401(k) Planner
Project your 401(k) balance including the employer match — the part that's free money.
A 401(k) grows from your contributions, your employer's match, and investment returns. On a $70,000 salary, contributing 6% with a 50%-up-to-6% match, starting at $25,000, at a 7% return for 30 years projects to roughly $843,000 — and about $63,000 of that is employer match you'd otherwise leave on the table. Enter your salary, contribution, and match to project the balance.
These results are estimates for informational purposes only and are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Your actual figures from a lender or the IRS may differ. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions.
Future value after 30 years
$843,397.21
What you put in vs. interest earned
Balance by year
| Year | You put in | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,300 | $2,013 | $33,313 |
| 2 | $37,600 | $4,628 | $42,228 |
| 3 | $43,900 | $7,886 | $51,786 |
| 4 | $50,200 | $11,836 | $62,036 |
| 5 | $56,500 | $16,527 | $73,027 |
| 6 | $62,800 | $22,012 | $84,812 |
| 7 | $69,100 | $28,349 | $97,449 |
| 8 | $75,400 | $35,600 | $111,000 |
| 9 | $81,700 | $43,830 | $125,530 |
| 10 | $88,000 | $53,111 | $141,111 |
| 11 | $94,300 | $63,518 | $157,818 |
| 12 | $100,600 | $75,133 | $175,733 |
| 13 | $106,900 | $88,043 | $194,943 |
| 14 | $113,200 | $102,341 | $215,541 |
| 15 | $119,500 | $118,129 | $237,629 |
| 16 | $125,800 | $135,513 | $261,313 |
| 17 | $132,100 | $154,610 | $286,710 |
| 18 | $138,400 | $175,542 | $313,942 |
| 19 | $144,700 | $198,443 | $343,143 |
| 20 | $151,000 | $223,455 | $374,455 |
| 21 | $157,300 | $250,730 | $408,030 |
| 22 | $163,600 | $280,433 | $444,033 |
| 23 | $169,900 | $312,738 | $482,638 |
| 24 | $176,200 | $347,834 | $524,034 |
| 25 | $182,500 | $385,923 | $568,423 |
| 26 | $188,800 | $427,221 | $616,021 |
| 27 | $195,100 | $471,959 | $667,059 |
| 28 | $201,400 | $520,387 | $721,787 |
| 29 | $207,700 | $572,771 | $780,471 |
| 30 | $214,000 | $629,397 | $843,397 |
About the 401(k) Planner
A 401(k) is an employer retirement plan, and its defining feature is the match: many employers add money to your account based on what you contribute, most often something like 50% or 100% of your contributions up to a set percentage of your salary. That match is an immediate, guaranteed return on your money, which is why the near-universal advice is to contribute at least enough to capture all of it before doing anything else — anything less leaves free money on the table. This planner adds your contribution and the matched amount together each period and grows the total at your assumed return. A few realities sit behind the projection. Contributions to a traditional 401(k) are pre-tax, so they lower your taxable income now but are taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw them in retirement. The IRS caps what you can defer — $23,000 in 2024, plus a $7,500 catch-up if you are 50 or older — though the employer match does not count against that limit. Employer contributions may also vest over several years, meaning you earn full ownership only after staying long enough. As with any long-range projection, the return is an assumption, not a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How does an employer 401(k) match work?+
Your employer contributes based on what you put in — for example, 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary. Contribute 6% and the match adds another 3% of salary. Contribute less than the cap and you forfeit part of that free money.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k)?+
In 2024 you can defer up to $23,000 of your own pay, plus a $7,500 catch-up if you are 50 or older. The employer match is on top of that and does not count toward your personal limit.
Is 401(k) money taxed?+
In a traditional 401(k), contributions are pre-tax and lower your taxable income now, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. A Roth 401(k) reverses this — taxed now, tax-free qualified withdrawals later.
What does 401(k) vesting mean?+
Vesting is how much of the employer's contributions you actually own. Your own contributions are always yours, but the match may vest gradually over several years, so leaving early can mean forfeiting part of it.