401(k) Calculator
- Updated
- Formula shown
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Results
Your 401(k) could grow to $1,488,348 by age 67: $393,771 from you, $118,131 from your employer and $946,446 of growth
- Current balance
- $30,000
- Your contributions
- $393,771
- Employer contributions
- $118,131
- Growth
- $946,446
| Year | Age | Salary | You | Employer | Growth | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | $75,000 | $7,500 | $2,250 | $2,065 | $41,815 |
| 2027 | 36 | $77,250 | $7,725 | $2,318 | $2,782 | $54,640 |
| 2028 | 37 | $79,568 | $7,957 | $2,387 | $3,560 | $68,544 |
| 2029 | 38 | $81,955 | $8,195 | $2,459 | $4,403 | $83,600 |
| 2030 | 39 | $84,413 | $8,441 | $2,532 | $5,315 | $99,889 |
| 2031 | 40 | $86,946 | $8,695 | $2,608 | $6,301 | $117,492 |
| 2032 | 41 | $89,554 | $8,955 | $2,687 | $7,366 | $136,501 |
| 2033 | 42 | $92,241 | $9,224 | $2,767 | $8,516 | $157,008 |
| 2034 | 43 | $95,008 | $9,501 | $2,850 | $9,757 | $179,116 |
| 2035 | 44 | $97,858 | $9,786 | $2,936 | $11,093 | $202,931 |
Limits are the IRS figures for 2026 (IR-2025-111) and apply across all your 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans. The return is an assumption; real returns vary and can be negative.
How to use the 401(k) calculator
- Enter your age, the age you plan to retire and your current 401(k) balance.
- Enter your salary, how much you expect it to rise each year and what percentage you contribute, or choose the IRS maximum.
- Enter your employer's match, for example 50% of your contributions on the first 6% of pay. Your plan's summary plan description gives the exact formula.
- Set an assumed return and an inflation rate. Inflation shows the balance in today's money and raises the IRS limits in later years.
401(k) contribution and growth formula
Employer match = m × min(your contribution, L × pay)
Balancemonth = Balance × (1 + i) + (yours + match) ÷ 12
i = (1 + R)1/12 − 1
c is your contribution rate, m the match rate (50% = 0.5) and L the share of pay the match applies to. Pay is capped at the 2026 compensation limit of $360,000, and your regular contribution plus the match cannot exceed the $72,000 total-additions limit. Each year's contributions go in monthly, and the balance grows at the assumed yearly return R. Future limits rise with inflation in the IRS's $500 steps, never below the 2026 figures.
2026 401(k) contribution limits
| Age in 2026 | Your limit | Of which catch-up |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | $0.00 |
| 50 to 59, or 64 and over | $32,500 | $8,000 |
| 60 to 63 | $35,750 | $11,250 |
The base limit is $24,500 for 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan. Catch-ups depend on the age you reach by December 31. The SECURE 2.0 Act added the higher catch-up of $11,250 for people who turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in the year. From 2026, if your prior-year wages from the employer were over $150,000, catch-ups must be Roth contributions. Sources: IRS News Release IR-2025-111 (Notice 2025-67), the IRS COLA table and IRS catch-up rules, checked October 19, 2026.
Worked example
You are 35, earn $75,000 with 3% raises, have $30,000 in the plan and contribute 10%. Your employer matches 50% of the first 6%. At an assumed 6% return and 2.5% inflation:
- In 2026 you put in $7,500 and your employer adds $2,250.
- By 67 the balance reaches $1,488,348 ($675,369 in today's money): $393,771 of your contributions, $118,131 from your employer and $946,446 of growth.
- Contributing only 4% would cut the match to 2% of pay and the final balance to $791,177, $697,171 less.
Balance at 67 by contribution rate and return
Same example, 50% match on the first 6%. Returns are illustrations, not predictions.
| You contribute | 5% return | 6% return | 7% return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% of pay | $520,881 | $641,783 | $795,955 |
| 6% of pay | $898,814 | $1,089,965 | $1,330,452 |
| 10% of pay | $1,234,754 | $1,488,348 | $1,805,561 |
| 15% of pay | $1,654,679 | $1,986,327 | $2,399,446 |
Tips for getting more from a 401(k)
- Get the full match first. A match is part of your pay. Contributing below the matched rate leaves it unclaimed.
- Check the vesting schedule. Employer money may vest over several years, so leaving early can forfeit part of it. Your own contributions are always yours.
- Watch fund fees. A 1% yearly fee compounds against you for decades. Compare the costs in the mutual fund calculator.
- Traditional or Roth? Traditional contributions cut your tax now and are taxed when withdrawn; Roth contributions are taxed now and come out tax-free in retirement if the rules are met. The $24,500 limit covers both types together.
- See the whole picture. Combine the result with Social Security and other savings in the retirement calculator, and add an IRA with the IRA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The IRS limit on your own 401(k) contributions is $24,500 for 2026. If you are 50 or older by the end of the year you can add a $8,000 catch-up ($32,500 in all), and if you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2026 the catch-up is $11,250 instead ($35,750 in all).
How does a 50% match up to 6% work?
Your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, on contributions up to 6% of your pay. On a $75,000 salary, contributing 6% or more ($4,500) earns a $2,250 match. Contributing 4% ($3,000) earns only $1,500.
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
As an illustration, a 35-year-old earning $75,000 with 3% raises, $30,000 saved and 10% contributions with a 50% match on the first 6% would have about $1,488,348 at 67 at an assumed 6% return. That is about $675,369 in today’s money at 2.5% inflation.
Does the employer match count toward the $24,500 limit?
No. The $24,500 limit covers only your own pre-tax and Roth contributions. Employer contributions fall under a separate total limit of $72,000 for 2026, which includes your regular contributions but not catch-ups.
Who must make Roth catch-up contributions?
From 2026, if your wages from the employer sponsoring the plan were more than $150,000 in the previous year, any catch-up contributions you make must be Roth (after-tax) contributions. People at or below that level can still choose pre-tax catch-ups if the plan allows.