401(k) Match Calculator

Enter your salary, contribution and your employer's match formula to see how much your employer adds this year, whether you're leaving any match unclaimed, and what your 401(k) could grow to.

Updated for the 2026 tax year.

Your employer's match

For example, 50% means 50 cents for every dollar you contribute.

Employer match this year

$1,500.00

Your contribution
$3,000.00
Total going in this year
$4,500.00
Match you're missing
$750.00
Projected balance at 65
$754,042.75

Raise your contribution to 6% to get $750.00 more from your employer each year.

Contributing 6% instead could add about $300,899 by retirement.

At 4%, your employer adds $1,500.00 this year, but you're leaving $750.00 of match unclaimed. Contributing 6% would get the full match.

How your 401(k) could grow

Balance by age
  • Your money (incl. today’s balance)
  • Employer match
  • Investment growth
$0$200K$400K$600K$800KAge 36: you $23,000, employer $1,500, growth $1,54336Age 37: you $26,090, employer $3,045, growth $3,512Age 38: you $29,273, employer $4,636, growth $5,949Age 39: you $32,551, employer $6,275, growth $8,89539Age 40: you $35,927, employer $7,964, growth $12,396Age 41: you $39,405, employer $9,703, growth $16,501Age 42: you $42,987, employer $11,494, growth $21,26442Age 43: you $46,677, employer $13,339, growth $26,742Age 44: you $50,477, employer $15,239, growth $32,996Age 45: you $54,392, employer $17,196, growth $40,09245Age 46: you $58,423, employer $19,212, growth $48,101Age 47: you $62,576, employer $21,288, growth $57,100Age 48: you $66,853, employer $23,427, growth $67,17048Age 49: you $71,259, employer $25,629, growth $78,401Age 50: you $75,797, employer $27,898, growth $90,887Age 51: you $80,471, employer $30,235, growth $104,73051Age 52: you $85,285, employer $32,642, growth $120,040Age 53: you $90,243, employer $35,122, growth $136,933Age 54: you $95,351, employer $37,675, growth $155,53754Age 55: you $100,611, employer $40,306, growth $175,986Age 56: you $106,029, employer $43,015, growth $198,427Age 57: you $111,610, employer $45,805, growth $223,01557Age 58: you $117,359, employer $48,679, growth $249,919Age 59: you $123,279, employer $51,640, growth $279,317Age 60: you $129,378, employer $54,689, growth $311,40460Age 61: you $135,659, employer $57,830, growth $346,385Age 62: you $142,129, employer $61,064, growth $384,484Age 63: you $148,793, employer $64,396, growth $425,93863Age 64: you $155,657, employer $67,828, growth $471,003Age 65: you $162,726, employer $71,363, growth $519,95365Age
Year-by-year table
AgeYouEmployerBalance
35$3,000.00$1,500.00$26,042.61
36$3,090.00$1,545.00$32,647.48
37$3,182.70$1,591.35$39,858.15
38$3,278.18$1,639.09$47,721.33
39$3,376.53$1,688.26$56,287.13
40$3,477.82$1,738.91$65,609.28
41$3,582.16$1,791.08$75,745.45
42$3,689.62$1,844.81$86,757.46
43$3,800.31$1,900.16$98,711.61
44$3,914.32$1,957.16$111,678.97
45$4,031.75$2,015.87$125,735.78
46$4,152.70$2,076.35$140,963.75
47$4,277.28$2,138.64$157,450.46
48$4,405.60$2,202.80$175,289.83
49$4,537.77$2,268.88$194,582.48
50$4,673.90$2,336.95$215,436.29
51$4,814.12$2,407.06$237,966.86
52$4,958.54$2,479.27$262,298.07
53$5,107.30$2,553.65$288,562.67
54$5,260.52$2,630.26$316,902.91
55$5,418.33$2,709.17$347,471.18
56$5,580.88$2,790.44$380,430.79
57$5,748.31$2,874.16$415,956.67
58$5,920.76$2,960.38$454,236.23
59$6,098.38$3,049.19$495,470.24
60$6,281.33$3,140.67$539,873.75
61$6,469.77$3,234.89$587,677.13
62$6,663.87$3,331.93$639,127.11
63$6,863.78$3,431.89$694,487.97
64$7,069.70$3,534.85$754,042.75

