401(k) Contribution Calculator

Leaving an employer match unclaimed by contributing less than the match threshold is effectively walking away from guaranteed compensation, a common example is a company matching 100% of contributions up to the first 5% of salary, meaning not contributing that 5% means forfeiting money your employer was ready to give you.

The IRS sets annual contribution limits on how much you can put into a 401(k) each year, and those limits get adjusted periodically for inflation, meaning the specific dollar cap you'd plug into long-term planning does shift gradually over time rather than staying fixed.

Enter your salary, your personal contribution percentage, your employer's match details, your current balance, and an expected annual return rate. The calculator projects your balance at retirement, showing the separate contributions from you, your employer, and accumulated growth.

This same compound growth math applies whether you're contributing to a traditional 401(k) with pre-tax dollars or a Roth 401(k) with after-tax dollars, the tax treatment differs but the underlying growth projection works identically either way. Pulling money out early, before retirement age, typically triggers both income tax and an additional penalty, a cost worth factoring into any decision to withdraw ahead of schedule. Your salary and savings details stay entirely private.