401(k) Calculator
Estimate how your current 401(k) savings, employee contributions, employer matching contributions, salary growth, and investment returns could grow toward retirement.
Calculate Your 401(k) Growth
Enter your current 401(k) balance, salary, contribution rate, employer match, expected investment return, and retirement timeline.
Retirement Timeline
Enter your current age and desired retirement age.
Current 401(k) Savings
Salary & Contributions
Investment Assumptions
401(k) Projection
Estimated 401(k) balance at your target retirement age.
| Current Age | — |
| Retirement Age | — |
| Years Until Retirement | — |
| Current 401(k) Balance | — |
| Current Annual Salary | — |
| Employee Contribution | — |
| Employer Match | — |
| Employer Match Limit | — |
| Expected Investment Return | — |
| Expected Inflation | — |
| Projected Balance in Today’s Money | — |
Step-by-Step Calculation
What Is a 401(k)?
A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings account commonly used to save for retirement. Employees can generally contribute part of their compensation, and some employers provide matching contributions.
How Does the 401(k) Calculator Work?
This calculator estimates the potential future value of a 401(k) by combining the current account balance, employee contributions, employer matching contributions, salary growth, and assumed investment returns.
Contributions are modeled monthly while salary growth and investment assumptions are applied over the projection period.
How Employer Matching Works
Employer matching programs can differ from one plan to another. A common structure is for an employer to match a percentage of employee contributions up to a specified percentage of salary.
Employee contribution = 6% of salary
Employer match = 50%
Employer match limit = 6% of salary
Maximum employer contribution = 6% × 50% = 3% of salary
Always check your employer’s actual 401(k) plan documents to understand its matching rules, eligibility requirements, vesting provisions, and contribution limits.
Why Salary Growth Matters
If your salary increases over time and your contribution is based on a percentage of salary, your future employee contributions may also increase. Employer matching contributions can increase as well when they are tied to salary.
Why Inflation Matters
A projected 401(k) balance many years from now may have less purchasing power than the same amount today. Inflation adjustment provides an additional way to view the projected balance in today’s money.
401(k) Calculator Example
Suppose you are 35 years old, have 50,000 in your 401(k), earn 75,000 per year, and contribute 6% of your salary. Your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary.
By adding your expected investment return, salary growth, inflation, and retirement age, you can estimate how your account could potentially grow over the remaining years.
Important 401(k) Planning Considerations
Actual retirement results depend on many factors, including investment performance, fees, contribution changes, employer matching rules, taxes, withdrawals, plan restrictions, salary changes, and market conditions.
The calculator provides an estimate rather than a guarantee of future investment performance.
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Important: This calculator is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, investment, retirement, or other professional advice. Results are estimates based on assumptions entered by the user and are not a guarantee of future investment performance or retirement outcomes. Actual returns, fees, taxes, contribution limits, employer matching rules, inflation, salary changes, withdrawals, and other factors may differ substantially. Always consider your individual circumstances and consult a qualified professional when appropriate before making important financial decisions.