401(k) Calculator

It uses compound interest to project your balance at retirement, combining your existing balance, monthly contributions from both you and your employer, and the expected annual investment return. Growth is compounded monthly for accuracy.

Many employers match a percentage of your contributions up to a limit of your salary. For example, a 50% match up to 6% of salary means if you contribute 6%, your employer adds 3% — effectively free money that instantly doubles your return on those dollars.

At minimum, contribute enough to get the full employer match — anything less is leaving free money behind. A common guideline is to save 10–15% of your income for retirement (including the employer match). If you can afford more, increasing contributions early has an outsized effect due to compound growth.

The IRS limit for 2025 is $23,500 for employee contributions (under age 50). Workers aged 50 and older can add a $7,500 catch-up contribution for a total of $31,000. The combined employee + employer limit is $70,000.