401(k) Calculator: Match, Growth & Payout by Age
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement with employer match, contribution limits, and compound growth, plus a year-by-year breakdown.
Reviewed by Sahil, Senior Finance & Tax Editor
Formula
FV = PV(1+r/12)^n + (PMT + Match)(1+r/12)^n-1)/(r/12)
Projects 401(k) balance at retirement with employer match and compound monthly growth. Employer match = Match% x min(your contribution, Match Limit% of salary). 2026 employee contribution limit: $24,500 ($32,500 if 50+).
Worked Examples
Example 1: Age 30 to 65
Problem:$75,000 salary, $50K starting balance, $500/mo contribution, 50% employer match up to 6% of salary, 7% annual return
Solution:Match cap: 6% of $75,000 = $4,500/yr = $375/mo\nYou contribute $500/mo, so the full $375 is matched\nEmployer match: 50% x $375 = $187.50/mo\nTotal invested: $500 + $187.50 = $687.50/mo\nGrowth factor over 420 months: (1 + 0.07/12)^420 = 11.506\nFV of $50K balance: $50,000 x 11.506 = ~$575,308\nFV of contributions: $687.50 x 1,801.1 = ~$1,238,225\nBalance at 65: ~$1,813,533
Result:~$1.81M at retirement ($260K your contributions + ~$78,750 employer match + ~$1.47M growth)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an employer 401(k) match actually work?
Most employers match a percentage of what you personally contribute, not a flat dollar amount — a common formula is '50% of the first 6% of pay you contribute,' meaning you must contribute 6% of salary to capture the full match, which here equals 3% of pay from your employer. Contributing above the matched percentage still grows your account but earns no additional match dollars. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match before directing extra savings elsewhere — it is an immediate, guaranteed return that no other investment can match.
What happens to my 401(k) match if I leave my job before I'm fully vested?
Your own contributions are always 100% yours immediately. Employer match dollars, however, are typically subject to a vesting schedule — either 'cliff' vesting (0% ownership until a set date, such as 3 years, then 100%) or 'graded' vesting (an increasing percentage each year, commonly 20% per year over 5 years). Leave before you're fully vested and the unvested portion of employer contributions is forfeited back to the plan, even though it appeared in your balance the whole time.
Reviewed by Sahil, Senior Finance & Tax Editor · Editorial policy