401(k) calculator

What workplace retirement contributions and an employer match add up to, including the higher ceiling that applies from a set age.

Projected after 27 years

Estimate

$1,065,119

14,300 a year including the employer match

Your contribution: $11,000
Employer match: $3,300.00
Your annual limit: $24,500

Projected balance

Breakdown of Projected after 27 years
Salary	$110,000
Deferral at 10%	$11,000
Employer match (50% up to 6% of pay)	$3,300.00
Total into the plan this year	$14,300

Assumes a steady deferral across every pay period of the year.

At $110,000 with a 10% contribution and a 50% match on the first 6%, that is $11,000 of your money plus $3,300 from your employer each year.

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Projected after 27 years

Estimate

$1,065,119

14,300 a year including the employer match

Your contribution: $11,000
Employer match: $3,300.00
Your annual limit: $24,500

Projected balance

Breakdown of Projected after 27 years
Salary	$110,000
Deferral at 10%	$11,000
Employer match (50% up to 6% of pay)	$3,300.00
Total into the plan this year	$14,300

Assumes a steady deferral across every pay period of the year.

At $110,000 with a 10% contribution and a 50% match on the first 6%, that is $11,000 of your money plus $3,300 from your employer each year.

How this is calculated

Capture the match first

A 50% employer match on the first 6% of a $110,000 salary is $3,300 a year for contributing $6,600 — an immediate 50% return on those dollars that no market return matches.

match = min(contribution, limit% × salary) × match rate

Older workers get a higher ceiling

Most systems raise the annual limit from a set age — in the US by $8,000 from 50, and $11,250 between 60 and 63. The higher band replaces the ordinary one rather than adding to it.

Contribution timing can matter

Where the match is calculated each pay period, reaching the annual cap early stops the match for the remaining periods. Deferring 40% of a $110,000 salary exhausts a $24,500 cap around month seven, leaving five months of match unclaimed.

Worked example: $110,000 salary, 10% contribution, 50% match on the first 6%

Inputs
Salary	$110,000
You contribute	10%
Match	50% up to 6%

Result
Your contribution	$11,000
Employer match	$3,300
Total each year	$14,300

Contribution limits and match rules differ by country. Pick a country above for the ceilings that apply to your plan.

What this assumes

Steady contributions across the year.
A constant salary and return.
Pre-tax contributions.
No plan fees deducted.

Where this commonly goes wrong

Employer contributions often vest over several years, so leaving early can forfeit them entirely.
Retirement deferrals typically cut income tax only, not payroll contributions, so the saving is smaller than the marginal rate suggests.
Plan fees compound: an extra 0.5% a year removes roughly a tenth of a balance over 27 years.

Questions

How much should I contribute to a workplace plan?

Enough to capture the full employer match first — on a $110,000 salary a 50% match on the first 6% is $3,300 a year, an immediate return nothing else matches. Contribute beyond that once higher-rate debt is cleared.

Is there a limit on contributions?

Almost always. Most systems cap annual contributions and raise the cap from a set age. In the US the 2026 limit is $24,500 with an $8,000 catch-up from 50, and employer contributions count against a separate ceiling.

Do employer contributions belong to me straight away?

Often not. Vesting schedules commonly require two to five years of service before employer money is fully yours, while your own contributions are yours from day one.

Related tools

Sources

Estimate only, based on published IRS figures for the current period. Not tax or legal advice. Confirm your position with the IRS, a CPA, or an enrolled agent.