401(k) Calculator

Project your 401(k) balance at retirement based on salary, contributions, employer match, and investment returns. Includes Roth vs Traditional comparison.

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Projected Balance at Retirement
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Your Total Contributions —
Total Employer Match —
Total Investment Growth —
Extended More scenarios, charts & detailed breakdown ▾
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Projected Balance
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Est. Monthly Income (4% Rule) —
Your Total Contributions —
Total Employer Match —
Professional Full parameters & maximum detail ▾
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Retirement Projections

Projected Balance at Retirement —
After-Tax Value at Retirement —
Monthly Income (4% Rule) —
Est. Required Min Distribution at 73 —

Contribution Breakdown

Your Total Contributions —
Total Vested Employer Match —
Total Investment Growth —

Current Tax Benefit

Annual Tax Savings (Now) —

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your Current 401(k) Balance and Annual Salary.
  2. Enter your Contribution % and your Employer Match %.
  3. Set the Expected Annual Return — 7% is a common long-run real return estimate.
  4. Enter Years Until Retirement to see your projected balance.
  5. Use the Roth vs Traditional tab to compare after-tax outcomes.

Formula

Future Value with Monthly Contributions:

FV = PV × (1+r)^n + PMT × [(1+r)^n − 1] / r

  • PV = Current balance
  • r = Monthly return rate (Annual % ÷ 12)
  • n = Total months (Years × 12)
  • PMT = Monthly contribution (your % + employer match) ÷ 12

Example

Example: $25,000 balance, $75,000 salary, 6% contribution, 3% employer match, 7% return, 30 years.

  • Annual Contributions: $4,500 (you) + $2,250 (employer) = $6,750
  • Projected Balance: ~$793,000
  • Monthly Retirement Income (4% rule): ~$2,643/month
  • Employer match contributed: ~$67,500 — free money!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • At minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match — that is a 50–100% instant return on investment. Beyond that, many financial advisors recommend saving 15% of income for retirement (including employer match). The 2025 contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 for age 50+).
  • Many employers match a portion of your 401(k) contributions. A common match is "100% of the first 3% of salary" — meaning if you earn $75,000 and contribute 3% ($2,250), your employer also contributes $2,250. Always contribute at least enough to get the full match.
  • The S&P 500 has historically returned about 10% annually (nominal) or 7% in real (inflation-adjusted) terms. A diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds might return 6–8%. As you near retirement, your portfolio will typically shift to lower-risk investments with lower expected returns.
  • Traditional 401(k): contributions are pre-tax (reduces income now), but withdrawals in retirement are taxed. Roth 401(k): contributions are after-tax (no immediate savings), but qualified withdrawals are tax-free. Roth is generally better if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement.
  • Starting at age 73, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount from traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts each year, based on your account balance and life expectancy factor. RMDs are taxable income. Roth 401(k)s do not have RMDs during the account holder's lifetime.

Related Calculators

🏖️ Retirement Calculator 📊 Investment Calculator 📈 Compound Interest Calculator 🧾 Income Tax Calculator
Sources & References (5) ▾
  1. IRS — 401(k) Plan Overview — Internal Revenue Service
  2. Department of Labor — 401(k) Plans — U.S. Department of Labor
  3. IRS — Retirement Plan Contribution Limits — Internal Revenue Service
  4. SEC Investor.gov — 401(k) Plans — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  5. FINRA — 401(k) Resource Center — Financial Industry Regulatory Authority