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401(k) Growth Calculator
Project your 401(k) with salary growth, employer match, and contribution limits.
New to this? Start here
This shows what your 401(k) could grow to by retirement, and how much of that is your employer's match — money you get just for contributing. Set your salary, what you put in, and what your employer matches, then watch the balance build.Balance at retirement
$1,451,910
age 65
Employer match, total
$126,970
free money, not counting its growth
Growth's share
72%
of the final balance
Your employer's match adds $126,970 in free money over these 35 years — before it even has a chance to grow.
Your contributionsEmployer matchGrowth
View as table
| Age | Salary | Your contribution | Employer match | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $70,000 | $0 | $0 | $20,000 |
| 35 | $78,786 | $4,727 | $2,364 | $66,367 |
| 40 | $91,334 | $5,480 | $2,740 | $137,503 |
| 45 | $105,881 | $6,353 | $3,176 | $244,348 |
| 50 | $122,745 | $7,365 | $3,682 | $402,406 |
| 55 | $142,296 | $8,538 | $4,269 | $633,599 |
| 60 | $164,960 | $9,898 | $4,949 | $968,881 |
| 65 | $191,233 | $11,474 | $5,737 | $1,451,910 |
Methodology & assumptions
- Contributions and employer match are applied once per year, at year-end, then grow for the following year — real payroll deducts every pay period.
- The employee 2025 IRS elective-deferral limit is enforced: $23,500/yr, or $31,000/yr from the year you turn 50 (the 'super' catch-up for ages 60–63 is not modeled).
- Employer match is calculated as a match rate applied to your contribution up to a cap (% of salary) — plan designs vary widely; check your plan document.
- Salary growth and investment return are applied as constant annual rates — real salaries and markets vary year to year.
- Results are nominal (not inflation-adjusted) and pre-tax; withdrawal-phase taxes are not modeled.
Educational only
This simulator is for education. It uses simplified assumptions, is not financial, tax, or investment advice, and no result here is a prediction or a recommendation. Talk to a licensed professional before acting.More retirement & compounding tools
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