Tax and Planning Calculators
401(k) Calculator
401(k) Calculator project 401(k) balance from salary-based employee contributions, capped employer match, salary growth, investment return, inflation, and an optional current annual limit.
Tax and Planning Calculators
401(k) Calculator
Project 401(k) balance from salary-based employee contributions, capped employer match, salary growth, investment return, inflation, and an optional current annual limit.
Formula
Each year: employee contribution = min(salary x contribution%, entered limit when nonzero); match = min(employee contribution, salary x match ceiling) x match rate; grow prior balance then add both contributions.
About the 401(k) Calculator
Project 401(k) balance from salary-based employee contributions, capped employer match, salary growth, investment return, inflation, and an optional current annual limit. Tax and planning calculators estimate a named scenario from the entered income, contribution, benefit, rate, timing, or jurisdiction assumptions.
How the 401(k) Calculator Works
Each year: employee contribution = min(salary x contribution%, entered limit when nonzero); match = min(employee contribution, salary x match ceiling) x match rate; grow prior balance then add both contributions.
The calculation runs in your browser. Submitted values are validated for the required numeric range, data shape, units, and method-specific restrictions before a result is shown.
Required Inputs
- Current age (required)
- Retirement age (required)
- Current 401(k) balance (required)
- Annual salary (required)
- Employee contribution (% of salary) (required)
- Employer match rate (% of matched contribution) (required)
- Match applies up to salary (%) (required)
- Annual salary growth (%) (required)
- Annual investment return (%) (required)
- Inflation (%) (optional)
- Current annual employee limit (0 for none) (optional)
Results Reported
The result panel shows the final answer together with the intermediate quantities needed to audit the calculation. Depending on this method, reported values include:
current_ageretirement_ageyears_to_retirementprojected_balancetotal_employee_contributionstotal_employer_matchprojected_investment_growthinflation_adjusted_balance_today_dollarsfinal_projected_salaryfirst_year_employee_contributionfirst_year_employer_matchannual_schedule
401(k) Calculator Example
Use the example data button, calculate, then review the result table, formula, and worked solution before using the answer.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Current age | 30 |
| Retirement age | 65 |
| Current 401(k) balance | 20000 |
| Annual salary | 60000 |
| Employee contribution (% of salary) | 10 |
| Employer match rate (% of matched contribution) | 50 |
| Match applies up to salary (%) | 6 |
| Annual salary growth (%) | 3 |
| Annual investment return (%) | 7 |
| Inflation (%) | 2.5 |
| Current annual employee limit (0 for none) | 0 |
How to Use the Calculator
- Confirm that the calculator title and method match the quantity, test, conversion, or planning question you need to solve.
- Enter values with compatible units and the requested sample, group, matrix, count, date, or option format.
- Select Example Data to inspect a valid input layout, or enter your own values and select Calculate.
- Review the result table, formula, worked substitutions, warnings, and interpretation rather than using only the headline number.
- Use Copy Result or Download CSV when you need a reusable record of the displayed calculation.
Understanding the Result
Tax rules and thresholds can change and personal circumstances vary, so confirm important decisions with current official guidance or a qualified adviser.
Keep the entered values, units, selected options, and any warning shown beside the result. For a hypothesis test, report the statistic, degrees of freedom where applicable, p-value, alpha level, effect size, and decision. For an estimate or conversion, report the formula convention and final unit.
Accuracy and Limitations
The calculator keeps full browser precision during calculation and rounds only for display. Accuracy still depends on correct inputs and on whether the displayed model represents the real problem. Educational calculators cannot replace required professional review, current official rules, field measurements, laboratory methods, or specialist statistical software where those are necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 401(k) Calculator calculate?
Project 401(k) balance from salary-based employee contributions, capped employer match, salary growth, investment return, inflation, and an optional current annual limit.
Which formula does the 401(k) Calculator use?
Each year: employee contribution = min(salary x contribution%, entered limit when nonzero); match = min(employee contribution, salary x match ceiling) x match rate; grow prior balance then add both contributions.
Is this a separate calculator?
Yes. This page has its own public URL, inputs, formula notes, browser function, fixture, and worked solution.
What should I verify before using the answer?
Check the entered values, units, selected options, formula convention, warnings, and result interpretation shown on this calculator page.