401(k) Growth Calculator
Free 401(k) growth calculator. Project your 401(k) balance over time with employer match, annual contribution increases, and compound growth to see the power of tax-deferred retirement savings.
Employer 401(k) Match Calculator
Free employer 401(k) match calculator. See how much free money your employer contributes, your vesting schedule, and how much you leave on the table if you don't maximize your match.
$
%
e.g. 100 = $1 per $1, 50 = $0.50 per $1
%
Employer matches up to this % of salary
%
Annual Employer Match
$3,200.00
Free money/year
Left on Table
$1,600.00
Contribute 6% to capture
Vested Amount
$1,280.00
40% vested
Your Annual Contribution⧉
$3,200.00
Max Possible Match⧉
$4,800.00
At 6% contribution rate
10-Year Match Growth⧉
$47,308.00
At 7% average return
10-Year Forfeited Growth⧉
$23,653.00
What you'd miss at current rate
Match by Contribution Rate
| Rate | Your Contrib | Employer Match | Total/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | $800.00 | $800.00 | $1,600.00 |
| 2% | $1,600.00 | $1,600.00 | $3,200.00 |
| 3% | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 | $4,800.00 |
| 4% ← You | $3,200.00 | $3,200.00 | $6,400.00 |
| 5% | $4,000.00 | $4,000.00 | $8,000.00 |
| 6% ← Optimal | $4,800.00 | $4,800.00 | $9,600.00 |
| 7% | $5,600.00 | $4,800.00 | $10,400.00 |
| 8% | $6,400.00 | $4,800.00 | $11,200.00 |
| 9% | $7,200.00 | $4,800.00 | $12,000.00 |
| 10% | $8,000.00 | $4,800.00 | $12,800.00 |
Estimates based on inputs provided. Verify your employer's exact match formula and vesting schedule in your Summary Plan Description. Consult a financial advisor.
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Employer 401(k) Match Calculator
The Employer 401(k) Match Calculator shows the value of your employer matching contribution and how much of it you may be leaving on the table. A dollar-for-dollar match is an immediate boost to compensation, while a partial match is still a meaningful increase in saving rate and long-run balance.
Many employees do not contribute enough to capture the full employer match, effectively forfeiting a portion of their compensation each year. This calculator shows your employer's annual match based on your contribution rate, the vested amount based on your tenure, and the long-term growth impact of that match.
Enter your salary, contribution rate, employer match formula, and years of service to see the complete match breakdown. Employer contributions represent compensation that many employees leave on the table. Understanding vesting schedules, match formulas, and contribution deadlines helps you capture the intended benefit. Reviewing your match annually accounts for salary changes and updated plan terms.
When This Page Helps
Understanding your employer's match is the first step in retirement planning. This calculator quantifies the free money you receive, shows how much you forfeit by under-contributing, and factors in vesting schedules to reveal your actual ownership of employer contributions. Failing to contribute enough to earn the full match is equivalent to declining part of your compensation package.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter your annual gross salary.
- Enter your current contribution rate as a percentage.
- Enter your employer's match rate (e.g., 100% or 50%).
- Enter the match limit — the max percentage of salary your employer matches on.
- Enter your years of service and select a vesting schedule.
- Review your annual match, vested amount, and money left on the table.
Formula used
Your Contribution = Salary × Contribution Rate%
Matchable = min(Your Contribution, Salary × Match Limit%)
Employer Match = Matchable × Match Rate%
Vested Amount = Employer Match × Vesting%
Money Left on Table = Max Possible Match − Actual Employer MatchExample Calculation
Result: Match: $3,200/year | $1,600 left on table | 60% vested
At a 4% contribution rate on $80,000 salary, you contribute $3,200. Your employer matches 100% up to 6% of salary ($4,800 max). Since you only contribute 4%, the match is $3,200. Contributing 6% would yield the full $4,800 — leaving $1,600/year on the table. With 3 years of service on a 6-year graded schedule, 60% ($1,920) is vested.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always contribute at least enough to get the full employer match — it's free money.
- Increasing from 4% to 6% contribution could mean $1,000-$3,000+ more from your employer annually.
- Vesting schedules determine how much employer match you keep if you leave the job.
- Cliff vesting means 0% until a set year (usually 3), then 100%. Graded vesting increases gradually.
- Your own contributions are always 100% vested immediately — only employer contributions vest.
- The long-term compounded value of the match often exceeds the match itself by 3-5×.
The True Cost of Leaving Money on the Table
If your employer offers a 50% match up to 6% and you only contribute 3%, you're forfeiting 1.5% of your salary every year. On an $80,000 salary, that's $1,200/year. Over 30 years at 7% returns, that forfeited match alone would have grown to over $113,000. The small adjustment from 3% to 6% of your contribution can mean the difference of six figures in retirement.
Understanding Vesting Schedules
Employers use vesting schedules to incentivize employee retention. The two main types are cliff vesting (nothing until year 3, then 100%) and graded vesting (20% per year starting year 2, reaching 100% at year 6). If you're considering a job change, check how much of your employer match is vested — it could represent thousands of dollars.
Match Formulas Vary Widely
Employer match formulas differ significantly. Safe harbor plans must match either 100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2% (totaling 4%), or a flat 3% regardless of employee contribution. Many tech companies offer dollar-for-dollar match up to 50% of the contribution limit. Always check your Summary Plan Description for exact terms.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Methodology
This worksheet compares your elected contribution rate with the employer match formula and vesting schedule to estimate the annual match value and how much of it is immediately yours. It is a plan-worksheet aid, not a guarantee of future plan terms.
Sources
- Retirement topics - 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits (IRS) — Official 2026 401(k) elective-deferral and annual-additions limit context.
- Retirement topics - Contributions (IRS) — Official retirement-plan contribution overview and aggregation rules.
- Retirement Plan Pitfalls Workshop (IRS) — IRS workshop material with vesting-schedule context.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means your employer contributes $0.50 for every $1 you contribute, on the first 6% of your salary. If you earn $80,000 and contribute 6% ($4,800), your employer adds $2,400 (50% × $4,800). Contributing more than 6% doesn't increase the match.
A vesting schedule determines how much of your employer's contributions you get to keep if you leave the company. Common schedules: immediate (100% from day one), 3-year cliff (0% until year 3, then 100%), and 6-year graded (20% per year starting year 2). Your own contributions are always 100% vested.
The most common match formula is 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary (worth 3% of salary). Dollar-for-dollar match up to 3-6% is also common. The average employer match is roughly 3-5% of salary. Some generous employers match 100% up to 6% or more.
Yes and no. For tracking total retirement savings, include it. But for personal savings discipline, track your own contribution separately. Financial advisors recommend saving 10-15% of salary including the match, with at least 6-10% from your own contributions.
Yes, if you leave before fully vesting. Unvested employer contributions are forfeited back to the plan. This is why vesting matters for job decisions. Some plans have immediate vesting, but many use 3-6 year schedules. Always check your plan's vesting terms.
No, the employer match is contributed by your employer on top of your salary. Only your own contributions reduce your paycheck. The match is additional compensation that goes directly into your 401(k) account at no cost to you.
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