See exactly how your 401(k) grows — with employer match included
Your 401(k) Details
Example: "50% match on the first 6% of salary" → Match Rate = 50, Match Up To = 6.
Projected Balance at 65
Balance Breakdown
Key Milestones
Year 9 (Age 39)
$108.3K
$108,279
Year 18 (Age 48)
$306.5K
$306,499
Year 26 (Age 56)
$635.7K
$635,688
Year-by-Year Projection
See a complete breakdown for all 35 years of contributions and growth.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for illustrative purposes only. It assumes constant return rates and does not account for taxes, inflation, IRS contribution limits, market volatility, or fees. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making retirement planning decisions.
Our free 401(k) calculator projects your retirement balance based on your current savings, annual salary, contribution percentage, employer match, and expected investment return. Model salary raises over time and see a year-by-year breakdown of your contributions versus investment growth. Whether you're just starting or fine-tuning your strategy, this tool shows the real power of compounding and free employer money.
Enter the match rate (e.g. 50%) and the salary percentage it applies to (e.g. 6%). The tool computes: employer match = salary × min(your contribution%, match cap%) × match rate. So a "50% match on the first 6%" on a $75,000 salary yields $2,250/year from your employer when you contribute at least 6%.
A commonly used estimate is 7% per year, which approximates the historical average real return of a diversified US stock portfolio after inflation. Conservative planners use 5–6%; optimistic projections use 8–10%. The calculator lets you test any value to see the impact.
No — this tool is a projection estimator and does not cap contributions at IRS annual limits (e.g. $23,000 for 2024). If your calculated contribution exceeds the limit, the real growth may differ. Always verify your plan's rules with your employer or a financial advisor.
Compound interest — your returns generate their own returns each year. Over 35 years at 7%, roughly 70–75% of a typical final balance comes from growth rather than contributions. This is why starting early and maintaining consistent contributions has an outsized impact on retirement wealth.