
Contributions vs Growth Breakdown
Separates your contributions, employer match, and investment growth in the final summary.
Yearly Detail Table
Expandable table shows contribution, employer match, and balance for every year until retirement.
IRS Contribution Limit Reference
Displays the current-year 401(k) elective deferral limit for context — not enforced, since actual limits depend on your plan.

How to Use

1
Enter your age and retirement age
Input your current age and the age you plan to retire or stop contributing.
2
Enter balance and salary
Add your current 401(k) balance and current annual salary.
3
Set contribution and match details
Enter your contribution percentage plus your employer's match rate and cap.
4
Set expected return and salary growth
Input your expected annual investment return and optional yearly salary growth rate.
5
Review your projected balance
Check the projected balance, your contributions, and employer match in the summary, then open the yearly table for detail.

Real-World Use Cases

Employer Match Optimization

An employee tests whether raising their contribution to the full match cap meaningfully changes their retirement balance.

Retirement Readiness Check

Someone in their 40s projects their balance at 65 to see if they are on track against a personal savings goal.

Raise Impact Planning

A worker models how an expected annual raise compounds into a larger retirement balance over 20+ years.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Calculate US federal income tax by bracket, filing status, and taxable income.

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