How it works
Estimate the growth of your 401(k) retirement savings, including employer matching contributions.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?salary=Annual SalaryNumber · Optional · Default: 80,000
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?contributionPercent=Your ContributionNumber · Optional · Default: 10
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?returnRate=Annual ReturnNumber · Optional · Default: 7
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?currentBalance=Current BalanceNumber · Optional · Default: 50,000
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?years=Years to GrowNumber · Optional · Default: 30
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?salaryIncrease=Annual Salary IncreaseNumber · Optional · Default: 2
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?employerMatch=Match % of ContributionNumber · Optional · Default: 50
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?matchLimit=Match Limit (% of Salary)Number · Optional · Default: 6
Outputs
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resultResultText · Primary output
result contains the calculator’s complete rendered result area, including its visible result cards, tables, charts, and messages.
Estimate your employer-matched retirement growth
Description
The 401k Calculator is specifically designed to model the growth of employer-sponsored retirement accounts. It uniquely accounts for employer matching contributions—essentially “free money”—alongside your own contributions and expected investment returns.
Inputs
- Annual Salary: Your current yearly gross pay ($).
- Your Contribution: The percentage of your salary you contribute to the 401(k) each period (%).
- Annual Return: The expected annual rate of return on your 401(k) investments (%).
- Current Balance: The total amount already saved in your 401(k) ($).
- Years to Grow: The number of years until you plan to retire or withdraw the funds.
- Annual Salary Increase: The expected annual percentage increase in your salary (%).
- Match % of Contribution: The percentage of your contribution that your employer matches (e.g., 50%).
- Match Limit (% of Salary): The maximum percentage of your salary that the employer will match (e.g., up to 6%).
Outputs
- Projected 401(k) Balance: The estimated total value of the account at the end of the term.
- Your Contributions: The total sum of money you personally contributed over the years.
- Employer Match: The total sum of money contributed by your employer through matching.
Chart
- Growth Over Time Area Chart: Displays the trajectory of your “Total Balance,” “Your Contrib,” and the “Employer Match” as separate layers.
“Good to Know”
- Always try to contribute at least enough to get the full employer match; it is a 100% return on that portion of your investment.
- The 401(k) contribution limits are set annually by the IRS; ensure your total contributions stay within these legal bounds.
- Small annual salary increases have a significant compound effect on your total 401(k) balance over several decades.
Examples
Example 1: Standard Corporate Match
- Input:
- Salary: $80,000, Contrib: 10%, Return: 7%
- Current Bal: $50,000, Years: 30, Sal Inc: 2%
- Match: 50% of first 6%
- Output:
- Project Balance: ~$1.4M
- Employer Match: ~$145,000
Example 2: Aggressive Saver (Maxing Match)
- Input:
- Salary: $100,000, Contrib: 15%, Return: 8%
- Current Bal: $10,000, Years: 25, Sal Inc: 3%
- Match: 100% of first 4%
- Output:
- Project Balance: ~$2.1M
- Employer Match: ~$145,000
Example 3: Late Starter
- Input:
- Salary: $60,000, Contrib: 20%, Return: 6%
- Current Bal: $0, Years: 15, Sal Inc: 2%
- Match: 50% of first 4%
- Output:
- Project Balance: ~$325,000
- Employer Match: ~$20,000