401k Calculator – Estimate Your Retirement Balance
e.g. 50 = employer matches 50 cents per dollar
Employer matches up to this % of your salary
Projected Balance at Retirement
$0
Total Employee Contributions
$0
Total Employer Match
$0
Total Investment Earnings
$0
How Does a 401k Calculator Work?
A 401k calculator projects how much your employer-sponsored retirement account could grow by the time you retire. It factors in your current balance, annual salary, contribution percentage, employer matching formula, and expected investment returns to give you a comprehensive picture of your retirement savings trajectory.
Your annual employee contribution is calculated as a percentage of your salary. The employer match is then applied: for example, if your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary, and you contribute 6% of a $75,000 salary ($4,500), your employer adds $2,250 per year. Both contributions are invested and compound over time using the formula: FV = PV(1 + r)n + PMT × [((1 + r)n − 1) / r], where PMT is the combined monthly contribution from you and your employer.
The power of a 401k lies in three factors: tax-deferred growth (or tax-free growth with Roth), employer matching (which is essentially free money), and the long time horizon that allows compounding to work. Contributing enough to capture your full employer match is one of the highest-return financial decisions you can make. Even small increases in contribution percentage can dramatically impact your retirement balance over decades. Use this calculator to see how adjusting your contribution rate, switching jobs to get a better match, or starting earlier can change your retirement outlook.