How this is calculated

  • Employer match = match rate × your contribution, on contributions up to the match cap. With a 50% match up to 6%, contributing 6% of pay earns 3% of pay from your employer.
  • 2026 limits: you can defer up to $24,500, plus a $8,000 catch-up from age 50 ($11,250 at ages 60 to 63). Total yearly additions are capped at $72,000, and only the first $360,000 of pay counts.
  • Projection: contributions go in monthly, like payroll deductions, and the balance grows at the monthly equivalent of your expected yearly return. Pay rises each year; the limits stay at today's values.
  • Plans differ: some match each paycheck rather than yearly, and some have vesting rules. Check your plan's summary description.

How to use this calculator

The results update as you type.

The results show your employer’s match this year, your own contribution, any match you’re missing, and your projected balance. Below, a chart shows how your balance builds up by age, split into your money, your employer’s money and investment growth.

Example: $75,000 with a 50% match up to 6%

Say you earn $75,000, contribute 4% of pay, and your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of pay.

Contribution You put in Employer adds Total this year
4% of pay $3,000 $1,500 $4,500
6% of pay $4,500 $2,250 $6,750

At 4%, you’re leaving $750 of match on the table every year. Raising your contribution by 2% of pay costs you $1,500 a year before tax, and brings in $750 more from your employer: an instant 50% return on that money.

Over time, the gap grows. If you’re 35 with $20,000 already saved, get 3% raises each year and earn 7% a year until 65:

That difference of about $300,899 comes from your extra 2% of pay, the extra employer match and 30 years of growth on both.

How it’s calculated

  1. Your contribution = contribution % × pay, capped at the 2026 limit of $24,500, plus a catch-up of $8,000 from age 50 ($11,250 at ages 60 to 63). Only the first $360,000 of pay counts.
  2. Employer match = match rate × the part of your contribution up to the match cap. With a 50% match up to 6%, contributing 4% earns 2% of pay; contributing 8% still earns 3%.
  3. Total additions from you and your employer, not counting catch-up, can’t exceed $72,000.
  4. Projection: contributions go in monthly, like payroll deductions, and your balance grows at the monthly equivalent of your expected yearly return. Your pay rises by the raise you entered, and the limits stay at today’s values.

Plans differ. Some match each paycheck rather than over the year, so hitting the limit early can reduce your match unless the plan makes a “true-up” payment. Check your plan’s rules.

Tips to get the most from your 401(k)

  1. Contribute at least enough for the full match. It’s the easiest return you’ll find, and you can check it in seconds above.
  2. Raise your contribution with each pay rise. Increasing it by 1% when your pay goes up keeps your take-home pay steady.
  3. Know your vesting schedule. If you’re thinking of changing jobs, check how much of the match you’d keep.
  4. Use catch-up contributions after 50. In 2026, you can add $8,000 on top of the $24,500 limit, or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63.
  5. Check whether your plan does a true-up. If you might hit the limit before December, ask whether the plan tops up any match you’d miss.
  6. Review your investments once a year. The return you assume makes a big difference over decades.

Frequently asked questions

How does a 401(k) employer match work?

Your employer adds money based on what you contribute, up to a limit. A common formula is a 50% match on contributions up to 6% of pay. If you earn $75,000 and contribute 6% ($4,500), your employer adds 3% of pay ($2,250).

How much should I contribute to get the full match?

At least the match cap, the "up to" percentage in your plan's formula. With a 50% match up to 6%, contributing 4% gets you only $1,500 instead of $2,250 on a $75,000 salary, leaving $750 a year unclaimed.

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?

You can defer up to $24,500 in 2026. If you're 50 or older, you can add a $8,000 catch-up, or $11,250 if you're 60 to 63. Total additions from you and your employer, not counting catch-up, are capped at $72,000.

Does the employer match count toward my $24,500 limit?

No. The $24,500 limit applies to your own deferrals. Employer contributions count toward the separate $72,000 limit on total annual additions.

What is vesting?

Vesting decides when the employer's contributions become fully yours. Your own contributions are always yours, but some plans require you to work there for a set time before you keep all the match. Check your plan's summary description.

What return should I use in the projection?

Use a figure you're comfortable with, and try a lower one too. Returns vary from year to year and aren't guaranteed. The projection is a planning estimate, not a forecast.

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