401(k) Retirement Calculator
See how your contributions, employer match, and investment returns grow your retirement savings over time.
Your retirement plan
Enter your details on the left to see your retirement projection.
What Is a 401(k) Retirement Savings Calculator?
A traditional 401(k) is one of the most effective ways to build your retirement savings because your contributions and earnings grow tax-deferred, meaning you only pay taxes when the money is withdrawn. Many plans also include employer matching contributions — essentially free money added to your account based on a percentage of what you contribute.
This calculator shows how your employer matching, your own contributions, and your investment earnings can work together to grow your retirement savings over time. Results update in real time as you type, so you can instantly see the impact of changing your contribution rate, retirement age, or expected return.
How to Use This Calculator
Fill in each field to get an accurate retirement projection. Here's what each field means:
Annual Salary
This is your yearly pay from your employer before taxes and deductions. Your contribution rate and company match are calculated based only on employer-paid salary — do not include income from other sources like freelance work or rental income.
Your Contribution Percentage
This is the percentage of your pay you choose to put into your 401(k) each year. Your contributions must stay within IRS annual limits. For 2025, the maximum employee contribution is $23,500. If you are age 50+, you can make a catch-up contribution of an additional $7,500. For ages 60–63, a special catch-up limit of $11,250 applies instead.
Employer Match & Match Limit
Employer match is the percentage of your contribution your employer matches. The match limit is the maximum percentage of your salary your employer will match, regardless of how much you contribute.
Annual Rate of Return
This is the estimated growth rate of your investments. The calculator compounds annually with monthly deposits. Broad U.S. market funds have historically delivered strong long-term growth but can experience significant short-term swings. More conservative options like bond funds tend to be more stable but generate smaller gains. A commonly used estimate for a balanced portfolio is 6–8% annually.
Inflation Rate
The inflation-adjusted value shows what your retirement balance will be worth in today's purchasing power. With 2.5% annual inflation over 30 years, $1,000,000 at retirement is equivalent to about $476,000 in today's dollars. This gives you a realistic picture of your future purchasing power.
IRS 401(k) Contribution Limits
| Contributor Type | 2025 Limit | 2026 Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee (under 50) | $23,500 | $24,500 | Standard limit |
| Catch-up (age 50+) | +$7,500 | +$8,000 | Additional contribution |
| Catch-up (age 60–63) | +$11,250 | TBD | Super catch-up provision |
| Total (employee + employer) | $70,000 | $73,500 | Combined limit |
Strategies to Maximize Your 401(k)
- Always contribute enough to get the full employer match — it's an immediate 50–100% return on that portion
- Increase contributions with every raise — if your salary goes up 3%, increase your contribution by 1%
- Use catch-up contributions if you're 50+ — the extra $7,500/year makes a significant difference
- Invest in low-cost index funds — even a 1% difference in fees can cost tens of thousands over 30 years
- Don't withdraw early — a 10% penalty plus income taxes can cost 30–40% of your withdrawal
- Rebalance annually — adjust your portfolio allocation to match your risk tolerance and timeline