401(k) Calculator: How Much Will My 401(k) Be Worth?
401(k) Investment Calculator
Project your balance at retirement with employer match, salary growth, fees & 2026 IRS limits.
Year-by-year projection
| Age | Salary | You | Employer | Growth | Balance |
|---|
How to use this 401(k) calculator
This calculator projects your 401(k) balance from today through the age you plan to retire, using the same math professional retirement planners use. Enter your current age, target retirement age, salary, current balance, and how much you contribute each year — either as a percent of pay or a fixed monthly dollar amount. The tool applies the 2026 IRS contribution limits automatically, so you never overshoot the legal maximum.
Under Show return, fees & inflation, you can fine-tune the expected annual return (7% is the historical S&P 500 return net of inflation), your plan's expense ratio, and an inflation assumption. The output panel shows your projected balance, the split between your contributions, employer match, and investment growth — plus the ages at which you are on track to cross $100,000, $500,000, and $1 million.
2026 401(k) contribution limits (IRS-official)
The IRS raised the 401(k) elective deferral limit for 2026 by $1,000, and the age 60–63 super catch-up added by SECURE Act 2.0 remains in effect. Here are the numbers our calculator enforces:
| Contributor | Employee limit | Total (with match) |
|---|---|---|
| Under age 50 | $24,500 | $72,000 |
| Age 50 or older (standard catch-up) | $24,500 + $8,000 = $32,500 | $80,000 |
| Age 60, 61, 62 or 63 (super catch-up) | $24,500 + $11,250 = $35,750 | $83,250 |
| Age 64+ (returns to standard catch-up) | $32,500 | $80,000 |
Source: IRS Notice announcing 2026 COLA increases (IRS Newsroom). The combined employee + employer contribution ceiling is the lesser of $72,000 or 100% of compensation, per IRC §415(c).
How much will my 401(k) be worth?
The math behind every 401(k) projection is the compound-interest future-value formula with recurring contributions:
Where FV is the future value, PV is your starting balance, PMT is your annual contribution (yours plus employer match), r is the expected annual return, and n is years to retirement. Small changes in r and n compound into massive differences at the finish line.
How much will my 401(k) be worth in 10 years?
A $50,000 starting balance with $500 monthly contributions at a 7% annual return grows to about $186,000 in 10 years. Add a typical 3% employer match on a $75,000 salary and the projection rises to roughly $220,000. Push the horizon to 20 years and the same setup produces about $500,000; at 30 years, more than $1 million.
The lesson: time in the market and consistent contributions dwarf every other factor. Doubling your contribution rate does help, but starting five years earlier usually does more.
Average 401(k) balance by age (2026 data)
Use these Fidelity Investments and Vanguard benchmarks to check whether your balance is above or below the national median for your age bracket (Fidelity):
| Age band | Average balance | Median balance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | $6,899 | $1,948 |
| 25–34 | $42,640 | $16,255 |
| 35–44 | $103,552 | $39,958 |
| 45–54 | $188,643 | $67,796 |
| 55–64 | $271,320 | $95,642 |
| 65 and older | $299,442 | $95,425 |
Averages are pulled upward by a small number of very large balances, so the median is usually a more realistic benchmark. If you are behind, focus on capturing every dollar of employer match, increasing your contribution by 1% each year, and rolling old 401(k)s into a single account so you can see the full picture.
How employer match works (and why it's free money)
An employer match is the amount your company deposits into your 401(k) on top of what you contribute. It's compensation you have already earned; leaving it on the table is one of the most expensive mistakes in personal finance. The average employer match in 2026 is 4.6% of pay according to Vanguard's How America Saves 2025 report.
Two match formulas dominate (Fidelity):
- 100% on the first 3% + 50% on the next 2% (a 4% effective match). Contribute at least 5% to capture it in full.
- 50% on the first 6% (a 3% effective match). Contribute at least 6% to capture it in full.
Example: On a $75,000 salary with a 50%-up-to-6% match, contributing 6% ($4,500) earns a $2,250 employer deposit. Contributing only 3% ($2,250) earns only $1,125 — you lose $1,125 a year, every year, forever. Over 30 years at a 7% return, that missed match alone is worth about $113,000.
Traditional 401(k) vs Roth 401(k)
Pre-tax contributions
- Contributions reduce today's taxable income
- Growth is tax-deferred
- Withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income
- Subject to Required Minimum Distributions at age 73
- Best if you expect a lower tax bracket in retirement
After-tax contributions
- No upfront tax deduction
- Growth is tax-free
- Qualified withdrawals are 100% tax-free
- No RMDs starting in 2024 under SECURE 2.0
- Best if you expect a higher tax bracket in retirement
Many savers split contributions between both accounts to hedge against future tax-rate uncertainty. The employer match, however, is always deposited into the Traditional side of your account regardless of how you contribute, so a Roth-only account still generates a Traditional match balance.
