401(k) Calculator

Project your 401(k) balance at retirement. Includes employer match (free money — take all of it). Returns are nominal (not adjusted for inflation); the S&P 500 long-term average is ~10%/year nominal, ~7%/year real.

Current 401(k) balance ($)

What's already invested.

Annual salary ($)

Gross — contributions are calculated as a % of this.

Your contribution (% of salary)

2025 IRS limit: $23,500/year (under 50). Most planners recommend 15%+.

Employer match ratio

How much your employer adds for each $1 you contribute.

Employer match cap (% of salary)

Match applies only up to this % of your salary. 6% is most common.

Years to retirement

Typical: 65 − current age.

Expected annual return (%)

S&P 500 historical: ~10% nominal, 7% real. Use 6-7% for conservative planning.

Projected balance at retirement (in 30 years)

$1,194,139

Monthly contribution (you + employer): $813/mo

Where the money came from

Starting balance

$25,000

Your contributions

$225,000

Employer match

$67,500

Investment growth

$876,639

Power of compounding

You invested $317,500 total. The market did the rest — 3.8× your invested principal. Of every dollar in your final balance, only 27¢ came from contributions; 73¢ is investment growth.

Educational tool only. Returns shown are nominal (not inflation-adjusted) and assume constant contribution rate, salary, and return over the entire period — none of which is realistic in detail. Use 6-7% return for conservative planning. Real outcomes vary widely with market timing. For specific retirement planning, consult a fee-only fiduciary advisor.