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.
457 Plan Calculator
Free 457(b) plan calculator for 2026. Project deferred compensation growth with no early withdrawal penalty. Includes the special 3-year catch-up provision for government employees.
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For 3-year catch-up
Projected 457 Balance at Retirement
$852,592.00
15 years | No early withdrawal penalty
Total Contributionsโง
$352,500.00
Sum of all values
Investment Growthโง
$420,092.00
49.30%
Growth Projection
| Age | Contribution | Growth | Balance | Catch-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | $23,500.00 | $7,245.00 | $110,745.00 | Standard |
| 47 | $23,500.00 | $9,397.00 | $143,642.00 | Standard |
| 50 | $23,500.00 | $16,800.00 | $256,806.00 | Standard |
| 51 | $23,500.00 | $19,621.00 | $299,928.00 | Age 50+ |
| 52 | $23,500.00 | $22,640.00 | $346,068.00 | Age 50+ |
| 53 | $23,500.00 | $25,870.00 | $395,438.00 | Age 50+ |
| 54 | $23,500.00 | $29,326.00 | $448,263.00 | Age 50+ |
| 55 | $23,500.00 | $33,023.00 | $504,787.00 | Age 50+ |
| 56 | $23,500.00 | $36,980.00 | $565,267.00 | Age 50+ |
| 57 | $23,500.00 | $41,214.00 | $629,980.00 | Age 50+ |
| 58 | $23,500.00 | $45,744.00 | $699,224.00 | Age 50+ |
| 59 | $23,500.00 | $50,591.00 | $773,315.00 | Age 50+ |
| 60 | $23,500.00 | $55,777.00 | $852,592.00 | 3-Year Catch-Up |
Uses 2026 limits. Applies to governmental 457(b) plans only. Non-governmental 457(b) plans have different rules. The special 3-year catch-up also depends on unused prior-year deferral room, which this worksheet simplifies. Returns are hypothetical. Consult your plan administrator.
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the 457 Plan Calculator
The 457 Plan Calculator projects the growth of your governmental 457(b) deferred compensation plan โ a retirement vehicle for state and local government employees that is especially useful for early-retirement planning because qualifying distributions after separation from service are not subject to the usual 10% early-withdrawal penalty.
For 2026, the standard elective-deferral limit is $24,500. Governmental 457(b) plans may also allow an $8,000 age-50 catch-up, a higher $11,250 ages-60-63 catch-up, or a special catch-up in the last 3 years before normal retirement age that can reach the lesser of twice the basic limit or the basic limit plus unused prior-year deferrals.
This calculator models the balance effect of those contribution choices over time. It is a planning worksheet rather than a plan-administration tool, so it should be used to compare scenarios before you confirm actual special-catch-up eligibility with your plan administrator.
When This Page Helps
A governmental 457(b) is unusually useful for early-retirement planning because access after separation from service is more flexible than with many other salary-deferral plans. This page helps you compare standard savings, age-based catch-ups, and the simplified special catch-up path on one timeline.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter your current 457 balance and annual contribution.
- Set your expected annual return rate.
- Enter your current age, planned retirement age, and the plan normal retirement age used for the special catch-up.
- Toggle the 3-year catch-up if you want to model that scenario.
- If you also use a 401(k) or 403(b), compare the dual-plan scenario.
- Review the projected balance and penalty-free access context.
Formula used
FV = ฮฃ [(Balance + Contribution) ร (1 + r)] each year
Standard Limit: $24,500 (2026)
Special 3-Year Catch-Up: lesser of twice the basic limit or the basic limit plus unused prior-year deferrals
Age 50+ Catch-Up: $8,000 in 2026, or $11,250 for ages 60-63 if permitted; you generally use the greater catch-up rather than stacking themExample Calculation
Result: Projected balance: ~$1,384,000
Starting with $80,000 and contributing the 2026 basic limit of $24,500 at 7% for 20 years produces about $1.38 million before any special catch-up amounts. Higher catch-up contributions late in the career can lift that projection further, depending on plan eligibility and unused prior-year deferral room.
Tips & Best Practices
- Governmental 457(b) plans are especially relevant if you expect to retire before age 59ยฝ.
- If your employer also offers a 401(k) or 403(b), compare the combined-deferral scenario instead of looking at the 457 in isolation.
- The special 3-year catch-up can be more valuable than the ordinary age-based catch-up, but only if you satisfy the unused-deferral requirement.
- Roth 457 options are increasingly common, but the right choice depends on your expected future tax rate and retirement timeline.
- Non-governmental 457(b) plans follow different access and creditor-risk rules, so confirm the plan type before applying governmental assumptions.
The 457 Advantage for Early Retirement
Unlike many other salary-deferral plans, the governmental 457(b) allows penalty-free access after separation from service regardless of age. That makes it especially relevant for workers planning retirement before the traditional age-59ยฝ threshold.
Dual-Plan Supercharging
Many government employers offer both a 457(b) and a 401(k) or 403(b). Because the 457 has its own elective-deferral limit, the combined savings capacity can be materially higher when cash flow allows it.
The 3-Year Catch-Up in Practice
The special catch-up depends on your plan normal retirement age and unused prior-year deferral room. This page simplifies that rule for planning, so treat the result as a worksheet rather than an administrator-certified maximum.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Methodology
This worksheet compounds the current balance forward year by year after adding the modeled annual employee contribution. It applies the 2026 basic elective-deferral limit and the age-based catch-up limits shown on the page. When the special 3-year catch-up is enabled, the worksheet simplifies that rule by assuming the doubled basic-limit path is available inside the 3-year window before normal retirement age.
That simplification matters because the real IRS rule also depends on unused prior-year deferral room and plan-specific normal retirement age. Use the page to compare scenarios, but confirm special-catch-up eligibility and plan terms with your administrator before relying on the higher contribution amount.
Sources
- Retirement Topics 457(b) Contribution Limits (Internal Revenue Service) โ IRS page covering the governmental 457(b) elective-deferral rules and the special 3-year catch-up structure.
- Retirement Topics - Contributions (Internal Revenue Service) โ IRS page listing the 2026 basic elective-deferral limit and general catch-up rules across plan types.
- COLA increases for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions (Internal Revenue Service) โ IRS 2026 cost-of-living adjustments, including 457 elective-deferral and catch-up amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 457(b) is a deferred-compensation retirement plan available to state and local government employees and some nonprofit organizations. For 2026, governmental plans allow elective deferrals up to $24,500 before catch-ups. A key advantage is that qualifying distributions after separation from service are not subject to the usual 10% early-withdrawal penalty.
In the 3 years before your plan normal retirement age, you may be able to contribute the lesser of twice the basic annual limit or the basic annual limit plus unused prior-year deferral room. In 2026, twice the basic limit is $49,000. You generally use the greater of the special catch-up or the age-based catch-up, rather than stacking them in the same year.
Yes. A governmental 457(b) has its own separate elective-deferral limit. If your employer offers both a 457 and a 401(k) or 403(b), you can generally defer up to each plan limit in the same year, subject to plan terms and compensation.
For governmental 457(b) plans, qualifying distributions after separation from service are not subject to the usual 10% early-withdrawal penalty that often applies to early 401(k) or IRA distributions. Ordinary income tax can still apply to pre-tax withdrawals.
If you expect to retire before age 59ยฝ, the 457 often deserves extra attention because of the access rules after separation from service. If a 401(k) has an employer match, capturing that match still usually comes first.
Many governmental 457(b) plans now offer Roth contribution options. Whether Roth or pre-tax is better depends on your expected tax bracket now versus in retirement and your plan for early access.
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