401(k) Retirement Calculator
See how your 401(k) could grow by retirement. Enter your age, salary, contribution percentage, employer match and expected return — the projected balance, employer match, and investment growth update as you type, with a year-by-year breakdown.
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Show year-by-year breakdown
| Age | Your contribution | Employer match | Growth | Balance |
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How to use the 401(k) retirement calculator
Enter your current age and the age you plan to retire, along with your current 401(k) balance and annual salary. Set your contribution as a percentage of salary, then your employer match (100% means a full dollar-for-dollar match) and the match cap — the share of salary your employer will match up to. Add your expected annual return and an optional salary growth rate. The projection updates instantly — there's no button to press and nothing is sent anywhere.
The big number is your projected balance at retirement. Below it you'll see how much came from your own contributions, how much your employer match added, and how much is investment growth compounding on top.
Employer match (optional). If your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary, set the match to 50 and the cap to 6. Contributing at least up to the cap captures the full match — money you'd otherwise leave on the table.
Everything runs in your browser — the numbers you type are never uploaded. These figures are estimates based on a fixed return, not financial advice; real returns, salaries, and contribution limits vary.
Common 401(k) questions
How does a 401(k) employer match work? An employer match means your company adds money to your 401(k) based on what you contribute. A common match is 100% of your contributions up to a cap, such as 6% of your salary. If you earn $60,000 and contribute at least 6%, the employer adds 6% of $60,000 — $3,600 — on top of your own contributions.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)? A common guideline is to contribute at least enough to get the full employer match, since that match is free money. Many people aim for 10% to 15% of salary including the match. Enter different percentages above to see the long-term impact on your projected balance.
What return should I assume for a 401(k)? Historical long-term stock-market returns have averaged roughly 7% to 10% a year before inflation, but returns vary year to year and are never guaranteed. A 6% to 7% assumption is a common, moderately conservative estimate for projections.
Does this 401(k) calculator account for salary growth? Yes. You can enter an optional annual salary growth percentage, and the calculator increases your salary each year. Because your contributions and employer match are a percentage of salary, both grow as your salary does.
How is the projected balance calculated? Each year, your contribution and employer match are added to the balance, and the whole balance earns your expected annual return. This repeats every year from your current age to your retirement age, compounding the growth — exactly what the year-by-year table shows.