401(k) Retirement Calculator

How a 401(k) Grows

A 401(k) builds wealth three ways: the money you contribute, the match your employer adds, and decades of compound investment growth on top. Over a long career, growth usually dwarfs the contributions — which is why starting early matters far more than the exact amount.

Always Get the Full Employer Match

An employer match is free money — an instant, guaranteed return on your contribution. A common match is 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of your salary. Contributing less than the amount needed to earn the full match leaves part of your pay on the table every year.

2025 Contribution Limits

For 2025 you can contribute up to $23,500 of your own salary to a 401(k), plus a $7,500 catch-up if you are 50 or older. Employer contributions are on top of that.

The Power of Starting Early

Because growth compounds, a dollar invested at 25 is worth far more at retirement than a dollar invested at 40. Even a few years' head start can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars more at 65.

See how inflation erodes future dollars with the Inflation Calculator, or how a lump sum compounds with the Compound Interest Calculator. Browse projections by salary starting at $60,000.

Projections assume a constant annual return and steady contributions; real markets vary year to year. Not investment advice.