401(k) Calculator 2026 — Retirement Savings & Employer Match

2026

Calculate your 401(k) balance at retirement with employer match and growth projections. Compare Roth vs Traditional. Based on 2026 IRS contribution limits.
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Balance at Retirement

$1,892,949.61

Your Contributions

$362,772.49

Employer Match Total

$181,386.25

Investment Growth

$1,348,790.87

2026 IRS Contribution Limits

  • Under 50: $24,500
  • Age 50+: $32,000 ($7,500 catch-up)
  • Age 60-63: $35,750 ($11,250 super catch-up)

Your current limit: $24,500

Traditional 401(k)

Your contributions reduce taxable income by $6,000.00/year. Withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income.

Projected Growth (Every 5 Years)

Age 30$9,630.00
Age 35$73,832.74
Age 40$173,488.80
Age 45$324,400.35
Age 50$548,974.47
Age 55$878,920.87
Age 60$1,359,041.59
Age 64$1,892,949.61

Detailed Year-by-Year Snapshot

Age | Salary | Your Contribution | Employer Match Rate | Balance
Age 30 | $100,000.00$6,000.00 + $3,000.00 = $9,630.00
Age 35 | $115,927.41$6,955.64 + $3,477.82 = $73,832.74
Age 40 | $134,391.64$8,063.50 + $4,031.75 = $173,488.80
Age 45 | $155,796.74$9,347.80 + $4,673.90 = $324,400.35
Age 50 | $180,611.12$10,836.67 + $5,418.33 = $548,974.47
Age 55 | $209,377.79$12,562.67 + $6,281.33 = $878,920.87
Age 60 | $242,726.25$14,563.57 + $7,281.79 = $1,359,041.59
Age 64 | $273,190.53$16,391.43 + $8,195.72 = $1,892,949.61

Use the 401(k) Calculator 2026 — Retirement Savings & Employer Match above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that allows workers to contribute a portion of their pre-tax salary (Traditional 401(k)) or after-tax salary (Roth 401(k)) to an investment account. For the 2026 tax year, the employee contribution limit is $24,500, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution allowed for workers aged 50 and older. A new provision for 2026 allows those aged 60 through 63 a higher catch-up limit of $11,250, bringing their total possible contribution to $35,750. Contributions to a Traditional 401(k) reduce your taxable income in the year they are made, deferring taxes until withdrawal in retirement.

Many employers offer a matching contribution, which is effectively free money added to your account. A common match formula is 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. If you earn $80,000 and contribute 6% ($4,800), your employer adds $2,400. The combined total of employee and employer contributions (plus any other employer contributions) cannot exceed $72,000 in 2026. Employer matching contributions are always pre-tax, even if you direct your own contributions to a Roth 401(k). Failing to contribute at least enough to capture the full employer match leaves compensation on the table.

The power of a 401(k) comes from compound growth in a tax-advantaged account. Investments grow without being reduced by annual capital gains or dividend taxes, allowing the full balance to compound over decades. For example, contributing $500 per month starting at age 30 with a 7% average annual return produces approximately $567,000 by age 60. The same contributions in a taxable brokerage account earning the same return but subject to annual taxes on gains would yield substantially less. Time in the market matters more than timing the market for long-term retirement savings.

Withdrawals from a Traditional 401(k) are taxed as ordinary income in retirement, while Roth 401(k) withdrawals are tax-free if the account has been open for at least five years and you are over 59 1/2. Early withdrawals before age 59 1/2 generally incur a 10% penalty plus income tax. Required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73 for Traditional 401(k) accounts, but Roth 401(k) accounts are no longer subject to RMDs starting in 2024 under SECURE Act 2.0.

Example: $90,000 salary, 10% contribution, 50% match up to 6%, age 35

  1. 1 Step 1: Annual employee contribution = $90,000 x 10% = $9,000 (within the $24,500 limit). This reduces your taxable income from $90,000 to $81,000 for federal tax purposes.
  2. 2 Step 2: Employer match = 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary. You contribute at least 6% ($5,400), so the employer match = $5,400 x 50% = $2,700. Total annual contribution = $9,000 + $2,700 = $11,700.
  3. 3 Step 3: Tax savings in the 22% bracket: $9,000 x 22% = $1,980 in federal income tax saved this year. Your effective cost of putting $9,000 into retirement is $7,020.
  4. 4 Step 4: Project growth over 30 years (to age 65) at 7% average return. $11,700/year contributed for 30 years with 7% compounding = approximately $1,105,000.
  5. 5 Step 5: If you withdrew $50,000/year in retirement (taxed as ordinary income), at a 12% effective rate you would pay $6,000 in tax and keep $44,000 per year.

Source: IRS — 401(k) Contribution Limits · Last updated: January 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The employee contribution limit for 2026 is $24,500. Workers aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $7,500 catch-up, for a total of $32,000. A new provision allows those aged 60-63 an enhanced catch-up of $11,250, for a total of $35,750. The combined employer and employee contribution limit is $72,000.
What happens if I do not contribute enough to get the full employer match?
You lose free money. If your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary and you only contribute 3%, you get half the available match. On an $80,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,800) gets you $2,400 in matching. Contributing only 3% ($2,400) gets just $1,200 in matching. That $1,200 difference compounds over decades.
What is the difference between a Traditional and Roth 401(k)?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, reducing your current taxable income, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax, so they do not reduce current taxes, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free. Choose Traditional if you expect a lower tax rate in retirement; choose Roth if you expect a higher rate.
Can I withdraw from my 401(k) before age 59 1/2?
Early withdrawals before age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% penalty plus ordinary income tax. Exceptions include the Rule of 55 (leaving your job at age 55 or later), substantially equal periodic payments (72(t) distributions), certain hardship withdrawals, and disability. Loans from your 401(k) are also possible, up to 50% of your vested balance or $50,000.
Should I contribute to a 401(k) or pay off debt first?
At minimum, contribute enough to get the full employer match, as the match provides an immediate 50-100% return. After that, if you have high-interest debt (above 7-8%), paying it down first is usually more beneficial. For lower-rate debt like a mortgage, the tax-deferred growth and employer match of a 401(k) typically outperform the interest savings from accelerating debt repayment.
What happens to my 401(k) when I leave my job?
You have four options: leave the money in your former employer's plan (if allowed), roll it into your new employer's 401(k), roll it into an IRA, or cash it out. Cashing out triggers income tax plus a 10% penalty if you are under 59 1/2. Rolling into an IRA typically provides the most investment choices and lowest fees.
When do required minimum distributions (RMDs) start?
For Traditional 401(k) accounts, RMDs begin at age 73 under current law (SECURE Act 2.0). Roth 401(k) accounts are no longer subject to RMDs starting in 2024. If you are still working and do not own 5% or more of the company, you can delay RMDs from your current employer's plan until you retire.

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