Financial Calculators
401(k) Calculator
Project a 401(k) balance using current savings, salary-based contributions, employer match, time, return, salary growth and inflation assumptions.
Estimate 401(k) growth
401(k) Calculator
Project employee savings, employer contributions, and investment growth using editable U.S. 401(k) planning assumptions.
Planning results
How this calculator works
Contributions are deposited at each month end. The entered effective annual return becomes a monthly rate: (1 + return)^(1/12) − 1. Salary and contribution increases occur on each annual anniversary. Percentage contributions follow salary; the optional increase additionally grows the annual contribution amount. A dollar override replaces the percentage calculation. Employer match = min(employee contribution, salary × match limit) × match percentage. An employer amount override replaces that match and grows with salary. The optional employee cap stays fixed and is a planning constraint, not a current IRS limit. Final annual contributions describe the last projected year (current annual amounts when retiring now). Taxes and withdrawal rules are not modeled. Contribution limits, matching rules, vesting, fees, taxes, and plan terms vary.
Results are estimates for planning purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, lending, or legal advice.
Your calculation is processed in your browser and is not stored by this tool.
The projection uses constant assumptions and does not provide investment, tax, legal or retirement-plan advice. Actual returns and plan rules vary.
How to use the 401(k) calculator
- 1
Enter current age, planned retirement age and existing 401(k) balance.
- 2
Add salary and the employee contribution percentage.
- 3
Enter employer match percentage and the salary percentage eligible for that match.
- 4
Set assumed investment return, salary growth, contribution growth and inflation.
- 5
Review projected balance, employee and employer deposits, investment growth and today’s-money value.
How the 401(k) projection works
The calculator estimates employee contributions as a percentage of salary and employer contributions under the match assumptions entered. It can use optional employee or employer overrides. The balance grows using an effective annual return converted to monthly growth, with contributions applied at the end of each month.
Salary and contribution assumptions can grow annually. The inflation-adjusted result then converts the projected nominal balance into an estimate of today’s purchasing power.
401(k) growth example
A worker age 30 plans to retire at 65 with a $25,000 starting balance and $70,000 salary. They contribute 8%, receive a 50% employer match on up to 6% of salary, and assume 6% return, 3% salary growth and 2.5% inflation. The model projects about $1.48 million nominally, or roughly $622,000 in today’s dollars.
In this illustration, employee deposits total about $338,588, employer deposits about $126,970 and modeled growth about $986,160. These are not promised outcomes.
How employer matching is handled
A 50% match up to 6% of salary means the employer contributes fifty cents for each eligible employee dollar, up to the match limit. Plan wording can be more complex, including vesting, pay-period restrictions and tiered formulas. Enter the simplified equivalent only after checking the plan document.
Contribution limits and tax treatment
The calculator does not infer the legal annual contribution limit for your age or calendar year. An optional limit can be entered, but you are responsible for using the correct current rule. Traditional and Roth 401(k) contributions may have different current-tax treatment, yet the growth calculation here does not model taxes on contributions, withdrawals or required distributions.
Important limitations
- Constant return: real investment performance changes and may be negative.
- Plan rules: vesting, fees, loans, withdrawals and catch-up eligibility are not modeled.
- No automatic limits: confirm current contribution rules with official sources or the plan administrator.
- Taxes: Roth versus traditional tax treatment and retirement withdrawals are excluded.
- No guarantee: projections are informational scenarios, not financial advice.
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401(k) Calculator FAQ
How does the calculator estimate employer match?
It applies the entered match percentage up to the entered salary-based match limit.
Does the calculator know the current 401(k) contribution limit?
No. Use the optional limit only after confirming the rule that applies to you.
Can it compare Roth and traditional 401(k) taxes?
No. The projection does not model current or future tax treatment.
Are 401(k) returns guaranteed?
No. The entered return is a constant assumption and actual investment performance varies.
Does it include 401(k) loans or withdrawals?
No. Loans, hardship withdrawals, penalties and required distributions are outside this model.
What is the today’s-money result?
It discounts the projected nominal balance by the inflation rate entered to estimate present purchasing power.
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