New for 2026: The Roth catch-up mandate
Practical implications:
- If your 2025 wages were $145,000 or less, you can still make traditional (pretax) catch-up contributions in 2026.
- If your plan does not offer a Roth option and you exceed the wage threshold, you are barred from making any catch-up contribution until the plan adds Roth.
- The threshold applies per employer, not household — a spouse's income does not count.
- The regular $24,500 base contribution is unaffected; only the catch-up portion is subject to the Roth requirement.
Vesting: when the match becomes yours
Vesting is how long you must stay at your employer to keep the money they put in your 401(k). Your own contributions are always 100% vested. Employer contributions follow one of two schedules (Calculator.net):
- Cliff vesting: 0% for up to 3 years, then 100% instantly. Leaving one day before the cliff forfeits everything.
- Graded vesting: A percentage each year — often 20% per year from year 2 through year 6.
Always check your plan's vesting schedule before accepting a new job. Walking away three months short of the cliff can cost tens of thousands.
Early withdrawal, hardship & the Rule of 55
Money you withdraw from a 401(k) before age 59½ is generally subject to ordinary income tax plus a 10% early-withdrawal penalty. The IRS lists a growing set of exceptions:
- Rule of 55: Separate from your employer during or after the year you turn 55 (age 50 for public safety workers), and you can take penalty-free withdrawals from that employer's 401(k) — but not from IRAs (Fidelity).
- Disability that is total and permanent.
- Medical expenses above 7.5% of adjusted gross income.
- Birth or adoption: Up to $5,000 per child, per parent.
- Domestic abuse survivor: Up to $10,000 or 50% of the account, whichever is less (SECURE 2.0).
- Terminal illness with a physician certification.
- Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP / 72(t)) taken for at least 5 years or until age 59½, whichever is longer.
Even when a penalty is waived, ordinary income taxes still apply. A hardship withdrawal is almost never the right choice — a 401(k) loan is usually cheaper if your plan permits it.
401(k) calculator FAQ
How much will my 401(k) be worth in 10 years?
A $50,000 starting balance with $500 monthly contributions at a 7% annual return grows to about $186,000 in 10 years. Adding a 3% employer match on a $75,000 salary lifts that to roughly $220,000.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
For 2026 the employee limit is $24,500. Workers 50 or older can add an $8,000 catch-up for $32,500; workers age 60–63 can add the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up of $11,250 for $35,750.
What is the maximum total 401(k) contribution for 2026?
The combined employee + employer limit is $72,000 (or 100% of compensation, whichever is less). With catch-up contributions, the ceiling rises to $80,000 or $83,250 for the age 60–63 super catch-up.
What is a good employer match?
The Vanguard How America Saves 2025 report shows the average match is 4.6% of pay. The most common formulas are 100% on the first 3% plus 50% on the next 2% (a 4% match) or 50% on the first 6% (a 3% match).
Is a 401(k) worth it if my employer doesn't match?
Yes. Even without a match, a Traditional 401(k) cuts your current tax bill and grows tax-deferred. Contribute at least enough to build the habit and — if funds are limited — prioritize a Roth IRA for tax diversification after you've maxed the match.
Should I choose a Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Choose Traditional if you expect a lower tax rate in retirement — you get the deduction today. Choose Roth if you expect a higher rate later or want tax-free withdrawals. Splitting contributions hedges against tax-rate uncertainty.
What is the Rule of 55?
The Rule of 55 lets you take penalty-free withdrawals from your current employer's 401(k) if you separate from that employer during or after the year you turn 55. Ordinary income tax still applies. Public safety employees qualify at age 50.
Can I lose money in a 401(k)?
Yes. A 401(k) holds investments — stocks, bonds, mutual funds — that can rise and fall. Over any 20+ year window in U.S. history, a diversified stock-and-bond portfolio has been positive, so time in the market is the best defense against volatility.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
Aim for 15% of gross income including any employer match, per Fidelity's benchmark. At minimum, contribute enough to capture the full employer match — anything less is refusing part of your compensation.
How do 401(k) fees affect my balance?
Fees compound against your balance every year. Reducing fees from 1.0% to 0.25% on a portfolio that would grow from $50,000 to $1 million over 35 years can add more than $250,000 to your final balance.
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Sources & methodology
- IRS Notice — 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026 — irs.gov
- IRS — 401(k) and Profit-Sharing Plan Contribution Limits — irs.gov
- Fidelity — Roth catch-up rules for high earners (2026) — fidelity.com
- Fidelity — Average retirement savings by age — fidelity.com
- Vanguard — How America Saves 2025 — vanguard.com
- IRS — Exceptions to tax on early distributions — irs.gov
Calculator uses the standard future-value formula with recurring contributions. Projected returns are hypothetical and don't guarantee actual results. Not tax or financial advice.