IRA Calculator — Traditional vs Roth IRA Comparison
Free IRA calculator. Compare Traditional vs Roth IRA growth, contribution limits, tax savings, Roth phase-outs, and required minimum distribution timing using the modeled tax settings on this page.
401(k) Calculator — Retirement Savings & Employer Match
Free 401(k) calculator. Estimate your retirement savings with employer match, contribution limits, growth projections, and Roth vs Traditional comparison.
Gross annual income before taxes
$
Percentage of salary to contribute
%
Employer matches this % of your contribution
%
Employer matches up to this % of salary
%
$
%
Your Annual Contribution⧉
$12,750.00
15% of salary · $1,063.00/mo
Employer Match⧉
$2,550.00
Free money! 50% match up to 6% cap
Total Annual Contribution⧉
$15,300.00
$1,275.00/mo combined · Effective rate: 18%
Projected Balance at Retirement⧉
$2,648,853.00
In 35 years at 7% annual return
Est. Monthly Retirement Income⧉
$8,830.00
Based on 4% safe withdrawal rate
Total Investment Growth⧉
$2,063,353.00
Contributions: $535,500.00 + Growth: $2,063,353.00
Total Employer Match Received⧉
$89,250.00
Over 35 years of employment
Contribution Limit ({taxYear})⧉
$24,000.00
Under 50 limit (catch-up at 50+)
Balance Composition
Starting
Contributions
Growth
Growth Projection
| Year | Age | Balance | Contributions | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | $68,800.00 | $15,300.00 | $3,500.00 |
| 2 | 32 | $88,916.00 | $30,600.00 | $8,316.00 |
| 3 | 33 | $110,440.00 | $45,900.00 | $14,540.00 |
| 4 | 34 | $133,471.00 | $61,200.00 | $22,271.00 |
| 5 | 35 | $158,114.00 | $76,500.00 | $31,614.00 |
| 10 | 40 | $309,749.00 | $153,000.00 | $106,749.00 |
| 15 | 45 | $522,426.00 | $229,500.00 | $242,926.00 |
| 20 | 50 | $820,715.00 | $306,000.00 | $464,715.00 |
| 25 | 55 | $1,239,082.00 | $382,500.00 | $806,582.00 |
| 30 | 60 | $1,825,863.00 | $459,000.00 | $1,316,863.00 |
| 35 | 65 | $2,648,853.00 | $535,500.00 | $2,063,353.00 |
Contribution Rate Comparison
| Rate | Employee | Employer | Total Annual | Balance at Retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $4,250.00 | $2,550.00 | $6,800.00 | $1,473,840.00 |
| 10% | $8,500.00 | $2,550.00 | $11,050.00 | $2,061,347.00 |
| 15% | $12,750.00 | $2,550.00 | $15,300.00 | $2,648,853.00 |
| 20% | $17,000.00 | $2,550.00 | $19,550.00 | $3,236,360.00 |
| 25% | $21,250.00 | $2,550.00 | $23,800.00 | $3,823,867.00 |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the 401(k) Calculator — Retirement Savings & Employer Match
The 401(k) Calculator helps you project how your employer-sponsored retirement account will grow over time, factoring in your contributions, employer matching, investment returns, and IRS contribution limits. Whether you're just starting your career or nearing retirement, understanding the power of consistent 401(k) contributions — especially when paired with an employer match — is essential for retirement planning.
A 401(k) plan is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to American workers. Contributions reduce your taxable income (Traditional) or grow tax-free (Roth), and many employers match a percentage of your contributions — essentially free money. The 2026 contribution limit is $24,500 for those under 50, with an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution for workers aged 50 and older.
Use this calculator to see exactly how much your 401(k) will be worth at retirement, how much your employer match adds to your total, and how different contribution rates affect your final balance. The growth projection table and contribution rate comparison make it easy to find the optimal savings strategy for your situation.
When This Page Helps
Many employees leave free money on the table by not contributing enough to capture their full employer match. This calculator shows the dramatic impact of employer matching over decades of compounding. It also helps you determine if you're on track for retirement and whether a Traditional or Roth 401(k) is better for your tax situation.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter your annual salary before taxes.
- Set your contribution percentage (the portion of salary you save).
- Enter your employer match percentage and match cap.
