Most Americans know they should be saving for retirement. Far fewer know exactly how much their 401k will be worth when they stop working — or how much they're leaving on the table by not contributing enough to capture their full employer match. A 401k calculator answers both questions in seconds. Enter your salary, contribution rate, employer match formula, current balance, expected return, and years until retirement, and you get a projected balance, an estimated monthly income in retirement, and a year-by-year breakdown of how your savings grow.

This guide explains how a 401k calculator works, covers the 2026 IRS contribution limits including the SECURE 2.0 catch-up provisions, and walks through exactly what the numbers mean for workers at every stage of their career. Whether you're 25 and just enrolled or 58 and trying to close a savings gap, this calculator and the formulas behind it give you the clearest picture available of where you stand.

What Is a 401k Calculator and Why Does It Matter

A 401k calculator projects the future value of your 401k retirement account by applying compound interest to your current balance and ongoing contributions — including your employer's matching contributions — over the years remaining until your target retirement age. Employees at companies offering 401k plans, HR professionals, financial planners, and anyone building a retirement income strategy use it to estimate their retirement nest egg under different scenarios. The core formula is the future value of a series of payments compounded annually: Balance grows by the rate of return each year, then new contributions and employer match are added. Getting this wrong has real consequences — workers who underestimate how much they need to save often discover the shortfall only when it's too late to close it through contributions alone. A 401k calculator run today, with honest inputs, is the earliest and most actionable retirement warning system available.

What You Need Before You Start

Have the following information ready before using the 401k calculator:

- Your current 401k balance in dollars — check your most recent account statement or log into your plan provider's website for the current figure.

- Your current annual salary before taxes — the gross salary figure used to calculate your contribution percentage and employer match.

- Your contribution rate as a percentage of salary — the percentage of each paycheck you direct into your 401k, typically between 3% and 15%.

- Your employer's match formula — the most common is 50% match on the first 6% of salary, but formulas vary widely. Check your employee benefits summary or ask your HR department for the exact formula.

- Your expected annual rate of return — a reasonable long-run assumption for a diversified 401k is 6% to 7% annually in real terms. The historical long-run nominal return of the US stock market is approximately 10%, but most financial planners suggest 6% to 7% for conservative projections after fees and inflation.

- Your current age and target retirement age — determines the number of compounding years remaining.

- Your annual salary growth rate if you want a more realistic projection — 2% to 3% per year reflects typical merit increases and inflation adjustments for most workers.

How to Use This 401k Calculator Step by Step

Enter your numbers in order for a complete retirement projection in under two minutes.

1. Enter your current 401k balance — use your most recent statement balance. Enter zero if you are just starting.

2. Enter your gross annual salary — your total pre-tax compensation before any deductions.

3. Enter your contribution rate as a percentage — the portion of your salary you contribute to your 401k each pay period. Start with your current rate, then experiment with higher rates to see the impact.

4. Enter your employer match formula — select from common options (50% on first 6%, 100% on first 3%, dollar-for-dollar on first 4%) or enter a custom match percentage and cap.

5. Enter your expected annual return — use 6% for a conservative projection, 7% for moderate, or up to 8% if you're heavily invested in equities and comfortable with the assumption.

6. Enter your current age and your target retirement age — the difference gives your compounding horizon.

7. Click Calculate. Your result shows projected balance at retirement, total contributions made, total employer match received, total investment growth, estimated monthly income, and a year-by-year growth table.

The 401k Calculator Formula Explained Simply

A 401k balance grows through three forces working simultaneously: your own contributions every year, your employer's matching contributions, and compound interest on everything accumulated so far. The longer the time horizon, the more compound interest dominates — which is why starting early matters so dramatically and why even small contribution increases in your 20s and 30s produce outsized results at retirement.

