What is the 2025 401(k) contribution limit?

$23,500 of employee deferrals for those under 50, $32,500 for 50+, and $35,750 for ages 60-63. Employer match dollars do not count against the employee limit.

When can I withdraw without penalty?

Generally at 59½. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, and required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin at age 73.

What happens to my 401(k) if I change jobs?

You can leave it, roll it into your new employer’s plan, roll it into an IRA, or cash out (taxes + 10% penalty). Rollovers preserve tax deferral.

401k Calculator

Estimate your 401(k) balance at retirement based on salary, contribution percentage, employer match and investment returns — then see the retirement income it can support. Year-by-year projections show exactly how contributions, matching dollars and compounding build your nest egg.

#401k#401(k)#employer match#retirement savings#401k calculator

Live calculate

Presets

Current Age

years

Expected Retirement Age

years

Current Annual Salary

Current 401(k) Balance

Contribution (% of salary)

Employer Match (% of contribution)

E.g. 50 means the employer adds $0.50 per $1 you contribute.

Employer Match Limit (% of salary)

Expected Salary Increase

% / yr

Expected Annual Return

% / yr

Expected Inflation Rate

% / yr

Life Expectancy

years

Annual Employee Contribution Limit

IRS elective deferral limit (2025: $23,500; higher at age 50+ with catch-up).

Live mode: results update as you type.

Balance at age 65

$1,997,849

35 years of contributions at 6.00% average return

Years to Retirement: 35 years
Final Annual Salary: $211,040
Your Contributions: $467,070
Employer Match (free money): $140,121
Investment Growth: $1,355,658
Value in Today’s Dollars: $710,002
Monthly Income to Age 85: $14,130.63
Monthly Income (4% rule): $6,659.50

Where the retirement balance comes from

Starting Balance$35,000
Your Contributions$467,070
Employer Match$140,121
Investment Growth$1,355,658

Projected 401(k) balance by age

314865

Year-by-year projection

Age	Salary	Your Contribution	Employer Match	End Balance
Age 31	$77,250	$7,725	$2,318	$47,745
Age 32	$79,568	$7,957	$2,387	$61,574
Age 33	$81,955	$8,195	$2,459	$76,562
Age 34	$84,413	$8,441	$2,532	$92,788
Age 35	$86,946	$8,695	$2,608	$110,336
Age 36	$89,554	$8,955	$2,687	$129,297
Age 37	$92,241	$9,224	$2,767	$149,765
Age 38	$95,008	$9,501	$2,850	$171,843
Age 39	$97,858	$9,786	$2,936	$195,639
Age 40	$100,794	$10,079	$3,024	$221,267
Age 41	$103,818	$10,382	$3,115	$248,849
Age 42	$106,932	$10,693	$3,208	$278,515
Age 43	$110,140	$11,014	$3,304	$310,403
Age 44	$113,444	$11,344	$3,403	$344,660
Age 45	$116,848	$11,685	$3,505	$381,441
Age 46	$120,353	$12,035	$3,611	$420,912
Age 47	$123,964	$12,396	$3,719	$463,249
Age 48	$127,682	$12,768	$3,830	$508,638
Age 49	$131,513	$13,151	$3,945	$557,279
Age 50	$135,458	$13,546	$4,064	$609,382
Age 51	$139,522	$13,952	$4,186	$665,171
Age 52	$143,708	$14,371	$4,311	$724,884
Age 53	$148,019	$14,802	$4,441	$788,775
Age 54	$152,460	$15,246	$4,574	$857,110
Age 55	$157,033	$15,703	$4,711	$930,176
Age 56	$161,744	$16,174	$4,852	$1,008,275
Age 57	$166,597	$16,660	$4,998	$1,091,728
Age 58	$171,595	$17,159	$5,148	$1,180,878
Age 59	$176,742	$17,674	$5,302	$1,276,085
Age 60	$182,045	$18,204	$5,461	$1,377,736
Age 61	$187,506	$18,751	$5,625	$1,486,239
Age 62	$193,131	$19,313	$5,794	$1,602,027
Age 63	$198,925	$19,893	$5,968	$1,725,560
Age 64	$204,893	$20,489	$6,147	$1,857,328
Age 65	$211,040	$21,104	$6,331	$1,997,849

Contributions and match are added at the start of each year, then the balance grows at the assumed return. Withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income.

