What inputs does the calculator need?

Your current age and retirement age, current 401(k) balance, annual contribution, expected employer match, and an expected annual return. The result projects your balance at retirement under those assumptions.

How much should I contribute to a 401(k)?

At a minimum, enough to capture the full employer match — that is effectively free compensation. A common target is 10% to 15% of gross income including the match. The IRS sets annual contribution limits that change periodically.

What annual return assumption makes sense?

Historically, diversified stock-heavy portfolios have returned roughly 7% annualized after inflation. More conservative mixes return less. Plan with a range rather than a single number, and stress-test your projection with a lower return.

Is the employer match really free money?

Usually — it vests on a schedule that varies by employer, but once vested it is yours to keep. Contributing less than the match means leaving part of your compensation on the table.

401(k) calculator

Project a 401(k) balance at retirement with employee contributions and employer match.

What this calculator covers

Use this 401(k) calculator to turn salary deferrals, employer match, and market-return assumptions into a single retirement-balance projection.

The walkthrough keeps the annual contribution logic visible, including how the employer match cap changes the amount added each year.

Frequently asked questions

What inputs does the calculator need?: Your current age and retirement age, current 401(k) balance, annual contribution, expected employer match, and an expected annual return. The result projects your balance at retirement under those assumptions.
How much should I contribute to a 401(k)?: At a minimum, enough to capture the full employer match — that is effectively free compensation. A common target is 10% to 15% of gross income including the match. The IRS sets annual contribution limits that change periodically.
What annual return assumption makes sense?: Historically, diversified stock-heavy portfolios have returned roughly 7% annualized after inflation. More conservative mixes return less. Plan with a range rather than a single number, and stress-test your projection with a lower return.
Is the employer match really free money?: Usually — it vests on a schedule that varies by employer, but once vested it is yours to keep. Contributing less than the match means leaving part of your compensation on the table.

Tool

Run the calculation

RESULT · 401(K) BALANCE

№080

Primary result

$1,897,223.08

A $50,000.00 401(k) balance with 10% employee contributions and a 50% employer match projects to $1,897,223.08 by age 65.

