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401(k) Calculator

See how much your 401(k) could be worth at retirement. Includes employer match, catch-up contributions, and fee impact.

Updated March 2026 · Uses 2026 contribution limits

35
1875
67
5085
$

Pre-tax gross annual salary

$
10% of salary
0%100%
50%

Matches 50 cents per dollar you contribute

6% of salary
Advanced Settings
7%
3%
0.5%

Annual expense ratio + admin fees

At 67, your 401(k) could be worth

$0

Your Contributions

$0

Employer Match

$0

Investment Growth

$0

Fee Impact

-$0

Projected 401(k) Growth

Projected values are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual results will vary.

By Ryan England Last Updated:

How it works

How this 401(k) calculator works

Monthly compounding

Your contributions and employer match are spread across 12 monthly deposits, with investment returns compounding each month. This models how real 401(k) contributions work through payroll deductions.

2026 IRS limits built in

The calculator automatically caps your contributions at the 2026 IRS deferral limit ($24,500 under 50, $31,000 at 50+, $34,750 for ages 60-63). It also enforces the $70,000 combined annual addition limit.

Employer match modeling

Enter your employer's match rate and the salary percentage they match up to. If you are not contributing enough to capture the full match, the calculator alerts you with the exact dollar amount you are leaving on the table.

Fee impact analysis

Plan fees are subtracted from your return rate to show the real net growth. The fee impact card shows exactly how much fees cost you over the life of the projection, so you can make informed decisions about fund selection.

Benchmarks

401(k) balance benchmarks by age

Age Group Average Median Fidelity Guideline
25-34 $44,784 $15,209 1x salary by 30
35-44 $129,182 $43,454 3x salary by 40
45-54 $219,117 $70,882 6x salary by 50
55-64 $271,230 $84,714 8x salary by 60
65+ $272,588 $88,488 10x salary by 67

Source: Vanguard How America Saves 2025 report. Fidelity guidelines assume a savings rate of 15% from age 25.

Strategies

Ways to maximize your 401(k)

Capture the full match

If your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary, contribute at least 6%. Anything less means you are turning down free money. The match is an instant 50% return on that portion of your contribution.

Increase 1% per year

If you cannot save 15% right away, set up an automatic 1% annual increase. You will barely notice each bump, but over a decade it adds up to a dramatically larger balance.

Minimize plan fees

Choose low-cost index funds when available. The difference between a 0.3% and a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year projection can be hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost growth. Check your plan's annual fee disclosure.

Use catch-up contributions

At 50, you can contribute an extra $6,500/year. At 60 through 63, the super catch-up lets you add $10,250 extra. These provisions exist specifically to help workers close the gap in the years before retirement.

Consider Roth 401(k)

If your plan offers a Roth option, consider splitting contributions. Pre-tax helps now; Roth helps in retirement. Tax diversification gives you flexibility to manage your tax bracket later.

Roll over old 401(k)s

Left a job? Roll your old 401(k) into your current plan or an IRA. Consolidating makes it easier to track, often lowers fees, and ensures nothing gets forgotten.

Reference

2026 contribution limits at a glance

Under 50

$24,500

Employee deferral

Age 50-59, 64+

$31,000

+$6,500 catch-up

Age 60-63

$34,750

Super catch-up

Annual Addition

$70,000

Employee + employer

Source: IRS Notice 2025-XX (projected). These limits apply to both Traditional and Roth 401(k) elective deferrals. The 403(b) and governmental 457(b) plans use the same deferral limits.

Keep going

Related calculators

Roth 401(k) Calculator →

See how after-tax Roth contributions grow tax-free, with employer match and paycheck impact analysis.

Roth IRA Calculator →

Roth IRA growth with income phase-out eligibility, contribution limits, and tax-free growth projection.

Retirement Calculator →

Full retirement projection with readiness score, income breakdown, and trajectory chart.

Common questions

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The IRS employee deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500 for workers under 50. If you are 50 or older, you can contribute up to $31,000 (an extra $6,500 catch-up). Workers aged 60 through 63 qualify for the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up and can defer up to $34,750. The combined employee + employer annual addition limit is $70,000.
How does employer matching work in a 401(k)?
An employer match is free money added to your account when you contribute. A common formula is "50% match up to 6% of salary." That means your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, on the first 6% of your pay. On a $75,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,500) would earn a $2,250 match. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match before directing savings elsewhere.
What is a good 401(k) balance for my age?
Fidelity's widely cited guideline suggests saving 1x your salary by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, 8x by 60, and 10x by 67. The actual median 401(k) balance for Americans aged 55 to 64 is roughly $85,000, and the average is about $271,000 (Vanguard, 2024). The gap between average and median indicates that a small number of large balances pull the average up significantly.
What happens if I withdraw from my 401(k) before 59½?
Early distributions before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% early withdrawal penalty on top of ordinary income tax. Exceptions include the Rule of 55 (separating from your employer at 55 or later), substantially equal periodic payments (72(t)), qualified disability, and certain hardship distributions. Our calculator factors in the early withdrawal penalty when applicable.
Should I choose a Traditional 401(k) or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, reducing your taxable income now but creating a tax bill in retirement. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax, so withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. The right choice depends on whether you expect your tax rate to be higher or lower in retirement. If you are early in your career and expect income to grow, Roth often makes sense. If you are in a peak earning year, Traditional may save more in taxes today.
How much do 401(k) fees actually cost?
The average 401(k) plan charges about 0.5% to 1.0% in total fees (fund expense ratios + plan administration). That may sound small, but over a 30-year career the difference between 0.3% and 1.0% in fees on a $1 million balance is roughly $200,000 in lost growth. Check your plan's fee disclosure (required annually under DOL rules) and look for low-cost index fund options.
What is the 401(k) annual addition limit?
The annual addition limit for 2026 is $70,000. This cap applies to the total of your employee deferrals, employer matching contributions, and any employer profit-sharing contributions combined. Most workers will not hit this limit, but high earners with generous matches or profit-sharing plans should be aware of it.
What is the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up contribution?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, workers aged 60 through 63 can make an enhanced catch-up contribution starting in 2025. For 2026, this means they can defer up to $34,750 total ($10,250 extra above the standard $24,500 limit). This provision closes at age 64, when the standard catch-up ($31,000 total) resumes.