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401(k) Calculator (US)

Project your 401(k) balance at retirement from your salary, contribution rate, employer match, salary growth, and expected investment return — with the IRS contribution limit applied automatically for your age.

years old
years old
$
$
% of salary
%

e.g. 50 means your employer adds $0.50 per $1 you contribute

% of salary

Employer only matches contributions up to this percent of salary

%
%
Balance at Retirement
$1,686,627
Total Employer Match
$136,040
Est. Monthly Income (4% rule)
$5,622.09
Contributing 6.0% of your salary from age 30 to 65, with an employer match of $136,040 in total, projects to a balance of $1,686,627 at retirement — of which $1,253,508 is investment growth. At a 4% withdrawal rate, that supports roughly $5,622.09 a month in retirement income.
Balance at Retirement$1,686,627

Year-by-Year Projection

401(k) balance projection by age, including contributions, employer match, and growth
AgeSalaryYour ContributionEmployer MatchGrowthEnding Balance
31$75,000.00$4,500.00$2,250.00$2,222.50$33,972.50
32$77,250.00$4,635.00$2,317.50$2,864.75$43,789.75
33$79,567.50$4,774.05$2,387.03$3,566.56$54,517.38
34$81,954.53$4,917.27$2,458.64$4,332.53$66,225.82
35$84,413.16$5,064.79$2,532.39$5,167.61$78,990.62
36$86,945.56$5,216.73$2,608.37$6,077.10$92,892.82
37$89,553.92$5,373.24$2,686.62$7,066.69$108,019.35
38$92,240.54$5,534.43$2,767.22$8,142.47$124,463.47
39$95,007.76$5,700.47$2,850.23$9,310.99$142,325.16
40$97,857.99$5,871.48$2,935.74$10,579.27$161,711.65

How the projection works

Each year, your contribution and any employer match are added to your balance, then the whole balance grows at your assumed investment return. Your salary — and so your dollar contribution — grows each year at the rate you set.

For example, a 30-year-old earning $75,000, contributing 6% with a 50% match up to 6% of salary, growing at 7% a year, reaches $1,686,627 by age 65 — supporting an estimated $5,622.09 a month in retirement income at a 4% withdrawal rate.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

A common rule of thumb is to contribute at least enough to get your full employer match — that's a guaranteed return on top of your own savings. Many financial planners suggest aiming for 10–15% of salary (including any match) for a comfortable retirement.

What is the 401(k) contribution limit?

For 2026, the IRS elective deferral limit is $23,500 for most savers, $31,000 if you're 50 or older, and $34,750 if you're between 60 and 63 thanks to the SECURE 2.0 enhanced catch-up. This calculator applies the correct limit automatically based on your age each year.

How does employer matching work?

Employers typically match a percentage of what you contribute, up to a cap expressed as a percent of salary — for example, 50% of your contribution up to 6% of salary. Contributing less than the match limit leaves free money on the table.

Is this calculator for Traditional or Roth 401(k)?

This calculator projects account growth in dollar terms, which applies to both Traditional (pre-tax) and Roth (after-tax) 401(k)s. The difference is purely in when you pay tax: Traditional contributions reduce your taxable income now and are taxed on withdrawal; Roth contributions are taxed now and grow tax-free.