Estimates only. Employee deferrals are capped by the IRS limit (age-50+ catch-ups allow more); employer + employee totals are capped separately. Early withdrawals before 59½ generally incur a 10% penalty plus income tax.

Most useful next

Formula

Balanceₜ = (Balanceₜ₋₁ + Contribution + Match) × (1 + r)

• Contribution = min(salary × contribution %, IRS annual limit)
• Match = min(contribution × match %, salary × match limit %)
• Repeat each year, growing salary by the raise assumption and balance by the return.
• Retirement income ≈ level withdrawal that depletes the balance over life expectancy.

Pro tips

• Always contribute at least enough to capture the full employer match — it is an instant 50-100% return.
• A 1% increase in contribution rate barely changes today’s paycheck but adds six figures over a career.
• Use age-50+ catch-up contributions ($7,500 extra) if you started saving late.

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401k Calculator

#401k#401(k)#employer match#retirement savings#401k calculator

Age

Salary

Your Contribution

Employer Match

End Balance

Age 31

$77,250

$7,725

$2,318

$47,745

Age 32

$79,568

$7,957

$2,387

$61,574

Age 33

$81,955

$8,195

$2,459

$76,562

Age 34

$84,413

$8,441

$2,532

$92,788

Age 35

$86,946

$8,695

$2,608

$110,336

Age 36

$89,554

$8,955

$2,687

$129,297

Age 37

$92,241

$9,224

$2,767

$149,765

Age 38

$95,008

$9,501

$2,850

$171,843

Age 39

$97,858

$9,786

$2,936

$195,639

Age 40

$100,794

$10,079

$3,024

$221,267

Age 41

$103,818

$10,382

$3,115

$248,849

Age 42

$106,932

$10,693

$3,208

$278,515

Age 43

$110,140

$11,014

$3,304

$310,403

Age 44

$113,444

$11,344

$3,403

$344,660

Age 45

$116,848

$11,685

$3,505

$381,441

Age 46

$120,353

$12,035

$3,611

$420,912

Age 47

$123,964

$12,396

$3,719

$463,249

Age 48

$127,682

$12,768

$3,830

$508,638

Age 49

$131,513

$13,151

$3,945

$557,279

Age 50

$135,458

$13,546

$4,064

$609,382

Age 51

$139,522

$13,952

$4,186

$665,171

Age 52

$143,708

$14,371

$4,311

$724,884

Age 53

$148,019

$14,802

$4,441

$788,775

Age 54

$152,460

$15,246

$4,574

$857,110

Age 55

$157,033

$15,703

$4,711

$930,176

Age 56

$161,744

$16,174

$4,852

$1,008,275

Age 57

$166,597

$16,660

$4,998

$1,091,728

Age 58

$171,595

$17,159

$5,148

$1,180,878

Age 59

$176,742

$17,674

$5,302

$1,276,085

Age 60

$182,045

$18,204

$5,461

$1,377,736

Age 61

$187,506

$18,751

$5,625

$1,486,239

Age 62

$193,131

$19,313

$5,794

$1,602,027

Age 63

$198,925

$19,893

$5,968

$1,725,560

Age 64

$204,893

$20,489

$6,147

$1,857,328

Age 65

$211,040

$21,104

$6,331

$1,997,849

Formula

Balanceₜ = (Balanceₜ₋₁ + Contribution + Match) × (1 + r)

• Contribution = min(salary × contribution %, IRS annual limit)

• Match = min(contribution × match %, salary × match limit %)

• Repeat each year, growing salary by the raise assumption and balance by the return.

• Retirement income ≈ level withdrawal that depletes the balance over life expectancy.

401k Calculator

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Projected 401(k) balance by age

Year-by-year projection

Formula

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FAQ

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