- Input your current 401(k) balance if you have existing savings.
- Set your current age and target retirement age.
- Choose your expected annual investment return rate.
- Select your tax year for accurate contribution limits.
- Review your projected balance, employer match value, and growth trajectory.
Formula used
Employee Contribution = Salary × Contribution %
Employer Match = min(Salary × Match Cap, Salary) × Match %
Total Annual = Employee Contribution + Employer Match
Future Value = Current Balance × (1 + r)^n + Annual Contribution × ((1 + r)^n − 1) / r
where r = annual return rate, n = years to retirementExample Calculation
Result: $12,750/yr employee + $3,400 employer match = $16,150/yr total → ~$2,170,000 at retirement
With a $85,000 salary, 15% contribution ($12,750/yr), and 100% employer match on the first 4% ($3,400/yr), your combined $16,150 annual contribution grows to approximately $2.17 million over 35 years at 7% annual returns. The employer match alone contributes over $280,000 of that total.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always contribute at least enough to capture your full employer match — it is literally free money.
- Increase your contribution rate by 1% each year; you will barely notice the paycheck difference.
- If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement, Traditional 401(k) saves more; otherwise choose Roth.
- Review and rebalance your 401(k) investment allocations annually.
- Take advantage of catch-up contributions starting at age 50.
- Avoid early withdrawals — the 10% penalty plus taxes can cost you over 40% of the withdrawal.
How Employer Matching Supercharges Your Retirement
Employer matching is the cornerstone benefit of a 401(k) plan. Even a modest 50% match on the first 6% of salary adds up to tens of thousands of dollars in free money over a career. An employee earning $85,000 with this match receives $2,550 in free employer contributions each year — compounding at 7% for 30 years, that employer match alone grows to over $240,000.
Traditional vs Roth 401(k): Which Is Right for You?
The Traditional vs Roth decision depends primarily on your current tax rate versus your expected retirement tax rate. If you are in a high tax bracket now and expect lower income in retirement, Traditional contributions provide an immediate tax break. If you are early in your career with a lower salary and expect higher income later, Roth contributions lock in today's lower rate and provide tax-free withdrawals. Many advisors recommend splitting contributions between both for tax diversification.
401(k) Investment Strategies by Age
In your 20s and 30s, consider an aggressive allocation (80-90% stocks) since you have decades for recovery from market downturns. In your 40s, shift to 60-70% stocks with more bonds for stability. Approaching retirement in your 50s and 60s, move toward 40-50% stocks to protect your accumulated wealth. Target-date funds automatically adjust this allocation for you based on your expected retirement year.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Methodology
This worksheet projects retirement balance growth from current contributions, employer match, assumed return, and the IRS employee-deferral limit. It is a planning aid, not a guarantee of market performance or plan-specific match terms.
Sources
- Retirement topics - 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits (IRS) — Official 2026 elective-deferral and annual-additions limits for 401(k) plans.
- Retirement topics - Contributions (IRS) — Official retirement-plan contribution overview and aggregation rules.
- IR-2025-111, 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 (IRS) — Current IRS announcement for 2026 retirement-plan contribution limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. You contribute a percentage of your pre-tax salary (Traditional) or after-tax salary (Roth), and the money grows tax-deferred. Many employers match a portion of your contributions.
For 2026, the employee contribution limit is $24,500 for those under 50 and $32,500 for those 50 and older (includes $8,000 catch-up contribution). The total combined employer + employee limit is $72,000.
An employer match means your company contributes additional money when you contribute. For example, a 50% match on 6% means if you contribute 6% of salary, your employer adds 3%. Always contribute at least enough to get the full match — it is a 50-100% instant return on investment.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, reducing your taxable income now but taxed at withdrawal. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax, so you pay taxes now but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Choose Roth if you expect higher tax rates in retirement.
You can roll your 401(k) into your new employer plan or into an IRA without paying taxes. Leaving it in a former employer plan is also an option, but avoid cashing out — you will pay income tax plus a 10% early withdrawal penalty if under 59½.
Financial advisors recommend saving 15-20% of gross income for retirement. At minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match. If you can afford more, max out the annual limit for maximum tax-advantaged growth.
Workers aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $8,000 per year above the standard 401(k) limit. This catch-up provision helps those who started saving later or want to accelerate their retirement savings.
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