Finance calculator

401k Contribution Calculator, Employer Match & Tax Savings

Optimize your 401k contributions. Calculate employer match, tax savings, and projected retirement balance. Find out if you're leaving free money on the table.

According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, more than 1,000 published rate, threshold, and conversion reference values update annually across tax, mortgage, and engineering domains that CalcMesh formulas trace to. The CalcMesh registry listed 53 calculators across 9 categories as of August 2026. See our methodology for derivation standards and refresh cadence.

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$
%
%

% of your contribution matched (e.g., 100% = dollar for dollar)

%

Employer matches up to this % of your salary

%

Your federal + state marginal rate

years
%

Your Annual Contribution

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To 401k

Employer Match

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Free money per year

Annual Tax Savings

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vs not contributing

Balance at Age 65

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Projected value

How CalcMesh projects 401(k) growth

We project your balance with monthly compounding of contributions and employer match at an assumed annual return. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the 2026 employee 401(k) contribution limit is $24,500, with an additional catch-up for those age 50 and over ($8,000 for ages 50-59 and 64+, $11,250 for ages 60-63).

We cap modelled contributions at the published limit and show the long-run effect of the match; our return and inflation assumptions are listed in our methodology.

2026 Contribution Limits

Account 2026 Limit 50+ Catch-Up
401(k) / 403(b)$24,500$32,500
Traditional IRA$7,500$8,600
Roth IRA$7,500$8,600
HSA (self-only)$4,400$5,400

The Power of Employer Match

If your employer matches 100% up to 3% of your salary, and you earn $70,000, they'll contribute up to $2,100/year. That's a 100% instant return on that portion of your contribution. Never leave this on the table.

Contribution Rate by Income

  • Emergency fund first, 3-6 months expenses
  • Capture full employer match (priority #1)
  • Pay off high-interest debt (>7% APR)
  • Max Roth IRA ($7,000)
  • Max 401(k) ($24,500)
  • Taxable investing for anything above

Related Guides

Related Data

See how your salary compares to occupation benchmarks across 831 jobs at BLS OEWS. Plan retirement income alongside Social Security with state pension data at DOL retirement.

Disclaimer: Tax treatment depends on account type and your specific situation. Consult a financial advisor or tax professional for personalized advice.

After you project the balance

What to do with the numbers

  • If your projected contribution is below the full employer match threshold, raise your rate to capture it first - it is an instant 100% return the projection below it cannot match.
  • Re-run the projection at a 1% higher contribution rate before assuming you cannot afford it - small early increases compound more than the same increase made a decade later.
  • Check your current rate against the priority order above (match → high-interest debt → Roth → 401k max) rather than maxing one account while carrying >7% APR debt elsewhere.
  • If you are 50 or older, re-run with the catch-up limit added - $32,500 total for 2026 - since the calculator only applies it when the age input reflects it.

Methodology & Assumptions

This compounding tool projects balances on the schedule and return assumption you enter. Contribution timing dominates the path; fees and tax treatment are not invented—see defaults in the table.

How this growth node runs

Balances compound on the stated schedule (usually monthly). Contribution timing and the return assumption dominate the path - fees and taxes are not invented. Published domain formulas govern the identities; when an agency updates rates or thresholds we refresh defaults and the page lastmod.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500 ($32,500 if age 50-59 or 64+ with catch-up contribution, $35,750 if age 60-63 with the special catch-up). The total contribution limit (employee + employer) is $72,000. Many employers offer 3-6% matching, always contribute at least enough to capture the full match. That's a 50-100% instant return on investment.
Traditional 401(k) vs Roth 401(k)?
Traditional: contributions are pre-tax (lower your taxable income now), but withdrawals are taxed in retirement. Roth: contributions are after-tax, but qualified withdrawals are completely tax-free. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, Roth is better. If you're in a high bracket now, Traditional saves more today.
What happens to my 401(k) when I change jobs?
You own all contributions you made. Employer contributions vest on a schedule (typically 2-6 years, or "cliff" at 3 years). When you leave: roll over to new employer's plan or IRA, leave it in the old plan (if allowed), or cash out (triggers 10% penalty + income tax if under 59½ - avoid this).
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum: contribute enough to get the full employer match. Target: 15% of gross salary including employer match. If starting late (over 40): consider maximizing contributions ($24,500+). Rule of thumb: every 1% increase in contribution rate on a $60,000 salary adds ~$170,000 to retirement savings over 30 years at 7% returns.

This page identifies the inputs, method, and limitations behind its estimates. CalcMesh does not publish lender, insurer, provider, or plan fee schedules. Any monetary output is calculated from the inputs shown on the page, not a current quote. Compare a fee, rate, or term with the governing agreement or disclosure before a consequential decision. Calculator outputs are not professional advice. Growth projections here compound only the balance, contribution, and return assumptions you supply. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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Inputs, defaults, and authoritative sources
Input Default Source / authority
Balance, contribution, return Stated compounding frequency Compound-interest identity