Age 25 401(k) projection
Here’s the projected 401(k) balance starting at age 25 with a $0 balance and $50,000 salary.
Different age, balance, or salary? Use the 401(k) calculator above.
About the 401(k) calculator
A 401(k) grows through two combined forces: regular contributions and compound investment growth. Every month, this calculator adds your employee contribution (a percentage of salary, deducted pre-tax in a traditional 401(k)) plus your employer's matching contribution to your existing balance, then applies your expected monthly rate of return — your annual return divided by 12 — to the whole balance before the next month's contributions are added.
The employer match is modeled with a simplifying assumption: this calculator assumes your employer matches 100% of your contribution, up to the match limit percentage you enter. So if you contribute 6% of salary and your employer's match limit is 3%, you get the full 3% match — but if you only contribute 2%, your employer only matches that 2%, since you haven't reached the limit. Real employer match formulas vary widely — some match 50% of contributions up to a limit, others use tiered formulas — so check your plan's summary description for the exact terms.
The projection compounds monthly rather than annually, which more closely mirrors how payroll contributions and market returns actually accrue over a career, and it uses the standard future-value-of-an-annuity formula combined with compound growth on the starting balance to solve for the balance at your chosen retirement age.
The IRS sets an annual limit on how much an employee can personally contribute to a 401(k) — $23,000 for 2024 for those under 50, with an additional catch-up contribution allowed at 50 and older. This calculator does not cap your contribution percentage against that dollar limit, so if you enter a high salary and contribution percentage, double-check that your resulting dollar contribution doesn't exceed the current IRS limit.
This is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. It assumes a constant annual return every year, which real markets never deliver — actual investment returns are volatile year to year even when they average out over decades. It also doesn't account for inflation, rising future contributions, changes in salary, taxes owed on withdrawal, or plan fees, all of which affect what a 401(k) balance is actually worth by the time you retire.
401(k) calculator questions
How contributions, employer match, and compounding grow your 401(k).
How do I calculate my 401(k) balance at retirement?
Add up your monthly employee contribution and employer match, then compound that combined amount plus your current balance at your expected monthly rate of return (annual return divided by 12) for every month until retirement. This calculator does that projection automatically.
How does the employer match work in this calculator?
This calculator assumes your employer matches 100% of your contribution up to the match limit percentage you enter — a simplifying assumption. For example, with a 3% match limit, contributing 6% of salary gets you the full 3% match, but contributing only 2% only gets a 2% match. Real employer match formulas vary, so check your plan documents for the exact terms.
What is the 2024 401(k) contribution limit?
The IRS limits employee 401(k) contributions to $23,000 for 2024 for those under 50, with additional catch-up contributions allowed at 50 and older. This calculator doesn't cap your contribution percentage against that dollar limit, so check that your resulting dollar contribution doesn't exceed it.
Does this calculator account for taxes on withdrawal?
No. A traditional 401(k) is funded pre-tax, so withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. This calculator projects the pre-tax account balance and doesn't estimate what you'd net after taxes are applied at withdrawal.
Why does this use monthly compounding instead of annual?
Monthly compounding more closely mirrors how payroll contributions and investment returns actually accrue — contributions and growth are added to the balance every month rather than once a year, which slightly increases the projected ending balance compared to annual compounding.
Is this 401(k) projection guaranteed?
No — it's a planning estimate that assumes a constant annual return every year, which real investment markets never deliver. It also doesn't account for inflation, future salary changes, plan fees, or changes to contribution limits over time.