401(k) Calculator: Project Your Retirement Savings and Employer Match
A 401(k) calculator helps you project how much your employer-sponsored retirement account could be worth by the time you retire. By entering your current age, planned retirement age, current 401(k) balance, annual salary, and contribution rate, you can see the long-term impact of consistent saving. The calculator runs a year-by-year projection, applying your expected annual return and adding both your contributions and any employer match to your growing balance.
One of the biggest advantages of a 401(k) is the employer match. Many companies match a percentage of your salary that you contribute, which is effectively free money added to your retirement savings. This calculator lets you set both your employee contribution percentage and your employer match percentage, so you can see exactly how much that match adds over the years. Even a modest match can significantly boost your final balance thanks to compounding.
Contributions to a traditional 401(k) are made with pre-tax dollars, lowering your taxable income today, while the money grows tax-deferred until withdrawal. The IRS sets an annual contribution limit that typically increases each year to account for inflation — the default value in this calculator reflects a recent US limit and is fully editable. Because these figures are US-oriented and updated yearly, you should verify the current limit, catch-up provisions, and matching rules with the IRS or your plan administrator before making decisions.
The real power of a 401(k) comes from decades of compounding. Starting early and contributing consistently allows even small amounts to grow into substantial sums. Use this tool to experiment with different contribution rates and retirement ages to find a plan that fits your goals. For a broader view of your finances, try our retirement calculator and our compound interest calculator to see how your investments grow over time.