See how much your 401(k) could grow with your employer match, and how each contribution changes your paycheck. The calculator uses the 2026 contribution limits, your match formula and your state’s taxes to show your balance at retirement and the real cost per paycheck.
| Age | Money put in | Balance |
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Know More: How the 401(k) Calculator Works
Updated for 2026. The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500, with an $8,000 catch-up at age 50 and older and an $11,250 catch-up at ages 60 to 63 (IRS announcement). The same limits apply to 403(b) plans, most 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan.
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How a 401(k) works
A 401(k) is a workplace retirement account. You choose a percentage of each paycheck to put in, your employer may add a matching contribution, and the money is invested, usually in mutual funds or target-date funds, until you retire.
- Traditional 401(k): contributions come out of your pay before income tax, so your tax bill drops now. You pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement.
- Growth: investment gains aren't taxed while they stay in the account.
- Withdrawals: generally allowed without a penalty from age 59½; earlier withdrawals usually owe a 10% penalty plus income tax, with some exceptions.
The calculator projects your balance year by year: each year's balance grows by your expected return, and you add your contributions and the employer match, with your salary rising by your raise each year.
2026 limits ($24,500; catch-up $8,000; ages 60–63 $11,250)
| Limit | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Employee contributions (under 50) | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and older | $7,500 | $8,000 |
| Total at 50–59 or 64+ | $31,000 | $32,500 |
| Super catch-up, ages 60–63 | $11,250 | $11,250 |
| Total at ages 60–63 | $34,750 | $35,750 |
From 2026, if you earned more than $150,000 in Social Security wages from your employer the year before, your catch-up contributions must go into a Roth 401(k). Employer contributions don't count toward your $24,500 limit; they fall under a separate, higher total limit. The calculator caps your contributions at the limit for your age and warns you if your percentage is above it.
Employer match explained
A match is money your employer adds when you contribute. It is usually written as a percentage of your contributions up to a percentage of your pay:
- "50% up to 6%": contribute 6% of pay and get another 3%. On $75,000, you put in $4,500 and get $2,250.
- "100% up to 4%": contribute 4% and get 4%. On $100,000, $4,000 of free money.
Contributing less than the match cap leaves free money behind: at 4% with a 50% up to 6% match on $75,000, you miss $750 a year. Many matches vest over a few years, so check how long you need to stay to keep them.
How contributions change your paycheck
A traditional 401(k) contribution costs you less than its face value, because it lowers your federal and most state income taxes. It does not lower Social Security and Medicare.
| Contribution on $75,000 | Per biweekly paycheck | Take-home pay drops by | Tax saved a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $86.54 | $67.50 | $495 |
| 6% | $173.08 | $135.00 | $990 |
| 10% | $288.46 | $225.00 | $1,650 |
| 15% | $432.69 | $348.08 | $2,200 |
Single filer in Texas, 2026. In the 22% bracket, every $100 you contribute costs about $78 of take-home pay. Choose your state in the calculator to include state income tax savings.
Traditional vs Roth 401(k)
Many plans also offer a Roth 401(k). Roth contributions are made after tax, so your paycheck drops by the full amount, but qualified withdrawals in retirement, including all the growth, are tax-free. The investment growth is the same either way; what changes is when you pay the tax.
- Traditional tends to win if you expect a lower tax rate in retirement than now.
- Roth tends to win if you expect the same or a higher rate later, or you are early in your career.
Switch "Contribution type" in the calculator to see the paycheck difference. Employer matches go into the traditional (pre-tax) side unless your plan allows Roth matching.
Examples
7% average return, 3% yearly raises, retiring at 65, single filer in Texas, 2026:
| Saver | Your contributions | Employer match | Balance at 65 | In today's dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25, $50,000, 6%, 50% match up to 6%, starting at $0 | $226,204 | $113,102 | $1,363,765 | $507,908 |
| Age 30, $75,000, 8%, 50% up to 6%, $20,000 saved | $362,772 | $136,040 | $1,891,976 | $797,224 |
| Age 35, $75,000, 10%, 50% up to 6%, $20,000 saved | $356,816 | $107,045 | $1,460,322 | $696,198 |
| Age 45, $100,000, 15%, 100% up to 4%, $100,000 saved | $403,056 | $107,481 | $1,401,473 | $855,278 |
Today's dollars use 2.5% inflation. Starting early matters most: the 25-year-old saving 6% ends up with more than the 45-year-old saving 15%, in nominal terms, because of 40 years of compound growth.
Where a $1.89 million balance comes from
Age 30, $75,000, 8% plus 50% match up to 6%, 7% return, to age 65
Source: Digicalcy calculation.
Returns are not guaranteed and will vary from year to year; the calculator uses a steady average. Results are estimates, not investment or tax advice. Last reviewed: November 1, 2026.
401(k) Calculator FAQs
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At least enough to get your full employer match, since that is free money. Many planners suggest saving 10% to 15% of pay for retirement in total, including the match. If you can, raise your contribution by 1% each year or with each raise until you reach that level.
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
$24,500 for employee contributions. People 50 or older can add an $8,000 catch-up, for $32,500, and people aged 60 to 63 can add $11,250 instead, for $35,750. Employer contributions are not counted in the $24,500.
Does a 401(k) lower my taxes?
Traditional 401(k) contributions lower your federal income tax, and in most states your state income tax, in the year you contribute. In the 22% federal bracket, a $6,000 contribution saves about $1,320 of federal tax. You pay income tax when you withdraw the money. Roth contributions don't lower tax now but grow tax-free.
How does an employer match work?
Your employer adds money based on what you contribute, such as 50 cents for each dollar up to 6% of your pay. If you earn $75,000 and contribute 6% ($4,500), a 50% up to 6% match adds $2,250. Contribute less and you get less match.
How much will my 401(k) be worth?
It depends on how much you contribute, your match, your returns and how many years you invest. Someone aged 30 earning $75,000 who saves 8% with a 50% up to 6% match and earns 7% a year could have about $1.9 million at 65, or about $800,000 in today's dollars.
More retirement and pay calculators
- Salary & Paycheck Calculator: take-home pay with 401(k) deductions
- Job Offer Comparison Calculator: compare offers with different matches
- Raise Calculator: put part of your raise into your 401(k)
- Roth vs Traditional Calculator: which saves more tax
- HSA Calculator: tax savings in a health savings account