401(k) Calculator
Calculate your 401(k) retirement savings with employer matching. See how your contributions, employer match, and compound growth build your retirement nest egg.
401(k) Projection
Balance at Retirement
$2,250,531
Monthly Retirement Income
$7,502
Based on 4% rule
Personal Information
Enter your age and salary details
Your Contributions
Set your contribution rate and current balance
Employer Match
Configure employer matching details
Growth Assumptions
Set expected returns and salary growth
Historical S&P 500 average: ~10% (7% inflation-adjusted)
Projected Growth
Visualize your 401(k) growth over time
Where Your Money Comes From
Breakdown of your retirement savings
$453,466
Your Contributions
20.1% of total
$136,040
Employer Match
Free money!
$1,636,026
Investment Growth
72.7% of total
Year-by-Year Projection
Detailed annual breakdown
| Age | Your Contrib. | Employer Match | Growth | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | $8,441 | +$2,532 | +$5,950 | $96,438 |
| 40 | $9,786 | +$2,936 | +$13,087 | $206,409 |
| 45 | $11,344 | +$3,403 | +$23,853 | $371,982 |
| 50 | $13,151 | +$3,945 | +$39,828 | $617,343 |
| 55 | $15,246 | +$4,574 | +$63,248 | $976,704 |
| 60 | $17,674 | +$5,302 | +$97,273 | $1,498,383 |
| 65 | $20,489 | +$6,147 | +$146,360 | $2,250,531 |
Impact of Contribution Rate
Compare different contribution scenarios
5% contribution
$1,411,309
+$113,366 match
10% contribution
$2,250,531
+$136,040 match
15% contribution
$2,962,508
+$136,040 match
20% contribution
$3,504,474
+$136,040 match
What If I Changed My Contribution?
See how adjusting your contribution rate affects your retirement
Balance at Retirement
$2,250,531
Retirement Savings Milestones
100.0% complete
$2,250,531
of $1,875,000
$100K
$100,000
First major milestone!
$250K
$250,000
Quarter millionaire!
$500K
$500,000
Halfway to a million!
$1 Million
$1,000,000
Millionaire status!
25x Salary
$1,875,000
Full retirement goal (4% rule)
Goal Achieved!
Congratulations on reaching your target!
$100K
$100,000
$250K
$250,000
$500K
$500,000
$1 Million
$1,000,000
25x Salary
$1,875,000
Your 401(k) Insights
3 insights based on your inputs
Your Early Start Advantage
Starting now instead of 5 years later could mean $752,148 more at retirement thanks to compound growth!
Consider Increasing Contributions
Financial experts recommend saving 15% of income for retirement. Small increases now can make a big difference later.
Maximizing Employer Match!
You're getting the full employer match of $2,250 per year. That's free money!
401(k) Health Score
Based on your financial inputs
Score Breakdown
Improvement Areas
Contribution Rate
Try to increase from 10 to 15
Strong: Progress to Goal
You're doing great with 120.028%!
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Quick Answer
A 401k calculator projects how your retirement account will grow based on contributions, employer match, and investment returns. At practicalwebtools.com, enter your salary, contribution rate, employer match, and expected return to see your 401k at retirement. The 2025 contribution limit is 23,500 (31,000 if 50+).
Key Facts
- 2025 401k contribution limit: 23,500 (31,000 if 50+)
- Average employer match: 4.7% of salary
- Not taking full employer match = leaving free money on the table
- Traditional 401k: Pre-tax contributions, taxed at withdrawal
- Roth 401k: After-tax contributions, tax-free withdrawals
- Early withdrawal penalty: 10% plus income tax (before 59.5)
- Required Minimum Distributions start at age 73
Frequently Asked Questions
A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that allows employees to contribute pre-tax or Roth (after-tax) dollars from their paycheck. Many employers offer matching contributions up to a certain percentage, essentially providing free money toward your retirement.
For 2024, the employee contribution limit is $23,000. If you're 50 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500, bringing your total to $30,500. The combined limit for employee and employer contributions is $69,000 (or $76,500 with catch-up).
Employer matching is when your employer contributes money to your 401(k) based on your contributions. A common match is 50% of your contribution up to 6% of salary. So if you earn $100,000 and contribute 6% ($6,000), your employer adds $3,000. This is essentially free money.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, reducing your current taxable income but taxed on withdrawal. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax, providing tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Choose Roth if you expect higher taxes in retirement, Traditional if you expect lower taxes.
You can start penalty-free withdrawals at age 59½. Early withdrawals typically incur a 10% penalty plus income taxes, though exceptions exist for hardship, disability, or substantially equal periodic payments (Rule 72t). Required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73.
Financial experts recommend contributing at least enough to get your full employer match (otherwise you're leaving free money). Beyond that, aim for 10-15% of income. The ideal amount depends on your age, retirement goals, and other savings.
401(k) Projection
Balance at Retirement
$2,250,531
Monthly Retirement Income
$7,502
Based on 4% rule