📈 Balance Growth — Start Now vs. Waiting
🧱 Your Money vs. Compounding (Stacked)
| Age | Contrib (capped) | Employer Match | Growth (net) | End Balance | Real Value | Cumul. Contrib | Cumul. Growth | Delay 5yr Balance | Delay 10yr Balance |
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401(k) Calculator Definitions
Percent to Contribute
This is the percentage of your annual salary that you choose to contribute to your 401(k) each year. Your yearly contribution is subject to IRS contribution limits.
For 2026:
- Maximum employee contribution: $24,500
- Age 50+ catch-up contribution: additional $8,000
- Ages 60–63 enhanced catch-up contribution under SECURE 2.0: additional $11,250
If your income exceeds certain IRS thresholds, catch-up contributions may be required to go into a Roth (after-tax) 401(k).
Employer contributions are separate and do not count toward your personal IRS contribution limit.
Employees considered “Highly Compensated Employees (HCE)” may face additional contribution restrictions depending on their company’s plan rules. If your salary is expected to be $160,000 or more in 2026 (or was $160,000+ in 2025), check with your employer’s benefits department for any plan-specific limitations.
Annual Salary
This is your gross annual salary from your employer before taxes, deductions, or benefits. Only include compensation paid by your employer. Do not include rental income, investment income, pensions, Social Security, or other outside sources.
Current Age
Your age today.
Age at Retirement
The age you expect to retire. This calculator assumes that contributions stop during the year you retire. For example, if you plan to retire at age 65, your final full year of contributions will occur while you are age 64.
Current 401(k) Balance
The total amount currently invested in your 401(k) account. This serves as the starting point for future growth calculations.
Annual Rate of Return
This is the estimated annual investment growth rate for your 401(k). The calculator assumes:
- investment returns compound annually
- contributions are made monthly
Actual investment performance will vary depending on your investment choices and market conditions. Historically, long-term stock market returns have averaged around 10–11% annually, although returns can vary significantly from year to year. Higher expected returns generally come with higher levels of risk and volatility. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and investments can lose value, including principal.
Annual Salary Increase
This is the estimated percentage your salary increases each year. The calculator assumes your salary continues to grow at this rate until retirement.
Employer Match
This is the percentage of your contributions your employer matches. Many employers match only up to a certain percentage of your salary. See “Employer Maximum” below for details.
Employer matching contributions:
- are an additional retirement benefit
- do not count toward your IRS employee contribution limit
- may be subject to a vesting schedule based on years of service
Check your company’s 401(k) plan documents for specific rules.
Employer Maximum
This is the maximum portion of your salary eligible for employer matching.
Suppose:
- Your salary is $100,000
- Your employer matches 50% of contributions
- The match applies only to the first 6% of salary contributed
If you contribute 6%
Your contribution: $6,000 | Employer contribution: $3,000 | Total annual contribution: $9,000
If you contribute 3%
Your contribution: $3,000 | Employer contribution: $1,500 | Total annual contribution: $4,500
If you contribute 10%
Your contribution: $10,000 | Employer contribution remains capped at $3,000 | Total annual contribution: $13,000
Even though you contributed more, the employer match stopped at the first 6% of salary based on the company’s matching policy.
This calculator is designed for educational and planning purposes only. It uses hypothetical assumptions and cannot predict future market performance, inflation, tax law changes, or investment outcomes. Always consult your financial advisor, tax professional, or retirement plan administrator before making major retirement planning decisions.