401k Employer Match Calculator

Enter your annual salary, your contribution percentage, and your employer match details to see exactly how much free money your employer adds to your 401(k). Results show your annual employee contribution, employer match amount, and total yearly retirement savings — so you can make sure you're capturing every dollar of your match.

Your gross annual salary before taxes.

%

Percentage of your salary you contribute to your 401(k) each year.

%

The percentage of your contribution that your employer matches. E.g. 50% means they contribute $0.50 for every $1 you put in.

%

The maximum percentage of your salary your employer will match contributions on.

years

Number of years until you plan to retire.

%

Estimated average annual investment return on your 401(k) balance.

Results

Total Annual 401(k) Savings

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Your Annual Contribution

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Employer Annual Match

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Match Captured

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Projected Balance at Retirement

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Your Contribution vs. Employer Match

Results Table

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a 401(k) employer match work?

An employer match is when your company contributes additional money to your 401(k) based on how much you contribute. For example, a 50% match up to 6% of salary means if you earn $75,000 and contribute 6% ($4,500), your employer adds another $2,250. It's essentially free money toward your retirement.

What does 'employer match cap' mean?

The employer match cap is the maximum percentage of your salary on which your employer will calculate their matching contribution. Even if you contribute more than this cap, your employer only matches up to that limit. Contributing at least up to the cap is considered the minimum to take full advantage of the benefit.

Am I leaving money on the table if I don't contribute enough to get the full match?

Yes. If your employer offers a match and you contribute less than the match cap, you forfeit some or all of that benefit. For example, if your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary and you only contribute 4%, you're missing out on a portion of the employer contribution — which is effectively part of your compensation.

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2024?

For 2024, the IRS allows employees to contribute up to $23,000 to a 401(k). Workers aged 50 and older can make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500, for a total of $30,500. Employer match contributions do not count toward the employee elective deferral limit.

Roth 401(k) vs. 401(k): Which is better for you?

A traditional 401(k) uses pre-tax dollars, reducing your taxable income now and deferring taxes until withdrawal in retirement. A Roth 401(k) uses after-tax dollars, so qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, a Roth 401(k) may be more advantageous; otherwise, the traditional 401(k) often wins for current tax savings.

Does employer match count toward the IRS contribution limit?

No. Employer matching contributions are separate from your personal elective deferral limit. The combined limit (employee + employer contributions) is subject to a higher overall cap set by the IRS — $69,000 for 2024 (or $76,500 with catch-up contributions). Your employer's match does not reduce what you personally can contribute.

What is vesting, and how does it affect my employer match?

Vesting refers to how long you must work for an employer before you own their matching contributions. Some plans offer immediate vesting, while others use a graded or cliff schedule — for example, you might only own 20% of matched funds after year one, reaching 100% after five years. If you leave before being fully vested, you forfeit unvested match dollars.

How is the projected retirement balance calculated?

The projected balance is calculated by compounding the combined annual contributions (yours plus your employer's match) at the expected annual return rate over the number of years until retirement. This uses the future value of an annuity formula, assuming contributions are made consistently each year. It does not account for taxes, inflation, or salary changes.

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