Projected 401(k) balance: $1,897,223.08
Employee contributions: $428,178.74
Employer match: $128,453.62
Investment growth: $1,290,590.72
Age 35 to 36: $90,000.00 salary · $9,000.00 employee + $2,700.00 match · $65,200.00 ending balance
Age 36 to 37: $92,700.00 salary · $9,270.00 employee + $2,781.00 match · $81,815.00 ending balance
Age 37 to 38: $95,481.00 salary · $9,548.10 employee + $2,864.43 match · $99,954.58 ending balance
Age 38 to 39: $98,345.43 salary · $9,834.54 employee + $2,950.36 match · $119,736.31 ending balance
Age 39 to 40: $101,295.79 salary · $10,129.58 employee + $3,038.87 match · $141,286.30 ending balance
Age 40 to 41: $104,334.67 salary · $10,433.47 employee + $3,130.04 match · $164,739.85 ending balance
Age 41 to 42: $107,464.71 salary · $10,746.47 employee + $3,223.94 match · $190,242.05 ending balance
Age 42 to 43: $110,688.65 salary · $11,068.86 employee + $3,320.66 match · $217,948.52 ending balance
Age 43 to 44: $114,009.31 salary · $11,400.93 employee + $3,420.28 match · $248,026.12 ending balance
Age 44 to 45: $117,429.59 salary · $11,742.96 employee + $3,522.89 match · $280,653.80 ending balance
Age 45 to 46: $120,952.47 salary · $12,095.25 employee + $3,628.57 match · $316,023.39 ending balance
Age 46 to 47: $124,581.05 salary · $12,458.10 employee + $3,737.43 match · $354,340.56 ending balance
Age 47 to 48: $128,318.48 salary · $12,831.85 employee + $3,849.55 match · $395,825.80 ending balance
Age 48 to 49: $132,168.03 salary · $13,216.80 employee + $3,965.04 match · $440,715.45 ending balance
Age 49 to 50: $136,133.08 salary · $13,613.31 employee + $4,083.99 match · $489,262.83 ending balance
Age 50 to 51: $140,217.07 salary · $14,021.71 employee + $4,206.51 match · $541,739.45 ending balance
Age 51 to 52: $144,423.58 salary · $14,442.36 employee + $4,332.71 match · $598,436.28 ending balance
Age 52 to 53: $148,756.29 salary · $14,875.63 employee + $4,462.69 match · $659,665.13 ending balance
Age 53 to 54: $153,218.98 salary · $15,321.90 employee + $4,596.57 match · $725,760.16 ending balance
Age 54 to 55: $157,815.54 salary · $15,781.55 employee + $4,734.47 match · $797,079.39 ending balance
Age 55 to 56: $162,550.01 salary · $16,255.00 employee + $4,876.50 match · $874,006.45 ending balance
Age 56 to 57: $167,426.51 salary · $16,742.65 employee + $5,022.80 match · $956,952.35 ending balance
Age 57 to 58: $172,449.31 salary · $17,244.93 employee + $5,173.48 match · $1,046,357.42 ending balance
Age 58 to 59: $177,622.79 salary · $17,762.28 employee + $5,328.68 match · $1,142,693.41 ending balance
Age 59 to 60: $182,951.47 salary · $18,295.15 employee + $5,488.54 match · $1,246,465.63 ending balance
Age 60 to 61: $188,440.01 salary · $18,844.00 employee + $5,653.20 match · $1,358,215.43 ending balance
Age 61 to 62: $194,093.21 salary · $19,409.32 employee + $5,822.80 match · $1,478,522.63 ending balance
Age 62 to 63: $199,916.01 salary · $19,991.60 employee + $5,997.48 match · $1,608,008.29 ending balance
Age 63 to 64: $205,913.49 salary · $20,591.35 employee + $6,177.40 match · $1,747,337.63 ending balance
Age 64 to 65: $212,090.90 salary · $21,209.09 employee + $6,362.73 match · $1,897,223.08 ending balance

Step-by-step solution

1.Project 30 annual savings years between ages 35 and 65.
2.Each year contributes 10% of salary plus a 50% employer match on up to 6% of pay.
3.Apply the annual return of 7% to the opening balance each year, then add that year's contributions to reach $1,897,223.08.

Walkthrough

Visual walkthrough

A 401(k) projection layers salary-based saving, employer match, and portfolio growth over the years left until retirement.

01
Set the savings window
65 - 35 = 30
The gap between current age and retirement age determines how many annual contributions and growth periods the account gets.
30 projection years
02
Add employee and employer dollars
10% employee + 50% match up to 6%
The model adds the employee deferral and the employer match once per year based on that year's salary.
$556,632.36 total contributions
03
Read the retirement balance
Annual returns compound on the running balance, so later years grow from both earlier contributions and prior investment gains.
Projected balance $1,897,223.08

Assumptions

Projects one year at a time from the current age to the retirement age.
Applies the stated annual return to the opening balance for each year, then adds that year's employee and employer contributions at year-end.
Employer match is limited to the matched percentage of salary up to the stated employer match cap.
Ignores IRS contribution limits, vesting schedules, taxes, fees, and plan-specific withdrawal rules.

Trust

Formula and trust notes

Annual projection formula: ending balance = beginning balance × (1 + return) + employee contribution + employer match.

Category: Personal finance · Risk: financial

Informational calculator only. Calcs4All does not provide financing, underwriting, or financial advice. Rates, taxes, insurance, fees, and lender rules vary by product and location, so verify major decisions with current disclosures or lender quotes.

401(k) calculator

What this calculator covers

Frequently asked questions

Run the calculation

Result

Step-by-step solution

Visual walkthrough

Set the savings window

Add employee and employer dollars

Read the retirement balance