401(k) Calculator 2025 | See Your Retirement Savings

Contribution Impact

Annual Salary USD

Pay Frequency

Contribution Rate (0%)

2025 IRS limit: $23,500/yr ($31,000 if age 50+). At least contribute enough to capture your full employer match — that's an instant 50–100% return.

Filing Status

Used to estimate your marginal tax rate, which determines how much each 401(k) dollar actually saves on your tax bill.

Employer Match

Match rate

Up to contrib %

Common plan: 50% match up to 6% of salary. Check your benefits portal or offer letter — this is free money you shouldn\u2019t leave on the table.

Age 50 or older (catch-up contribution)

Per-Paycheck Contribution

$173.08

Tax Saved Per Paycheck

$41.54

Real Cost Per Paycheck

$131.54

Every $1 you contribute only costs you $0.76 after tax savings.

Your Annual Contribution

$4,500

Employer Match

$2,250

Total Annual Contribution

$6,750

Annual Tax Savings

$1,080

Growth Projection

Current Age

Retirement Age

Current 401(k) Balance USD

Expected Annual Return (7%)

Total Balance

Contributions

Your 401(k) at Age 65

$1,234,567

Monthly Retirement Income (4% Rule)

$4,115

Total Contributed (You)

$1,050,000

Total Contributed (Employer)

$525,000

Investment Growth

$450,000

Final Balance

$2,025,000

Understanding Your 401(k)

A 401(k) is a retirement savings plan offered by many employers that allows you to contribute a portion of your pre-tax income. The money grows tax-deferred until retirement, and you may receive employer matching contributions—essentially free money. Understanding your 401(k) options and contribution limits is essential for building long-term wealth.

Employer Match: When your employer matches your contributions, they're doubling your money. If your employer offers a 50% match up to 6% of your salary, contributing just 6% of your salary gives you an immediate 50% return on investment before any market gains. Missing this opportunity is like leaving money on the table.

Traditional vs. Roth 401(k): Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your current taxable income, lowering your taxes this year. Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars, but withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Most people benefit from traditional contributions during their peak earning years, but Roth contributions provide valuable tax diversification.

2025 Contribution Limits: For 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 to your 401(k) ($31,000 if you're 50 or older with catch-up contributions). Your employer's matching contributions don't count against this limit. The total combined employee and employer contributions cannot exceed $70,000 (or $77,500 with catch-up).

Compound Growth: The power of retirement savings lies in compound growth. By contributing consistently over decades, your money has time to grow exponentially. Even modest contributions starting in your 20s or 30s can result in substantial retirement savings by age 65. This calculator shows exactly how your contributions and investment returns work together to build your retirement nest egg.

Common Questions

Traditional 401(k) contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, meaning they reduce your current taxable income. This lowers your federal income tax bill immediately. The funds grow tax-deferred, and you only pay taxes when you withdraw the money in retirement. However, the withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income at your tax rate at that time.

An employer match is a contribution your employer makes to your 401(k) based on how much you contribute. A common match is 50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary. If your salary is $100,000 and you contribute $6,000, your employer will contribute $3,000. This is free money—it's an instant 50% return on your contribution. Failing to contribute enough to capture the full match is leaving free money on the table.

Withdrawals before age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty plus income taxes on the amount withdrawn. However, there are some exceptions, including loans against your 401(k), hardship withdrawals for qualified expenses, and the rule of 55 (which allows penalty-free withdrawals if you leave your job at 55 or older). It's generally best to leave your 401(k) alone until retirement to allow compound growth to work in your favor.

At minimum, contribute enough to capture your employer's full match—it's free money. A common recommendation is to save 10-15% of your gross income for retirement across all accounts. However, your specific situation depends on your age, current savings, retirement goals, and other investments. If you're behind on retirement savings, consider increasing your contribution rate, especially if you're 50 or older and eligible for catch-up contributions.

When you leave a job, you have several options for your 401(k): keep it with your former employer, roll it over to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account), or roll it into your new employer's 401(k) plan if they allow it. A rollover to a traditional IRA often provides more investment options and lower fees. You generally have 60 days to complete a rollover to avoid taxes and penalties, though direct rollovers between trustees are preferable as they avoid this time constraint.

401(k) Contribution Calculator

Understanding Your 401(k)

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