Your contributions
$357,000 28.4%401k Calculator
Estimate your 401(k) balance at retirement using your salary, contributions, employer match, current balance, and return assumptions. This is an estimate; future results can vary.
Your Information & Assumptions
Projected Results
All amounts in today’s dollars iProjected 401(k) balance at age 65
$1,256,000
Years to retirement
35
years
Employer match
$133,000 10.6%Investment growth
$766,000 61.0%Total projected
$1,256,000 100%Projected 401(k) balance over time
This projection is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Future results can vary.
How to use
- 1 Enter your current information and assumptions.
- 2 Click Update Estimate to see your projected results.
- 3 Adjust inputs to see how changes may affect your outcome.
Examples
Sample results with different savings rates using the current assumptions.
Save 6%$906,000
Save 10%$1,501,000
Save 15%$2,286,000
Save 20%$3,071,000
View more examples →
Review assumptions
These assumptions have a big impact on your results. Review regularly.
- Expected return: 7%
- Salary increase: 3%
- Retirement age: 65
- Inflation not included
FAQ
Many people start by contributing enough to receive the full employer match, then increase the percentage when possible.
Employer match rules vary by plan. This calculator estimates match using the match percentage and match limit you enter.
Use a conservative long-term assumption and review it regularly. Future returns can vary.
No. This estimate does not model taxes, fees, withdrawals, or plan-specific rules.
Contribution limits can change by year and may include catch-up rules. Check current IRS and plan information.
No. The 401k calculator is an educational estimate based on the assumptions you enter. Review plan rules and consult a qualified professional for personal guidance.
What this 401k calculator estimates
This 401k calculator estimates how your retirement savings could grow from today until your selected retirement age. It combines your current 401(k) balance, annual salary, employee contribution percentage, employer match formula, salary increase, and expected annual return. The projected balance is not a plan statement; it is a planning estimate that helps you compare contribution choices and review assumptions.
The result panel separates your own contributions, estimated employer match, and hypothetical investment growth so you can see which assumptions have the largest effect. If you are comparing this page with a retirement calculator or a 401k contribution calculator, keep the same current age, retirement age, annual return, and salary growth assumptions before comparing results.
For many users, the most useful takeaway is not one final number but the direction of change. Increasing a contribution percentage, working longer, or receiving a stronger employer match can shift the projected balance substantially. Use the estimate to test scenarios, then review whether the assumptions still match your budget, plan rules, and risk tolerance.
How employer match changes the projection
Employer match is often one of the most important inputs in a 401k calculator with employer match. A common formula is a partial match, such as 50% of your contribution up to 6% of salary, but every plan can define the match differently. This calculator uses the match percentage and match limit you enter to estimate the employer contribution each year.
If your plan uses a tiered match, vesting schedule, profit-sharing contribution, or annual true-up, treat the result as a simplified estimate. Review your plan rules before relying on the employer match number, especially when deciding whether to increase your contribution percentage.
Assumptions to review before using the result
A 401k growth calculator is sensitive to small assumption changes. Annual return, salary increase, contribution percentage, retirement age, and current balance can all move the projected balance. The chart is designed to make compound growth easier to review, but it does not model market volatility, taxes, investment fees, withdrawals, loans, required minimum distributions, or changing contribution limits.
For Roth 401(k) planning, traditional 401(k) tax treatment, catch-up contributions, or plan-specific investment choices, use this estimate as a starting point and compare it with your plan documents. The 401k calculator should help you ask better questions, not replace personal financial planning.
When to update your estimate
Revisit this 401k calculator after salary changes, contribution changes, plan match changes, or major portfolio allocation changes. A 401k investment calculator can only reflect the numbers entered at the time, so old assumptions may become less useful as your plan or household budget changes.
If you use a Roth 401k calculator, retirement planning calculator, or spreadsheet alongside this estimate, compare the same retirement age, annual return, contribution percentage, and employer match. Consistent inputs make the projected balance easier to review and help you spot where different tools use different assumptions.