GlenCalc

401(k) calculator

Enter your salary, the share you contribute and your employer’s match formula. You see your projected balance and how much of it comes from the match, which is often the best return available.

Contributions are capped by an IRS limit that changes each year.

For “50% of what you put in”, enter 50.

Your answer

Balance at retirement$1,571,624.21
Your contributions$362,772.49
Employer contributions$136,039.68
Investment growth$1,047,812.04

Worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server.

How we worked it out

Updated as you change the numbers.

  1. Each year: contribute 8% of salary; the employer adds 50% of that, on up to 6% of salary.
  2. Over 35 years with raises and 6% returns, the balance reaches $1,571,624.21.

Method and assumptions

Each year’s contributions are your percentage of that year’s salary plus the employer match on the matched portion. Contributions are assumed to arrive evenly through the year. Annual IRS contribution limits, vesting schedules and taxes on withdrawal are not applied; check the IRS for current limits.

Questions

How does a 50% match up to 6% work?

If you contribute at least 6% of salary, your employer adds half of that: 3% of salary. On $75,000 that is $2,250 a year.

Sources

Method and figures checked on . Every worked answer on this page is covered by an automated test. Found a mistake? Tell us.

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