401(k) calculator
What your 401(k) contributions and employer match add up to, including the catch-up for your age and any match a high deferral rate would forfeit.
Covers 2026 plan year · rates as at 2026-01-01
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
| 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% deferral and a 50% match on the first 6%, that is $11,000 of your money plus $3,300 from your employer — a 30% immediate return on the matched portion.
How this is calculated
How this is calculated
The match is the highest return available
A 50% match on the first 6% of pay is an instant 50% on those dollars. On $110,000 that is $3,300 a year for contributing $6,600 — no investment return competes with it, which is why capturing the full match comes before every other contribution decision.
match = min(deferral, limit% × salary) × match rateThe 60-to-63 catch-up replaces the 50-plus one
From the year you turn 50 the catch-up is $8,000. For ages 60 to 63 SECURE 2.0 raises it to $11,250 — it substitutes for the ordinary catch-up rather than stacking with it, which several published calculators get wrong.
Front-loading can cost you the match
Most plans match per pay period. Deferring 40% of a $110,000 salary hits the $24,500 limit around month seven, and unless your plan has a true-up provision the match simply stops for the rest of the year.
Worked example: $110,000 salary, 10% deferral, 50% match on the first 6%
| Salary | $110,000 |
|---|---|
| You contribute | 10% |
| Match | 50% up to 6% |
| Age | 38 |
| Your contribution | $11,000 |
|---|---|
| Employer match | $3,300 |
| Total each year | $14,300 |
Dropping to 6% would still capture the whole $3,300 match. The extra 4% is worth having, but it earns only the market return, not the match.
What this assumes
- A steady deferral across every pay period.
- A constant salary and return.
- Pre-tax deferrals, not Roth 401(k).
- No plan fees deducted from the balance.
Where this commonly goes wrong
- A vesting schedule can mean the match is not yours yet — leaving before a three-year cliff forfeits all of it.
- A 401(k) deferral cuts income tax but not the 7.65% FICA, so the true tax saving is smaller than your marginal rate suggests.
- Plan fees above 0.5% a year compound against you; over 27 years an extra 0.5% removes roughly a tenth of the final balance.
Questions
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum enough to capture the full employer match — 6% in a typical 50%-up-to-6% plan, worth $3,300 a year on a $110,000 salary. Beyond that, contribute to the point where the tax deduction still beats your other uses of the money.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit?
The elective deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up from age 50 and $11,250 for ages 60 to 63. Employer contributions sit outside that and count towards a separate combined limit of $72,000.
Does the age 60 catch-up stack with the age 50 one?
No. For ages 60 to 63 the higher $11,250 catch-up replaces the ordinary $8,000, giving a total deferral limit of $35,750 rather than $44,000. Calculators that add both overstate the ceiling considerably.
Can I contribute too much too early?
Yes, if your plan matches per pay period without a true-up. Deferring 40% of a $110,000 salary reaches the $24,500 limit around month seven, and the match stops for the remaining periods — often several thousand dollars forfeited.
Is a 401(k) match taxed?
Not when contributed. Employer contributions to a traditional 401(k) are pre-tax and grow untaxed; income tax is charged when you withdraw. They also escape FICA entirely, unlike your own deferrals.
What happens to my match if I leave?
It depends on the vesting schedule. Cliff vesting typically forfeits the entire match if you leave before three years; graded vesting releases 20% a year over five. Your own contributions are always yours immediately.
Related tools
Sources
Estimate only, based on published IRS figures for 2026 plan year. Not tax or legal advice. Confirm your position with the IRS, a CPA, or an enrolled agent.
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