Project your 401(k) retirement balance with employer match, 2026 IRS contribution limits, and inflation-adjusted today’s dollars.
Models the full pay-in: employee contribution capped at the 2026 IRS limit ($23,500 base + $7,500 catch-up at age 50+), employer match capped at the user-set match limit, annual salary growth, and a year-by-year preview. Outputs nominal balance, today’s-dollar balance after inflation, and a breakdown by you, employer, and investment growth.
Disclaimer: Educational projection only. Returns are not guaranteed and tax rules may change. Consult a licensed financial advisor for retirement planning.
Calculator information
📋 How to use this calculator
- Input current age, retirement age (typical 65-67), and current 401(k) balance in USD.
- Enter annual salary, employee contribution percentage (recommend at least up to employer match), and employer match details (e.g., 50% of first 6%).
- Set expected annual return (historical S&P 500 average ~7-10% nominal, 5-7% real after inflation) and salary growth rate (3% typical).
- Toggle catch-up contributions if age 50+ ($7,500 extra in 2026, total cap $31,000).
- Switch between nominal and inflation-adjusted (today's dollars) view to understand purchasing power at retirement.
- Tip: Always contribute at least up to full employer match - this is 100% instant ROI (free money).
🧮 401(k) Future Value Projection
FV = P x (1+r)^n + PMT x [((1+r)^n - 1) / r]
- P: current 401(k) balance (USD)
- r: annual return rate (decimal, e.g., 0.07 for 7%)
- n: years until retirement
- PMT: annual total contribution = (Employee_pct + Employer_match_pct) x Salary, growing with salary
- 2026 IRS limit: $23,500 base + $7,500 catch-up at 50+ (total $31,000)
- Real return = Nominal_return - Inflation (typically subtract 2-3%)
Future contributions grow with salary (3% typical) but capped by IRS annual limits. Employer match typically vests 0-100% over 3-6 years (cliff or graded).
💡 Worked example: 35-Year-Old Engineer with $50k Balance
Given:- Current age 35, retire at 65 (30 years)
- Current balance $50,000
- Salary $90,000, contributing 10% = $9,000/year
- Employer match 50% up to 6% = $2,700/year
- Total annual contribution: $11,700 (under $23,500 cap)
- Expected return 7% nominal, inflation 2.5%
Steps:- Years to retirement: 30
- FV of current balance: $50,000 x (1.07)^30 = $50,000 x 7.612 = $380,613
- FV of contributions (annuity, $11,700/year at 7%): 11,700 x [((1.07)^30 - 1) / 0.07] = 11,700 x 94.461 = $1,105,193
- Total nominal FV at 65: $380,613 + $1,105,193 = $1,485,806
- Real return (7% - 2.5% inflation = 4.5%): adjusted FV ~ $748,000 in today's dollars
- 4% safe withdrawal rule: $1,485,806 x 0.04 = $59,432/year nominal income at retirement
Result: Projected $1.49M at age 65 (~$748k in today's dollars), yielding $59k/year retirement income at 4% withdrawal.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 401(k) contribution limit?
For 2026, the IRS employee deferral limit is $23,500 (up from $23,000 in 2024). Workers age 50+ can contribute an additional $7,500 catch-up, bringing total to $31,000. Total combined limit (employee + employer + after-tax) is $70,000 ($77,500 for 50+). High-income earners may face additional contribution restrictions under HCE (highly compensated employee) testing. Limits adjust annually for inflation.
Should I contribute to Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax (lower current taxable income, but withdrawals taxed as ordinary income). Roth 401(k) contributions are post-tax (no upfront deduction, but qualified withdrawals tax-free). Choose Traditional if you expect lower tax bracket in retirement (typical for high earners). Choose Roth if you expect equal or higher tax bracket later (typical for younger workers, those expecting career growth, or those concerned about future tax hikes). Many savers split contributions for tax diversification.
How much should I have saved by each age?
Fidelity's commonly cited benchmark: by age 30 save 1x annual salary, age 40 = 3x, age 50 = 6x, age 60 = 8x, age 67 = 10x. A 35-year-old earning $90k should ideally have $135-180k in retirement accounts. These are aggressive targets; even achieving 50-75% of these milestones puts you ahead of the median American household. Adjust for higher needs (early retirement, healthcare, dependents) or lower needs (paid-off house, low cost of living).
What is the 4% safe withdrawal rule?
The 4% rule (Trinity Study, 1998) suggests you can withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in year 1 and adjust for inflation annually, with high probability of the portfolio lasting 30 years in a 60/40 stock/bond allocation. A $1M portfolio supports $40k/year inflation-adjusted income. Recent research (Bengen, Kitces) suggests 3.3-4.5% range depending on market valuations at retirement, sequence-of-returns risk, and longevity expectations. Conservative planners use 3.5%.
What happens if I leave my job?
Four options: (1) Leave 401(k) at former employer (if balance >$7,000); (2) Roll over to new employer's 401(k); (3) Roll over to IRA (more investment options, easier management); (4) Cash out (avoid - subject to 10% early withdrawal penalty if under 59.5 plus federal/state income tax). Direct rollovers (trustee-to-trustee) avoid the mandatory 20% withholding that applies to indirect rollovers. Vested employer match transfers; unvested portion is forfeited.
📚 Sources & references
Last updated: May 11, 2026