Estimate your 401k retirement savings growth with employer match
A 401k calculator estimates the future value of your workplace retirement account by factoring in your current balance, annual contributions, employer match, and expected rate of return. It helps you visualize how your savings grow over time toward retirement.
Your 401k is often the cornerstone of your retirement savings strategy, offering tax-deferred growth and, in many cases, free money through employer matching contributions. Understanding how your contributions, employer match, and investment returns work together is critical to maximizing this valuable benefit.
Use this calculator to see the powerful impact of employer matching on your retirement savings. Experiment with different contribution levels to find the sweet spot that maximizes your match while fitting your budget, and watch how even small increases in your savings rate compound over time.
The calculator compounds your balance annually, adding both your contributions and employer match each year while applying the expected rate of return.
An employer match is free money your employer contributes to your 401k, usually up to a certain percentage of your salary. For example, a 5% match means your employer adds 5% of your salary to your account when you contribute at least that much.
Financial experts recommend contributing at least enough to get the full employer match. Beyond that, the general guideline is to save 10-15% of your income for retirement, including your employer's contributions.
For 2025, the employee contribution limit is $23,500 per year, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution allowed for those aged 50 or older. Total contributions including employer match cannot exceed $70,000.
You have several options: leave the money in your former employer's plan, roll it over to your new employer's 401k, roll it into an IRA, or cash it out (though cashing out triggers taxes and penalties).
A Traditional 401k offers tax-deferred growth with tax-deductible contributions now, while a Roth 401k provides tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Some employers offer both options, allowing you to diversify your tax strategy.