Core Growth Formula (applied each year):

New Balance = Previous Balance × (1 + Rate of Return) + Annual Employee Contribution + Annual Employer Match

Annual Employee Contribution:

Employee Contribution = Annual Salary × Contribution Rate %

Annual Employer Match (most common formula — 50% match on first 6% of salary):

Employer Match = Annual Salary × MIN(Contribution Rate, 6%) × 50%

Future Value with salary growth (more accurate long-run projection):

Each year: Salary = Prior Year Salary × (1 + Salary Growth Rate)

Each year: Contributions and match recalculated on new salary, then capped at 2026 IRS limits

- Current Balance: starting point for compounding. Even a $10,000 difference at age 30 becomes roughly $75,000 at age 65 at a 7% return.

- Annual Salary: the base for all percentage calculations. Realistic range for US workers: $30,000 to $500,000+.

- Contribution Rate: percentage of salary deferred to 401k. Realistic range: 1% (minimum to get any match) to 100% of salary up to IRS dollar limits.

- Employer Match: free money added on top of your contribution. Realistic range: 0% (no match) to 100% match on 6% of salary (dollar-for-dollar).

- Rate of Return: annual investment growth rate. Historical S&P 500 average is approximately 10.5% nominal. For planning, use 6% to 7% to account for fees, bond allocation, and sequence-of-returns risk.

- Years to Retirement: the compounding horizon. Range: 1 year (retiring imminently) to 45 years (age 22 retiring at 67).

The formula is based on the future value of a growing annuity, a standard time-value-of-money calculation described in corporate finance textbooks and used by the IRS, the Department of Labor, and every major financial planning software tool. The employer match is the element that most dramatically improves the calculation — it's a guaranteed return on your contribution that no other investment vehicle provides.

401k Calculator Worked Examples

Example1:Young Worker Starting Out Age 25, Entry-Level Salary

A 25-year-old starts her first job earning $52,000 per year. Her employer offers a 50% match on the first 6% of salary. She contributes 6% — just enough to capture the full match — and has no existing balance. She expects a 7% annual return and plans to retire at 67.

1. Annual employee contribution: $52,000 × 6% = $3,120

2. Annual employer match: $52,000 × 6% × 50% = $1,560

3. Total annual contribution to 401k: $3,120 + $1,560 = $4,680

4. Years to retirement: 67 - 25 = 42 years

5. Projected balance at 7% return (no salary growth for simplicity): approximately $1,140,000

6. With 3% annual salary growth: projected balance rises to approximately $1,820,000

7. Employer match total over 42 years at 7% return: approximately $380,000 of the final balance

At just 6% contribution — the minimum needed to capture the full match — she is on track for a retirement balance that could generate approximately $72,000 per year using the standard 4% withdrawal rule. Her employer's match will account for roughly $380,000 of that total — money she received as a guaranteed 50% return before any market growth occurred. Increasing her contribution to 10% would push her projected balance past $2.2 million with salary growth.

Example2:Mid-Career Worker Catching Up Age 45, Higher Income

A 45-year-old project manager earns $95,000 per year and has $180,000 already in his 401k. His employer matches dollar-for-dollar on the first 4% of salary. He currently contributes 8% but is considering increasing to 15% to accelerate savings. He expects a 6.5% annual return and plans to retire at 65.

1. Current balance: $180,000

2. Annual employee contribution at 8%: $95,000 × 8% = $7,600

3. Annual employer match at 4% dollar-for-dollar: $95,000 × 4% × 100% = $3,800

4. Total annual addition at 8% rate: $7,600 + $3,800 = $11,400

5. Projected balance at 65 (20 years) at 6.5% return: approximately $870,000

6. At 15% contribution rate: employee contribution = $14,250; same $3,800 match; total = $18,050 per year

7. Projected balance at 15% rate: approximately $1,140,000 — a $270,000 difference

The jump from 8% to 15% contribution adds $270,000 to his retirement balance over 20 years. His $7,600 annual increase in contributions generates $270,000 in additional retirement savings — a multiplier of more than 35x — because of compound growth. At $870,000 he could withdraw approximately $34,800 per year using the 4% rule. At $1,140,000 he withdraws $45,600 per year — a meaningful difference in retirement lifestyle, achievable by directing an additional $638 per month into his 401k.

