Free 401(k) Calculator — Including Employer Match

Enter your salary, contribution percentage, employer match, and expected return to see your projected 401(k) balance and estimated monthly retirement income.

This free 401(k) calculator factors in your employer match — the single most valuable and most overlooked retirement benefit — and uses the standard future value formula to project your balance at retirement. See exactly how much "free money" you are leaving on the table. No sign-up required.

Enter Your 401(k) Details

Annual Salary

Your gross annual income

Your Contribution %

% of salary you contribute (IRS 2026 limit: $23,500)

Employer Match %

Employer matches X% of your contribution

Match Limit (% of Salary)

Match applies up to this % of your salary

Current 401(k) Balance

How much is in your 401(k) today

Years Until Retirement

yrs

How many years until you retire

Expected Annual Return

Default 7% (inflation-adjusted)

What Is a 401(k) Calculator?

A 401(k) calculatorprojects your employer-sponsored retirement account balance at retirement, factoring in your contribution rate, your employer's matching formula, and the power of tax-deferred compound growth over time.

The biggest lever in a 401(k) is the employer match — effectively a 50–100% instant return on every dollar you contribute up to the match limit. On a $75,000 salary with a 50% match up to 6%, your employer adds $2,250/year to your account at no cost to you. Compounded at 7% for 30 years, that free $2,250/year becomes $226,000.

The 2026 IRS employee contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 for age 50+). Pre-tax 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar — contributing $10,000 to a 401(k) saves $2,200 in federal income tax at the 22% bracket. Pair this with the retirement calculator and the Roth IRA calculator to model your full retirement strategy.

How to Use This 401(k) Calculator

1
Enter Your Annual Salary
Use your gross (pre-tax) salary. This determines the dollar value of your contribution percentage and employer match. If you expect raises, use your current salary — future raises will only improve the outcome.
2
Set Your Contribution Percentage
Enter what percentage of your salary you contribute to your 401(k). The IRS 2026 maximum is $23,500/year. A common starting point is 6% to capture a typical full employer match, then increase by 1% per year until you reach 15%.
3
Enter Your Employer Match Details
Enter the match percentage your employer contributes and the salary cap on that match. Example: "50% match on up to 6%" means your employer adds $0.50 for every $1 you put in, up to 6% of your salary. Some employers offer 100% match up to 4%.
4
Set Years to Retirement and Expected Return
Enter how many years until you plan to retire. For return rate, use 7% for an inflation-adjusted projection or 10% for a nominal projection. The calculator compounds monthly to match typical 401(k) contribution schedules.

401(k) Contribution & Growth Formula

Employee Annual = min(Salary × Rate, IRS Limit of $23,500)

Example: $75,000 salary × 6% = $4,500/year employee contribution (well under the $23,500 limit).

Employer Annual = min(Employee × MatchPct, Salary × MatchLimit)

Example: 50% match on up to 6% of $75,000: Employer = min($4,500 × 50%, $75,000 × 6%) = $2,250/year.

FV = PMT_total × [((1 + r/12)^12t − 1) / (r/12)]

Where PMT_total = (employee + employer) / 12 per month. At $6,750/year total and 7% for 30 years: FV = $682,576.

Real-World 401(k) Examples

See how salary, match, and time determine your 401(k) outcome.

Standard: $75K Salary, 6% Contribution, 50% Match up to 6%, 30 Years at 7%

Employee contributes $4,500/year; employer adds $2,250/year for a total of $6,750/year. At 7% for 30 years, this grows to $682,576. Of that, $202,500 is your own contributions, $101,250 is employer money, and $378,826 is pure investment growth. Monthly income at 4%: $2,275/month.

High Earner: $120K Salary, 15% Contribution, 100% Match up to 4%, 25 Years at 7%

Employee contributes $18,000/year (15% of $120K, capped below IRS limit); employer adds $4,800/year (100% of 4%). Total: $22,800/year at 7% for 25 years grows to $1,502,931. Total deposited: $570,000. Investment growth: $932,931. Monthly retirement income at 4%: $5,010/month.

Young Starter: Age 25, $50K Salary, $200/month, 7% for 40 Years

Investing just $200/month starting at age 25 at 7% return for 40 years grows to $524,972. Total contributions: $96,000. Investment growth: $428,972. This shows that even a modest early contribution — less than 5% of a $50K salary — builds a half-million-dollar nest egg purely through compound growth over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings account that lets you invest pre-tax income — reducing your taxable income today. In 2026, you can contribute up to $23,500/year ($31,000 if age 50+). Investments grow tax-deferred until withdrawal in retirement, when they are taxed as ordinary income.

How does employer 401(k) match work?

Employer match is free money added to your 401(k) based on your contribution. A common formula is "50% match on up to 6% of salary" — meaning if you earn $80,000 and contribute 6% ($4,800), your employer adds $2,400. To capture the full match, you must contribute at least the match threshold.

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?

2026 IRS 401(k) limits: $23,500 employee contribution limit (up from $23,000 in 2024). Age 50+ catch-up contribution: $7,500 extra, for a total of $31,000. Combined employer + employee limit: $70,000. These limits apply per plan — if you have two 401(k) plans, the employee limit is shared across both.

Should I contribute enough to get the full employer match?

Yes — always contribute at least enough to capture the full employer match. It is an immediate 50–100% return on your contribution. Missing the full match on a $80,000 salary with a 50% match up to 6% costs you $2,400/year — which at 7% for 25 years equals a lost $164,000 in retirement savings.

What is a good 401(k) return rate to assume?

7% annually (inflation-adjusted) or 10% (nominal) are the standard assumptions for a diversified 401(k) invested in broad stock index funds. For a balanced 60/40 stock/bond allocation, 5–6% is more conservative. Target-date retirement funds typically return 6–8% annually over long horizons.

How much should I have in my 401(k) at age 40?

3× your annual salary by age 40 is Fidelity's benchmark — so $180,000 on a $60,000 salary. Vanguard recommends 2.5–3.5× by 40. On a $100,000 salary, the target is $250,000–$350,000 by 40. If you are behind, maximizing contributions and capturing the full employer match are the highest-leverage actions.

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