401(k) Calculator
Project a 401(k) balance from your salary deferrals, employer match, pay growth, investment return and fees. Employee saving, employer contributions and investment growth appear separately so you can inspect what drives the result.
Your result
How the calculation works
Employee contribution = lesser of requested pay percentage, compensation and the modeled deferral cap. Employer match = match rate × lesser of employee contribution and eligible compensation × match threshold, subject to the combined contribution cap. Monthly contributions follow monthly growth. Net annual growth factor = (1 + gross return) × (1 − fee).
Worked example
With $80,000 salary, a 10% employee deferral and a 50% match on the first 6% of pay, the employee contributes $8,000 and the employer $2,400. At zero return and zero fees, one year adds $10,400; a $30,000 initial balance becomes $40,400.
Assumptions and limitations
2026 U.S. limits are held fixed throughout the projection: $24,500 regular deferrals; $8,000 catch-up from age 50, or $11,250 at ages 60–63; $360,000 match compensation cap; $72,000 regular combined contributions, excluding eligible catch-up. Age is age at year end. Match uses a single tier and contributions are deposited monthly at period end.
Plan terms determine whether catch-up and the illustrated match are available. This model assumes eligible catch-up, full immediate vesting, no loans or withdrawals and no other plan contributions. It does not determine Roth versus pre-tax treatment, employer true-ups, high-earner catch-up classification or individual tax liability. Pay rises are assumptions; future statutory limits and employer rules may change.
Sources and editorial responsibility
Maintained by Renvoro Pty Ltd. These mathematical estimates do not provide financial, tax, legal or investment advice.
Method reviewed 2026-10-08. Calculation standards · Report an issue