Example3:Age 60–63 Super Catch-Up SECURE 2.0 Provision

A 61-year-old nurse earns $78,000 and has $310,000 in her 401k. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, she qualifies for the 2026 super catch-up contribution available to workers aged 60 through 63. Her employer matches 50% on the first 6% of salary and she plans to retire at 67.

1. 2026 employee deferral limit for ages 60–63: $35,750 (base $23,500 + super catch-up of $11,250 + standard catch-up of $1,000 above that)

Note: per IRS Notice 2025-67, the super catch-up replaces the standard catch-up for ages 60–63 and equals the greater of $10,000 or 150% of the standard catch-up

2. Her salary cap at 6%: $78,000 × 6% = $4,680 employee contribution for match purposes

3. Employer match: $4,680 × 50% = $2,340

4. If she maximizes her deferral: she can contribute up to $35,750 — far above her salary percentage, making the IRS dollar limit the binding constraint

5. At $35,750 employee contribution + $2,340 employer match = $38,090 total annual addition

6. Years remaining: 67 - 61 = 6 years

7. Projected addition to balance from 6-year super catch-up maximization at 6%: approximately $270,000 additional vs. contributing at her prior 8% rate

The SECURE 2.0 super catch-up window from age 60 to 63 is the most powerful tax-advantaged savings opportunity available to late-career workers. Maximizing contributions during these four years — if income allows — can add $250,000 to $350,000 to a retirement balance compared to contributing at a typical 8% to 10% rate. Workers who can afford to maximize deferrals during this window should do so before the window closes at age 64, when the standard catch-up limit of $7,500 applies instead.

Example4:No Employer Match Self-Employed Solo 401k

A 38-year-old freelance graphic designer earns $85,000 in net self-employment income. She has a Solo 401k, which allows both employee and employer contributions as both roles are filled by the same person. She has $55,000 already saved and wants to retire at 65 with a projected 7% return.

1. Solo 401k employee deferral limit (2026, under age 50): $23,500

2. Employer contribution (profit-sharing): up to 25% of net self-employment compensation

Net self-employment compensation = $85,000 × 0.9235 (after SE tax deduction) = $78,498

Maximum employer contribution: $78,498 × 25% = $19,624

3. Total 2026 Solo 401k contribution: $23,500 + $19,624 = $43,124

4. Combined annual addition limit (Section 415): $70,000 for 2026 — she is well under this cap

5. Current balance: $55,000

6. Years to retirement: 65 - 38 = 27 years

7. Projected balance at $43,124 per year, 7% return, 27 years: approximately $3,570,000

The Solo 401k is the most powerful retirement vehicle available to self-employed workers — it allows total contributions that can approach $70,000 per year when both employee and employer sides are maximized. At $43,124 per year with her existing $55,000 balance, she projects a retirement balance near $3.6 million at age 65. This example illustrates why self-employed workers who don't set up a Solo 401k are leaving their single largest tax-advantaged saving opportunity unused.

401k Calculator Results What the Numbers Mean

The projected balance your 401k calculator returns is a gross pre-tax estimate of your account value at retirement. It is not a guarantee, not a post-tax figure, and not your annual retirement income — it is the total pot from which you'll draw down income over the course of your retirement. Understanding what the number means requires three additional interpretations.

The 4% withdrawal rule — the most widely used benchmark in retirement planning — suggests withdrawing 4% of your balance in year one of retirement and adjusting for inflation each subsequent year. A $1,000,000 balance supports approximately $40,000 in annual pre-tax withdrawals. A $2,000,000 balance supports $80,000. These are rough benchmarks; your actual sustainable withdrawal rate depends on your investment allocation, life expectancy, and whether you have other income sources.

