401(k) Calculator
Build a quick estimate or a detailed retirement projection with employer match, fees, inflation, scenarios, charts, and a year-by-year table.
Your savings plan
Your gross annual pay. The calculator uses it to estimate your employee contribution and the employer match when those values are entered as salary percentages.
The percentage of salary you plan to deposit into your 401(k) each year. Employee deposits are capped at the estimated age-based IRS limit used by the projection.
How much your employer contributes for each eligible dollar you deposit. A 50% match means the employer adds $0.50 for every $1.00 you contribute, up to the match limit.
The largest percentage of salary that can earn an employer match. With a 6% limit, contributions above 6% of salary do not receive additional matching money.
The average yearly investment return you want to assume before investment fees. Actual returns vary from year to year and are not guaranteed.
The amount already invested in your 401(k) today. It grows with the same return and fee assumptions as future contributions.
Quick estimate
The number of years that contributions and the current balance remain invested before retirement in the quick estimate.
Quick estimate assumptions: 2% annual salary growth, 0% annual contribution increase, 0.5% annual fees, 2.5% inflation, and a 4% retirement withdrawal rate. Choose Detailed plan to edit them.
Detailed assumptions
Your age at the start of the projection. It determines the time horizon and when age-based catch-up contribution limits may apply.
The age at which this savings projection ends. It must be later than your current age.
The assumed percentage change in salary each year. Because contributions and matching are salary-based, a higher salary can increase both over time.
How many percentage points to add to your contribution rate each year. For example, a 6% rate with a 1-point annual increase becomes 7% in the next year.
The estimated percentage of the account balance paid in plan and investment fees each year. Fees reduce the amount that remains invested.
The assumed yearly rise in prices. It is used to express the final balance in today's purchasing power and to estimate future contribution-limit growth.
The percentage of the inflation-adjusted retirement balance assumed to be withdrawn during the first retirement year. It is used only for the estimated monthly-income result.
Return scenarios
- Enter your plan details to see personalized contribution and employer-match insights.
Projection assumptions will appear here after calculation.
How your 401(k) grows
Balance composition at retirement
Year-by-year breakdown
The table and charts use the same projection data. Dollar amounts are nominal unless marked as today's dollars.
| Year / age | Salary | Your contribution | Employer | Growth | Fees | Ending balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projection | — | — | — | — | — | Enter your details above |
How to use the calculator
- Enter your annual salary, contribution rate, and current 401(k) balance.
- Copy the match rate and match limit from your employer plan documents.
- Choose an expected return. The calculator treats it as the return before the entered fees.
- Use Quick estimate for a fixed time horizon, or Detailed plan to enter age, salary growth, contribution increases, fees, and inflation.
- Compare the nominal balance, today's purchasing power, and the three return scenarios. The annual table shows when a contribution limit applies.
Example: $80,000 salary with a 50% match
At an $80,000 annual salary, a 6% employee contribution is $4,800 in the first year. If the employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary, it adds $2,400. A total of $7,200 goes into the 401(k) during that first year.
The long-term projection then adds returns and later contributions. Fees reduce the balance, while the purchasing-power result removes the selected inflation assumption. This keeps employee deposits, employer match, and investment growth separate in the results.
How this 401(k) projection works
The calculator projects monthly employee and employer contributions, investment growth, and fees. Detailed mode also changes salary and contribution rates over time, applies age-based catch-up eligibility, and converts the final balance to today's purchasing power.
The projection uses the 2026 employee deferral limit as its starting point and estimates future limit growth with inflation. Future IRS limits, investment returns, inflation, taxes, and employer plan rules can differ. Confirm your plan's matching and vesting rules with your employer.
Limits of the estimate: The projection uses the 2026 employee deferral limit as its starting point and estimates future limit growth with inflation. Future IRS limits, investment returns, inflation, taxes, and employer plan rules can differ. Confirm your plan's matching and vesting rules with your employer. The combined employee-and-employer annual-additions limit is applied.