401k Calculator

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Your 401k Details

Current Balance ($)

Enter 0 if just starting

Annual Salary ($)

Your Contribution (%)

% of salary you contribute

Employer Match (%)

% of salary employer adds

Years to Retirement

Annual Return (%)

7% is a common conservative estimate

Annual Salary Growth (%)

Expected annual raise. 2% matches typical inflation.

Projected Balance at Retirement

Total 401k Balance

Your contributions Employer match Investment growth

Your Total Contributions $0

Employer Match Total $0

Investment Growth $0

Current Year Contribution $0

How 401k Compound Growth Works

A 401k grows through three sources: your contributions, your employer's match, and investment returns on all of it. The power is compounding — returns on returns, year after year. Time in the market matters more than any other variable.

2026 401k Contribution Limits

Employee limit: $23,500 (up from $23,000 in 2025)
Age 50+ catch-up: +$7,500 (total $31,000)
Ages 60–63 super catch-up: +$11,250 (total $34,750)
Combined employee + employer limit: $70,000 ($77,500 with age-50+ catch-up)

Employer Match — Never Leave It Behind

Employer match is an immediate 50–100% return on your contribution, before any market gains. A 4% match on a $75,000 salary is $3,000/year in free compensation. Over 30 years at 7% growth, that $3,000/year in match alone compounds to over $285,000.

Traditional vs. Roth 401k

Traditional: contributions reduce taxable income now, withdrawals taxed later. Roth: contributions from after-tax dollars, withdrawals tax-free. Early-career workers in low tax brackets usually benefit from Roth. Higher earners typically benefit more from traditional's current-year deduction. Both types are subject to the same contribution limits.