The tax treatment of your balance matters as much as the number itself. Traditional 401k contributions are pre-tax — you'll owe income tax on every dollar you withdraw in retirement. A projected $1,000,000 traditional 401k balance will produce after-tax withdrawals at whatever your marginal rate is in retirement. Roth 401k contributions, by contrast, are after-tax contributions that grow and withdraw tax-free. The calculator result is the gross value; your actual spendable income depends on your tax situation.

Projected Balance | 4% Annual Withdrawal | Monthly Income (Pre-Tax)

$250,000 | $10,000/year | $833/month

$500,000 | $20,000/year | $1,667/month

$750,000 | $30,000/year | $2,500/month

$1,000,000 | $40,000/year | $3,333/month

$1,500,000 | $60,000/year | $5,000/month

$2,000,000 | $80,000/year | $6,667/month

$3,000,000 | $120,000/year | $10,000/month

The most common misunderstanding is treating the projected balance as disposable income. At $1,000,000 projected balance, many people assume they can comfortably retire. At $40,000 pre-tax withdrawal per year, combined with average Social Security benefits of approximately $20,000 to $25,000 per year at full retirement age, they may achieve $60,000 to $65,000 in total pre-retirement income — which is adequate for many people but not the comfortable retirement they imagined. Run the full income picture, not just the 401k balance.

How Your Inputs Change the Result

Contribution rate is the input that moves the projected balance the most — more than rate of return, more than employer match, and far more than any single salary increase. Moving from 6% to 10% contribution at a $70,000 salary adds roughly $2,800 per year of employee contributions. Over 30 years at 7%, that $2,800 annual difference compounds to approximately $283,000 in additional retirement savings.

Contribution Rate | Annual Addition (on $70k salary, 50% match on 6%) | 30-Year Balance at 7%

4% | $2,800 employee + $1,400 match = $4,200 | $425,000

6% | $4,200 employee + $2,100 match = $6,300 | $637,000

8% | $5,600 employee + $2,100 match = $7,700 | $779,000

10% | $7,000 employee + $2,100 match = $9,100 | $921,000

15% | $10,500 employee + $2,100 match = $12,600 | $1,274,000

Max ($23,500) | $23,500 + $2,100 match = $25,600 | $2,590,000

Time in the market is the most powerful input of all, even though it doesn't appear as an input field — it's implied by the difference between your current age and your retirement age. Starting at 25 versus 35 with identical contributions produces dramatically different outcomes because of the extra decade of compounding. A worker who starts contributing $5,000 per year at 25 and stops at 35 (10 years of contributions, $50,000 total) ends up with more money at 65 than a worker who starts at 35 and contributes $5,000 every year through 65 (30 years of contributions, $150,000 total) — assuming the same 7% return. This is the mathematical case for starting immediately rather than waiting for the "right time."

The employer match is effectively a guaranteed return. A 50% match on your first 6% of salary means your first 6% of contribution earns a guaranteed 50% return before any market movement. No other investment provides a guaranteed 50% return. Workers who contribute less than the amount needed to capture their full employer match are turning down guaranteed, tax-deferred money. For a worker earning $60,000 with a 50% match on 6% of salary, leaving the full match uncaptured costs them $1,800 per year — which compounds to approximately $182,000 over 30 years at 7%.

Rate of return has less impact than most people expect in the short run and enormous impact over long horizons. Over 10 years, the difference between a 5% and 7% return on a $100,000 balance is about $27,000. Over 30 years on the same balance, the same 2 percentage point difference grows to over $200,000. The practical implication: over short horizons, contribution rate matters most. Over long horizons, both contribution rate and investment allocation matter significantly.

