How much will my 401(k) be worth?
Your balance at retirement depends on four things: how much you contribute, how much your employer adds, how long the money stays invested, and the return it earns. This calculator projects your 401(k) year by year, raising your salary each year, adding the employer match and capping your contributions at the IRS limit.
Example
A 35-year-old earning $75,000 with $50,000 already saved contributes 10% of pay, and the employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary. With a 3% yearly raise and a 7% average return, the 401(k) grows to about $1.76 million by age 65. That is about $840,000 in today's dollars after 2.5% inflation, enough for roughly $33,600 a year of income under the 4% rule. About 70% of the final balance comes from investment growth, not from contributions.
2026 401(k) contribution limits
| Limit | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Employee contributions (under 50) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contributions, age 50+ | +$8,000 |
| Higher catch-up, ages 60–63 | +$11,250 |
| IRA contributions (under 50) | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50+ | +$1,100 |
Employer matching contributions do not count toward the $24,500 employee limit.
Always get the full employer match
A common match is 50% of your contributions up to 6% of salary, or 100% up to 3% to 5%. If your employer matches 50% up to 6% and you contribute only 3%, you leave half the match on the table: on a $75,000 salary that is $1,125 of free money a year, worth far more after decades of growth. The calculator warns you if you are below the match limit.
The 4% rule
The 4% rule says you can withdraw about 4% of your retirement savings in the first year, then adjust for inflation, with a high chance that the money lasts 30 years. To turn it around: to spend $40,000 a year from savings, you need about $1 million. Social Security and any pension come on top of this.
Traditional vs Roth 401(k)
With a traditional 401(k) you contribute before tax and pay income tax on withdrawals. With a Roth 401(k) you contribute after tax and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The balance projected here is the same for both; what differs is how much of it you keep after tax.
Tips for a bigger retirement balance
- Start early: money invested in your 20s and 30s has the longest time to compound. Compare different starting ages above.
- Raise your contribution by 1% a year, ideally whenever you get a pay rise.
- Keep fees low: a 1% yearly fee can reduce the final balance by a fifth or more over 30 years.
- Avoid early withdrawals: before 59½ they usually cost income tax plus a 10% penalty.
Saving outside a 401(k)? Try the compound interest calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I have in my 401(k)?
A common guideline is to save about 1× your salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60 and 10× by 67. Use the calculator to see whether your current savings rate gets you there.
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
Employees can contribute up to $24,500 in 2026. Savers aged 50 and over can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution, and those aged 60 to 63 can add $11,250 instead.
How does an employer match work?
Your employer adds money based on what you contribute, for example 50 cents per dollar up to 6% of your salary. To get the full match you must contribute at least that 6%.
How much income will my 401(k) give me?
Under the 4% rule, a balance of $1 million supports about $40,000 a year of withdrawals, adjusted for inflation, for around 30 years.
What return should I assume?
A diversified stock-heavy portfolio has historically returned around 7% a year before inflation over long periods, but returns vary a lot from year to year. Using 5% to 7% gives a reasonable range.
This calculator is for information only and is not investment or tax advice. Investment returns are not guaranteed and can be negative.