Employer match Year-by-year growth Tax-advantaged

401k Calculator

See how your 401k will grow over time — including your contributions, employer match, and investment returns. Find out how much your employer's match is really worth and whether you're on track for retirement.

Projected Balance —
Total Employer Match — Free money from your employer
Investment Growth —
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Your 401k details

Making the Most of Your 401k

Why 401k contributions matter

  • Tax advantages — Traditional 401k contributions reduce your taxable income today. A $6,000 contribution at a 22% tax rate saves $1,320 in taxes right now.
  • Compound growth — Money invested for 30 years at 7% grows roughly 7.6×. Starting early is the single most powerful thing you can do.
  • Employer match = 100% ROI — If your employer matches dollar-for-dollar up to 6%, contributing that 6% gives you an instant 100% return on that money before any market growth.
  • Automatic and painless — Contributions are deducted from your paycheck before you see them, making saving effortless.

How to maximize your 401k

  • Capture the full match first — Contribute at least up to your employer's match cap. Anything less leaves compensation on the table.
  • Increase 1% per year — Each time you get a raise, bump your contribution rate by 1%. You won't miss money you never had in your paycheck.
  • Choose low-cost index funds — A 1% expense ratio difference can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over 30 years.
  • Consider a Roth 401k if available — If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, paying taxes now via Roth can be advantageous.

2025 401k contribution limits

Under age 50: $23,500  |  Age 50+ (catch-up): $31,000
  • These limits apply to your elective deferrals — employer contributions are on top of this.
  • The combined limit (your contributions + employer contributions) is $70,000 for 2025.
  • If you're behind on retirement savings, the catch-up contribution lets those 50+ contribute an extra $7,500 per year.

Understanding investment returns

  • ~10% nominal — the US stock market's long-run average annual return before inflation.
  • ~7% real — after adjusting for roughly 3% annual inflation, a common planning assumption.
  • Use 5–6% for a conservative projection; 7% for moderate; 8–10% for optimistic.
  • Actual returns vary year to year — these are long-run averages that smooth out volatility.

Retirement Calculator

Project how long your retirement savings will last based on withdrawals, Social Security, and spending needs.

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Savings Goal Calculator

Calculate how long it will take to reach a savings goal or what monthly contribution you need to get there.

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CAGR Calculator

Calculate the compound annual growth rate of an investment over any time period.

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FAQ

How does the 401k employer match work?

A 401k employer match is money your employer adds to your retirement account based on how much you contribute. A common structure is "100% match up to 6% of your salary" — if you earn $75,000 and contribute at least 6% ($4,500), your employer also adds $4,500 per year at no cost to you. Some employers match 50 cents on the dollar instead. Always contribute at least enough to capture your full employer match, as leaving it unclaimed is leaving part of your compensation on the table.

How much should I contribute to my 401k?

At a minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match — that's an instant 50–100% return on that money. Beyond the match, aim for a total savings rate of 15% of your gross income (including the employer match). If 15% isn't immediately achievable, start lower and increase your contribution by 1% each year, especially after raises. Time in the market matters more than the exact amount — starting early, even at a small percentage, produces far better outcomes than delaying.

What is the 401k contribution limit for 2025?

For 2025, the IRS limits employee 401k elective deferrals to $23,500 for those under age 50. If you are 50 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500, for a total of $31,000. These limits apply to both traditional and Roth 401k contributions combined. Employer matching contributions are separate and do not count toward the employee limit. The overall combined limit (employee + employer contributions) is $70,000.

What return rate should I use for my 401k projection?

The US stock market has historically returned about 10% per year nominally, or about 7% per year after adjusting for inflation. For planning purposes, 7% is a widely used inflation-adjusted assumption. Use 5–6% for a conservative scenario, 7% for a moderate base case, or 8–10% for an optimistic scenario. Keep in mind that actual annual returns vary significantly — these figures represent long-run averages. The more diversified your portfolio and the longer your time horizon, the more these averages tend to hold.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. Nothing is ever sent to a server, stored in a database, or transmitted anywhere. You can use this tool with complete privacy.