401k Calculator Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Contributing only up to the employer match and stopping there. Capturing the employer match is the essential first step — but it's the floor, not the ceiling. Financial planners widely recommend saving 15% of gross income for retirement (including employer match). If your match requires 6% from you and your employer adds 3%, you've contributed 9% — still short of the 15% benchmark for most workers.

- Using nominal return assumptions without accounting for fees. A 401k invested in mutual funds with an average expense ratio of 1% per year loses that 1% from your effective return every year. At a 7% gross return minus 1% in fees, your real compounding rate is 6%. Over 30 years on $100,000, the difference between 7% and 6% is more than $175,000. Always check your fund expense ratios and prefer low-cost index funds — many offer expense ratios below 0.10%.

- Maxing out contributions early in the year without confirming your plan has a true-up provision. If your plan matches per paycheck rather than annually, and you max out your $23,500 employee deferral in the first half of the year, your contributions drop to zero for the second half — and your employer stops matching. If your plan does not offer a year-end true-up, you lose several months of match. Spread your contributions evenly across all pay periods to capture match every paycheck unless you've confirmed your plan has a true-up.

- Ignoring the 2026 IRS limits. Contributing above the employee deferral limit ($23,500 for under-50 in 2026) results in excess contributions that must be corrected by April 15 of the following year, with associated tax headaches. The calculator automatically enforces these limits — but workers who manually calculate contributions without checking current limits risk this mistake, especially if they change employers or receive a mid-year raise.

- Failing to increase contribution rate after salary increases. Many workers set their 401k contribution rate once when they're hired and never revisit it. Every time you receive a raise, increasing your contribution rate by 1% to 2% captures new retirement savings without reducing your current take-home pay below its prior level — you effectively save part of every raise before you get used to spending it.

- Assuming Social Security fully covers the gap. The average Social Security benefit for a worker retiring in 2026 at full retirement age (67) is approximately $1,900 per month — about $22,800 per year. For workers who earned average or above-average incomes, Social Security typically replaces only 30% to 40% of pre-retirement income. Your 401k needs to cover the substantial gap between Social Security and your actual income needs.

- Taking early withdrawals or loans without understanding the cost. Withdrawing from a traditional 401k before age 59½ triggers a 10% early withdrawal penalty plus ordinary income tax on the full amount withdrawn. On a $20,000 withdrawal in the 22% bracket, that's $6,400 in taxes and penalties — a 32% immediate loss. But the real cost is the lost compounding: $20,000 at 7% over 25 years is $108,000 at retirement. The early withdrawal costs you not $20,000 but $108,000 in future wealth.

- Not updating the calculator after major life changes. A job change, salary increase, divorce, inheritance, or change in employer match formula all affect the projection significantly. Run the calculator any time a major input changes — not just once per year. The projection is only as accurate as the inputs you give it.

Key Terms Explained

Elective Deferral Limit

The maximum dollar amount an employee can contribute to a 401k from their own paycheck each year, set by the IRS annually. For 2026, the limit is $23,500 for workers under age 50, per IRS Notice 2025-67.

Employer Match

A contribution made by your employer to your 401k based on your own contribution — free, tax-deferred money added to your account. The most common formula is 50% match on the first 6% of salary contributed.

Catch-Up Contribution

An additional contribution allowed for workers age 50 and older, above the standard elective deferral limit. For 2026, the standard catch-up is $7,500 for ages 50 to 59 and 64 and older, and $11,250 for ages 60 to 63 under the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up.

Section 415 Limit

The IRS maximum on total annual additions to a 401k from all sources — employee contributions, employer match, and after-tax contributions combined. For 2026, this combined limit is $70,000.

Compound Interest

The process by which investment returns generate their own returns over time — the account earns a return on both the original principal and all prior earnings. Compound interest is the core engine driving long-term 401k growth.

Vesting Schedule

The timeline over which you legally own your employer's matching contributions. Immediate vesting means the match is yours from day one. A 3-year cliff vest means you own 0% until year three, then 100%. If you leave your job before full vesting, you forfeit unvested employer contributions.

Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

The annual minimum amount the IRS requires you to withdraw from a traditional 401k starting at age 73, calculated each year based on your account balance and IRS life expectancy tables. Failing to take RMDs results in a 25% excise tax on the amount not withdrawn.

4% Withdrawal Rule

A widely cited retirement income guideline suggesting withdrawing 4% of your retirement portfolio in the first year and adjusting for inflation annually — a rate historically associated with a portfolio lasting 30 or more years. Not a guarantee; actual sustainable withdrawal rates depend on investment allocation, sequence of returns, and spending flexibility.

How This Calculator Works Methodology

This 401k calculator uses the compound interest future value formula applied year-by-year: each year, the prior balance is multiplied by (1 plus the annual return rate), then the year's employee contribution and employer match are added. This loop runs from the user's current age to their target retirement age.

Contribution limits enforce the 2026 IRS figures from IRS Notice 2025-67: $23,500 employee deferral for under-50, $31,000 for ages 50–59 and 64+, and $34,750 for ages 60–63 under the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up. The $70,000 Section 415 combined annual additions limit is also enforced.

The employer match is calculated as the user-specified percentage applied to the lesser of the user's actual contribution rate or the employer's match cap percentage. Salary growth is applied annually at the user-specified rate before calculating dollar contributions. Contributions are assumed to be made at the beginning of each year for the most conservative compounding assumption.

The default return assumption is 6% nominal annually — below the historical S&P 500 average of approximately 10.5% and intended to reflect a blended portfolio after fees and the impact of more conservative allocations as retirement approaches. All projections are estimates and do not account for market volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, inflation, or taxes on withdrawal. Results are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Frequently Asked Questions About 401k Calculator

1. How much should I contribute to my 401k?

At minimum, contribute enough to capture your full employer match — this is guaranteed, tax-deferred money that beats any other investment return. Beyond that, most financial planners recommend saving 15% of gross income for retirement in total, including employer contributions. If you start early, 10% to 12% personal contribution may be sufficient. If you're starting in your 40s or 50s, you may need 20% or more to reach a comparable retirement balance.

2. How accurate is a 401k calculator?

A 401k calculator is accurate as a projection under stated assumptions — it's precise math applied to uncertain future inputs. The assumed rate of return, salary growth rate, and inflation all affect the result significantly. A 1% difference in assumed return over 30 years can change a projected balance by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Use the calculator to compare scenarios and understand directional impacts rather than treating any single projected number as a guaranteed outcome.

3. What is the 401k formula for calculating projected balance?

Each year the balance grows by: New Balance equals Previous Balance multiplied by (1 plus Rate of Return), then add annual employee contribution and annual employer match. Repeat for each year until retirement. For a simple estimate: Future Value equals Present Value times (1 plus r) to the power of n, plus Annual Contribution times the future value annuity factor for n years at rate r. Most 401k calculators run this year-by-year loop automatically, which also lets them model salary growth and IRS limit caps properly.

4. What are the 401k contribution limits for 2026?

Per IRS Notice 2025-67, the 2026 limits are: employee elective deferral limit of $23,500 for workers under age 50; catch-up contribution of $7,500 for ages 50 to 59 and age 64 and older (total $31,000); SECURE 2.0 super catch-up for ages 60 to 63 of $11,250 above the base limit (total $34,750); combined employee plus employer annual addition limit of $70,000 under the Section 415 limit. Employer contributions do not count against the employee deferral limit but do count toward the $70,000 combined cap.

5. When should I not use a 401k calculator?

A 401k calculator is a planning estimate tool — it cannot substitute for personalized financial advice that accounts for your complete financial picture, tax situation, debt levels, Social Security timing strategy, healthcare costs in retirement, estate planning goals, or specific investment choices. If you are within 10 years of retirement, have significant assets across multiple account types, or face a complex tax or benefits situation, consult a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who can model your full retirement income picture rather than a single account balance.

