401(k) Calculator
Project how large your 401(k) could grow by retirement, then see what it is really worth after inflation and how much monthly income it could provide. Enter your balance, salary, contribution rate and employer match (one or two tiers) to split your future nest egg into the money you paid in versus investment growth.
Formula
Worked example
A 30-year-old with $25,000 saved, earning $70,000 with 2% raises, contributing 8% with a 100% match up to 3% of salary, at a 7% return for 35 years, grows to roughly $1.5 million. After 2.5% inflation that is about $640,000 in today’s dollars, and drawn down to age 90 at 4% it supports around $6,300 a month.
How a 401(k) grows over time
A 401(k) combines three engines of growth: your own pre-tax contributions, your employer’s matching contributions, and the compound returns earned on the whole balance year after year. Each year your existing balance earns a return, then fresh contributions are added on top. Because returns compound on a growing base, the longest-invested dollars do the heaviest lifting, which is why starting early matters far more than the exact contribution rate. This calculator projects that year-by-year accumulation up to your chosen retirement age, then converts the result into today’s purchasing power so the number means something.
The employer match is the highest-return part
A typical employer match adds 50 cents to a dollar, or a full dollar, for every dollar you contribute, up to a percentage of your salary, often 3% to 6%. Many plans use two tiers, such as 100% on the first 3% and 50% on the next 2%, which this calculator models when you turn on the second tier. That match is an immediate, guaranteed return on the matched portion before markets do anything. Failing to contribute up to the match cap leaves free money on the table every paycheck, so the calculator highlights the contribution rate that captures it in full.
IRS limits, inflation and retirement income
The IRS caps how much you can defer each year. For 2026 the employee limit is $24,500, rising to $32,500 once you turn 50 thanks to catch-up contributions; the employer match does not count toward that cap. Leave the IRS cap toggle on and the calculator will stop your contributions at the limit in any year your salary times your rate would exceed it. Because a dollar in 40 years buys far less than a dollar today, the calculator also discounts your projected balance back to today’s dollars at your inflation assumption, and estimates the level monthly income that balance could provide if it were drawn down evenly to your life expectancy at a more conservative retirement return.
Why projections are estimates, not promises
Real returns vary from year to year, salaries rise unevenly, and IRS contribution limits, tax rules and inflation all shift over decades. This model assumes a steady average return, a constant raise and a fixed inflation rate, which smooths out the volatility you would actually experience. Treat the result as a planning guide for comparing scenarios, raising your contribution, retiring later, or assuming a lower return, rather than a precise forecast of your future account balance or retirement paycheck.
How contribution rate changes the outcome
| Your contribution | Annual deposit | Projected balance at 65 | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% of salary | $2,100 | ~$680,000 | Low |
| 6% of salary | $4,200 | ~$1,070,000 | Moderate |
| 10% of salary | $7,000 | ~$1,560,000 | High |
| 15% of salary | $10,500 | ~$2,200,000 | High |
Starting from $25,000 at age 30, $70,000 salary, 100% match up to 3%, 7% return, retiring at 65.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
It depends on your current balance, contribution rate, employer match, years invested and average return. Enter those values above and the calculator projects your balance year by year, splits it into contributions versus growth, and also shows it in today’s dollars after inflation.
How does the employer match work, including two tiers?
Most employers match a percentage of what you contribute, up to a cap based on your salary. A common single-tier formula is 100% up to 3% of salary. Two-tier plans add a second rate, such as 100% on the first 3% then 50% on the next 2%. Turn on the second tier above to model that exactly. Contributing less than the cap forfeits part of the free match.
What is the 2026 401(k) contribution limit?
For 2026 the employee elective-deferral limit is $24,500, or $32,500 if you are 50 or older thanks to the $8,000 catch-up. Your employer’s match does not count toward that limit. Leave the IRS cap toggle on and the calculator stops your contributions at the limit in years your salary times your rate would exceed it.
How much monthly income will my 401(k) provide?
Turn on retirement income and the calculator spreads your projected balance evenly from retirement age to your life expectancy, earning a conservative return along the way, and reports the level monthly amount. This is a planning estimate; real drawdowns depend on returns, taxes, Social Security and how long you live.
What return should I assume for a 401(k)?
A diversified stock-and-bond portfolio has historically averaged roughly 6% to 8% per year before inflation over long periods, though individual years vary widely. Using 7% while working and a lower rate such as 4% in retirement is a common middle-of-the-road assumption; lower them to test a more conservative scenario.