401(k) Calculator
United States – Retirement
401(k) retirement savings projection
Project how large your 401(k) could grow by retirement from your contributions, employer match, expected return, and salary growth.
Enter your details
Projected balance at 65
$1,846,072
In 35 years
Investment growth
$1,366,123
Compounding on top of contributions
Where the money comes from
| Your contributions | $349,961 |
| Employer match | $104,988 |
| Investment growth | $1,366,123 |
| Projected balance | $1,846,072 |
What this means
Saving 10% of a $70,000 salary with a 50% employer match, your 401(k) could grow to about $1,846,072 by age 65 — of which roughly $1,366,123 is investment growth you never contributed.
- Always contribute at least enough to get the full employer match — it is an immediate, guaranteed return.
- Time in the market matters most: starting a few years earlier can add hundreds of thousands to the final balance.
- This projection assumes a steady return; real markets vary year to year, so treat it as a planning estimate.
The three engines of 401(k) growth
Your retirement balance is built from money you put in, money your employer adds, and the compounding growth on top of both. Early on, your own contributions dominate. But over 20 or 30 years, compounding takes over — the returns earn returns of their own — until investment growth is usually the biggest slice of the final total. That’s why starting early matters more than almost anything else.
Never leave the employer match on the table
An employer match is a guaranteed, immediate return on your money. A “50% match up to 6%” means that by contributing 6% of your salary, you get an extra 3% added for free — a 50% instant return before any market growth. If you contribute less than the match threshold, you are turning down part of your compensation. Set your contribution to at least the match limit shown in the calculator, then aim higher if you can.
Example
A 30-year-old earning $70,000 with $25,000 already saved, contributing 10% with a 50%-up-to-6% employer match and a 7% return, could reach roughly $1.4 million by age 65 — and well over half of that would be investment growth they never contributed. Lower the return to 5% or start at 40 instead of 30, and you’ll see how much both assumptions change the outcome.
Limitations & disclaimer
This is a simplified projection using a constant annual return; real markets fluctuate and some years are negative. It does not model IRS contribution limits, catch-up contributions, fees, taxes on withdrawal, or inflation-adjusted (real) dollars. It is an educational estimate, not investment or tax advice — consult a qualified financial professional for your situation.
FAQs
How does a 401(k) grow over time?
Your 401(k) grows from three sources: the money you contribute from each paycheck, any matching contributions your employer adds, and the compounding investment returns earned on the whole balance. Over decades, that investment growth usually becomes the largest of the three.
How does employer matching work?
A common match is "50% up to 6% of salary," meaning if you contribute at least 6% of your pay, your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you put in, on that first 6%. It is effectively free money and an instant return, so contributing at least enough to capture the full match is almost always worth it.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
A widely used guideline is 15% of your salary including the employer match, but the essential minimum is enough to get the full match. If money is tight, start there and increase your contribution by 1% each year or whenever you get a raise.
What return should I assume?
Historically, a diversified stock-heavy portfolio has returned roughly 7% per year after inflation over the long run, though individual years vary widely and can be negative. Using 6–8% gives a reasonable planning range; lower it as you approach retirement and shift toward bonds.
Are there contribution limits?
Yes. The IRS sets an annual 401(k) contribution limit that changes each year, with an additional catch-up amount allowed once you turn 50. This calculator does not cap your inputs, so make sure your contribution stays within the current IRS limit.