6. How can I get a more accurate 401k projection?

For a more accurate projection, use your actual current balance from your plan statement, your real salary, your actual employer match formula verified with your HR department, a conservative return assumption of 6% rather than 7% or higher, a realistic salary growth rate of 2% to 3%, and your actual expense ratios from your fund holdings. Including Social Security benefits — available from your Social Security statement at ssa.gov — alongside your 401k projection gives a much more complete retirement income picture.

7. What does a typical 401k balance look like at retirement age?

Fidelity's widely cited guidelines suggest having 10 times your final salary saved by age 67. For a worker earning $70,000 at retirement, that means $700,000 in total retirement savings. The actual median 401k balance for Americans near retirement (ages 55 to 64) was approximately $185,000 according to Vanguard's 2024 How America Saves report — significantly below the Fidelity benchmark for most workers. The average (mean) balance is higher at roughly $537,000 because high balances among top earners skew the average upward.

8. Should I consult a financial advisor before making 401k decisions?

Yes, for any significant decision beyond basic contribution rate and investment allocation. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or fee-only financial advisor adds the most value when you are deciding between traditional and Roth 401k contributions, planning a rollover after a job change, approaching retirement and developing a withdrawal strategy, facing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) after age 73, or navigating a major financial change like marriage, divorce, or inheritance. For ongoing contribution rate decisions, the calculator is a reliable self-service tool.

Related Calculators Worth Bookmarking

- Retirement Income Calculator — takes your projected 401k balance from this calculator and estimates sustainable monthly withdrawal amounts using the 4% rule and alternative withdrawal strategies.

- Social Security Benefits Calculator — estimates your Social Security benefit based on your earnings history and claiming age, the essential companion figure to your 401k projection for a complete retirement income picture.

- Roth vs Traditional 401k Calculator — compares the after-tax retirement value of Roth and traditional 401k contributions at your current and expected future tax rates, helping you decide which account type to prioritize.

- 401k Early Withdrawal Calculator — calculates the true cost of an early 401k withdrawal including the 10% penalty, income tax, and lost future compounding to show the real price of accessing funds before age 59½.

- IRA Contribution Calculator — determines your IRA contribution eligibility and limit based on income and filing status, useful for planning additional retirement savings beyond your 401k limit.

- Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Calculator — calculates your annual RMD from a traditional 401k or IRA starting at age 73, based on your account balance and IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.

- Net Worth Calculator — tracks total assets and liabilities including 401k balance, home equity, and other accounts, giving context to your retirement savings as part of your complete financial picture.

- Paycheck Impact Calculator — shows exactly how increasing your 401k contribution rate affects your take-home pay after tax savings, making it easy to evaluate a contribution increase without doing the tax math manually.

References and Further Reading

1. Internal Revenue Service. IRS Notice 2025-67: 2026 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits. IRS, October 2025. irs.gov.

2. Internal Revenue Service. Publication 560: Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans). IRS, 2025.

3. Department of Labor. Private Pension Plan Bulletin: Abstract of 2022 Form 5500 Annual Reports. DOL Employee Benefits Security Administration, 2024.

4. Vanguard. How America Saves 2024: A Report on Vanguard 2023 Defined Contribution Plan Data. Vanguard, 2024.

5. Social Security Administration. Your Retirement Benefit: How It Is Figured. SSA Publication 05-10070. SSA, 2025.

6. Congress of the United States. SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (Division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023). Public Law 117-328, December 2022.

Important Disclaimer

This 401k calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Projected balances are mathematical estimates based on your inputs and stated assumptions — they are not guarantees of future account values. Investment returns, salary growth, inflation, tax rates, and IRS contribution limits all change over time in ways no calculator can predict. This tool does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), tax professional, or licensed financial advisor before making retirement savings, investment allocation, or withdrawal decisions.