About the 401(k) Calculator
A 401(k) is most people's biggest retirement tool, and the employer match is free money. This calculator projects your balance at retirement from your contribution rate, your employer's match, and long-run growth — and separates how much came from you, your employer, and compounding.
How it’s calculated
Monthly contributions (your percent of salary plus the employer match) are invested each month and grow at the expected return until retirement, using the standard future-value-with-contributions formula.
Example calculation
On a $75,000 salary contributing 8% with a 4% match, starting from $40,000 at a 7% return, a 35-year-old could reach roughly $1.2 million by 65.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I contribute?
At least enough to capture the full employer match — it's an immediate, guaranteed return. Beyond that, contributing 10–15% of income toward retirement is a common target.
What's the contribution limit?
The IRS sets an annual employee limit that rises most years (with an extra catch-up amount at 50+). This calculator flags the current limit; verify the latest figure.
Retirement projections are estimates based on the assumptions you enter and do not guarantee future outcomes. Contribution limits and tax rules change over time — verify current figures and consider speaking with a financial professional.