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Quick calculator · ≈ 3 min · Retirement income & savings

401(k) Contribution Calculator

See your annual contributions, employer match, paycheck impact, and projected balance at retirement.

Total going in yearly$9,900

Showing example defaults — change any input to use your own

This year's contributions

Going into your 401(k) each year (you + employer)

$9,900

You contribute $7,200 ($277 per paycheck, costing about $216 of take-home after the tax break) and your employer adds $2,700.

Your annual contribution
$7,200
Employer match
$2,700
Estimated tax savings this year
$1,584
Projected balance at 65
$778,408

Projected balance to age 65

$0$200K$400K$600K$800KAge 45Age 55Age 65
View data table
Projected 401(k) balance by age
Balance
Age 45$120K
Age 46$138K
Age 47$156K
Age 48$176K
Age 49$197K
Age 50$219K
Age 51$243K
Age 52$268K
Age 53$295K
Age 54$323K
Age 55$354K
Age 56$386K
Age 57$419K
Age 58$456K
Age 59$494K
Age 60$534K
Age 61$578K
Age 62$623K
Age 63$672K
Age 64$724K
Age 65$778K

What this may mean for you

The 2026 employee limit is $24,500, plus $8,000 catch-up from age 50 and $11,250 at ages 60–63. If a raise arrives, bumping your percentage by one point before you get used to the money is the painless way up.

Results are estimates for educational purposes and may not reflect your complete financial or tax situation.

Understanding this calculator

Two numbers do most of the work in a 401(k): your contribution percentage and your employer's match formula. The match is the closest thing to free money in personal finance — contributing below the match limit leaves part of your compensation on the table every payday, and this calculator will show you exactly how much.

The paycheck impact is usually smaller than people fear. Traditional contributions come out before income tax, so a $500 contribution might only shrink take-home pay by $380 or so, depending on your bracket. If you're 50 or older the limits rise, and at ages 60–63 the SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up" raises them further.

Assumptions and methodology

  • 2026 IRS limits: $24,500 employee deferral; catch-up $8,000 at 50+; $11,250 at ages 60–63 (IR-2025-111).
  • Employer match modeled as a single tier: match rate applied to your contribution up to a percent of salary.
  • Take-home impact = contribution minus estimated tax savings at the marginal rate you select; FICA still applies to deferrals.
  • Projection compounds monthly at your chosen return until your retirement age; salary growth and limit inflation are not modeled.
  • High earners: the 2026 rule requiring catch-ups to be Roth for prior-year FICA wages over $145k (indexed) isn't modeled.

Official sources

Last reviewed August 30, 2026. Year-specific figures show their tax or data year in the tool; data is reviewed when the IRS, SSA, and CMS publish annual updates.

Common questions

How much should I contribute?

At minimum, enough to capture the full employer match. Beyond that, 10–15% of pay including the match is a common lifetime guideline — more if you started late.

Traditional or Roth 401(k)?

Same logic as the IRA question — compare today's rate with your expected retirement rate. Our Traditional vs. Roth calculator walks through it.

Next step

See how this fits your whole retirement

One number is a start. The plan builder puts income, spending, savings, and taxes together year by year — free, no account, and every answer can be changed later.

Start your plan

Keep going

Want a professional's take? Downshift can introduce you to a financial advisor, CPA, or retirement planner who can talk through what these numbers mean for you — free to you, no obligation.

Talk to a specialist