401(k) Retirement Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement with employer match, salary growth, and returns — plus a 4% rule income estimate.
Everyday Uses
Retirement reality preview
See what your current contribution rate actually builds by 65 — and what it supports monthly.
Match maximization
Model your employer's match to see how much free money your contribution rate captures — or leaves behind.
The 1% experiment
Compare contribution rates side by side — one extra percent now often means six figures at retirement.
Job change decisions
Weigh a new job's salary against its match policy — a better match can outvalue a small raise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does employer matching work?
A typical match is "50% of contributions up to 6% of salary" — meaning if you contribute 6%, your employer adds 3% free. Enter the match percentage (50) and the limit (6) here to model it. Not contributing enough to capture the full match leaves guaranteed 50–100% instant returns on the table — it is almost always the first savings priority.
What is the 4% rule?
A retirement planning guideline: withdrawing about 4% of your balance in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, has historically sustained a portfolio for 30+ years. A $1,000,000 balance supports roughly $40,000/year. It is a rough planning anchor, not a guarantee — sequence-of-returns risk and longer retirements argue for flexibility.
What return should I assume?
A diversified stock-heavy portfolio has averaged about 7% annually before inflation (roughly 10% nominal for the S&P 500 long-term, less after fees and diversification). Conservative planners use 5–6%; entering multiple scenarios in the compare feature shows how sensitive your outcome is to this single assumption.
How much should I contribute?
Common guidance: at minimum, capture the full employer match; a widely-cited overall target is saving 15% of income for retirement including the match. Contribution limits change annually and catch-up contributions apply from age 50. This calculator shows the long-term impact of each percentage point — small increases early compound dramatically. This is an educational projection, not financial advice.