Retirement Planning Tool
401(k) Projection Calculator
See what your 401(k) will actually be worth at retirement, with your employer's specific match structure, catch-up contributions, and year-by-year growth.
Works for any company. Enter your match formula and contribution rate to see if you're capturing every dollar of employer match, and what the gap costs you over time.
No sign-up required · Instant results
Employer Match Structure
Check your summary plan description or benefits portal for your exact formula.
e.g. 50 = employer matches 50 cents per dollar you contribute
e.g. 6 = match applies to your first 6% of salary contributed
Contribute at least 6% to capture the full employer match.
Catch-Up Contributions (2026 IRS limits)
2026: $8,000 extra at 50+, $11,250 extra (super catch-up) at 60–63 per SECURE 2.0.
This is an estimate, not a number to plan around alone.
This calculator is an educational tool to help you think through scenarios. The results are illustrative estimates based on the inputs you provided and general assumptions. They are not financial advice, and the numbers shown should not be relied on as exact to your situation.
Real outcomes depend on factors a calculator can't fully model: your complete tax picture, plan-specific rules, market performance, IRS rate changes, life events, and how all the pieces of your financial life interact. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This tool does not collect, store, or transmit any financial data.
Projections assume a constant annual return and do not account for market volatility, fees, or changes in tax law. IRS contribution limits are updated annually. Always verify current limits at irs.gov before making contribution decisions.
Before making any decision based on these numbers, let's talk. I'll look at your full picture, pressure-test the assumptions, and help you understand what these numbers actually mean for you, at no cost.
By Jay Chang, VP, Wealth Advisor
Last updated July 6, 2026
What Does a 401(k) Projection Calculator Do?
It compounds your balance forward, year by year, using your salary, contribution rate, employer match formula, and an assumed return. The result is a projected balance at your retirement age, plus a breakdown of how much came from you, your employer, and market growth.
The projection applies 2026 IRS limits along the way: the $24,500 deferral cap, the $8,000 catch-up at 50, and the $11,250 enhanced catch-up at ages 60 to 63. It also flags the most expensive quiet mistake in retirement saving: contributing below your employer's match cap.
When Is a 401(k) Projection Worth Running?
Whenever a contribution decision is in front of you. The cases I see most:
- Choosing a contribution rate at a new job. The default enrollment rate is rarely the right one. Two minutes here shows what each percentage point is worth by retirement.
- Checking whether you capture the full match. If your rate sits below the match cap, the gap section shows the compounded cost in dollars, not percentages.
- Deciding whether to add catch-up contributions. At 50, and again at 60, the limits step up. The projection shows what those extra years of headroom are worth.
- Weighing savings beyond the deferral limit. If you already max out, the next dollar often belongs in after-tax contributions via the mega backdoor Roth, where plans allow it.
- Sanity-checking what is inside the account. A projection assumes a diversified return. If your plan holds a large slug of company stock, the risk profile is different, a problem I broke down for Honeywell employees with concentrated 401(k)s.
A projection is a straight line, and markets are not. Once the balance matters to your plan, the better question is how it holds up across good and bad market sequences, which is what my Monte Carlo simulator tests. And a 401(k) is one account inside a full retirement plan: Social Security timing, pensions, and taxable accounts all change what the number needs to be.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your current 401(k) balance, salary, age, and planned retirement age.
- Pick your match formula from the presets, like 50 percent on the first 6 percent, or enter a custom formula from your plan document.
- Set your contribution percentage, salary growth, and an assumed annual return. Test a conservative return and an optimistic one.
- Read the projected balance, the employer match captured, and the year-by-year table. If you are not capturing the full match, the gap section shows what it costs by retirement.
401(k) Projection Questions I Hear Most
How much will my 401(k) be worth when I retire?
It depends on five inputs: your current balance, salary, contribution rate, employer match formula, and the return you assume. The calculator compounds all five year by year with 2026 IRS limits applied, so the projection reflects your actual plan rather than a generic rule of thumb.
How does a 401(k) employer match work?
Your employer contributes a percentage of what you contribute, up to a cap. A common formula is 50 percent of the first 6 percent of salary: contribute 6 percent and the company adds 3 percent. Contribute less than the cap and you forfeit part of the match. It is part of your compensation, so capturing all of it usually comes first.
How much can I contribute to my 401(k) in 2026?
The employee deferral limit is $24,500. Workers 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up, and workers aged 60 to 63 get an enhanced $11,250 catch-up under SECURE 2.0. The combined limit including employer contributions is $72,000. The IRS lists current figures in its contribution limit guidance.
What annual return should I assume?
No one knows future returns, so treat the return field as an assumption to test, not a forecast. Run a conservative rate and an optimistic one, and plan around the lower result. The right assumption also depends on your allocation: a stock-heavy portfolio behaves differently than a bond-heavy one.
What does missing part of the employer match actually cost?
More than the missed dollars, because every uncaptured match dollar also loses decades of compounding. The calculator compares your projected balance against the full-match version and shows the gap at retirement. For most people it is the most expensive default setting in their financial life.
Want help putting these numbers to work?
A projection tells you where you're headed. A plan tells you what to do differently.
I work with corporate employees on 401(k) contribution strategy, employer match optimization, Roth vs. pre-tax decisions, and how your 401(k) fits into a complete retirement income plan.