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401(k) match calculator

An employer match is extra pay you only get if you contribute. Enter your salary, what you put in and your plan’s match formula to see what you get, whether you’re leaving any on the table, and what it could grow to. Vesting and growth settings are under Advanced options.

Educational only, not financial advice

This tool shows general math, not a recommendation for you. It isn’t financial, tax or legal advice, and real returns, fees and tax rules will differ. Talk to a qualified professional before making decisions. What you enter stays in your browser: nothing is saved or sent to us.

$
%

Roth and pre-tax both count toward the match.

Find yours in your plan’s summary plan description or benefits site.

Your employer match

$1,125 a year

You’re leaving about $1,125 a year on the table. Contribute 6% of pay to get the full $2,250.

You put in

$2,250

Employer adds

$1,125

Total in 30 years

$266,821

Growth at 6% a year until age 65, with pay held flat. The match alone could grow to $88,940. The missing match could have grown to $88,940.

  • 2026 limits: you can defer up to $24,500 ($32,500 at 50+, $35,750 at 60 to 63). You plus your employer can’t pass $72,000, not counting catch-ups.
Advanced options(vesting, growth, match cap)

Sets your catch-up limit. Default: 35.

For the growth projection.

%

Default: 6%. An assumption, not a forecast.

%

Default: 0%. Limits are held at 2026 levels.

$

Some plans cap the match in dollars.

The slowest the IRS allows for matches: 3-year cliff or 6-year graded.

How it works

  • Match formulas. “50% of the first 6%” means your employer adds 50 cents for each dollar you put in, up to 6% of your pay, so you need to contribute 6% to get the full 3%. The safe harbor formula is 100% of the first 3% of pay plus 50% of the next 2%, which takes 5% from you to get 4%.
  • 2026 limits. Your own contributions, Roth and pre-tax together, are capped at $24,500 ($8,000 more at 50 or older, $11,250 more at 60 to 63). You and your employer together can’t pass $72,000 or 100% of your pay, not counting catch-ups. Only the first $360,000 of pay counts.
  • Yearly math. Plans match each paycheck. If you hit the limit early in the year, you can miss matches unless your plan does a year-end true-up. This calculator assumes you contribute evenly all year.
  • Vesting. Your own contributions are always yours. A match can vest over time: the slowest schedules allowed are a 3-year cliff or 6-year graded (20% a year from year 2). Basic safe harbor matches vest immediately (2 years at most in automatic-enrollment QACA plans).
  • Taxes. Matches usually go in pre-tax. Some plans now let you take them as Roth, taxed to you now. Choosing Roth or pre-tax for your own money? Try the Roth or 401(k) calculator.
  • Projection. Your contributions and match are added at the end of each year and grow at the return you choose. Limits stay at 2026 levels. It’s an estimate, not a forecast, and it ignores fees and taxes.

Your plan document has the exact formula and vesting schedule. Leaving a job? See 401(k) rollovers. Results are for education only, not financial or tax advice.

Sources

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