401(k) and Employer Match Calculator
How much match you are leaving on the table.
Work out 401(k) and Employer Match. How much match you are leaving on the table. Free, with no account and nothing to download.
The proportion of your contribution they add — 50% means 50p per pound.
Contributions above this earn no further match.
Your own assumption. Long-run stock market averages are often quoted around 7% after inflation, but past returns are not a forecast.
Growth arithmetic only. Contribution limits, tax relief and vesting rules vary by country and change annually.
Projected pot
548,987
1,800 a year of that is your employer's money
The match cap is the number that matters. An employer matching 50% up to 6% adds nothing on contributions above 6%, so going from 6% to 15% triples what you put in and leaves the match unchanged. Contribution limits, tax relief and vesting rules all vary by country and change annually, and none of them are modelled here. This is the growth arithmetic only.
How the 401(k) and Employer Match Calculator works
Enter your salary, your contribution and the match terms. The result separates your money from your employer's and names the amount of match you are not claiming, which is usually the single highest-return change available.
Also known as: employer match calculator · how much should i contribute to my 401k · pension contribution calculator · 401k growth calculator
Not financial advice. This calculator is for planning and illustration, not financial advice. Real products carry fees, taxes, and terms it does not model. Confirm figures with your lender or a qualified adviser before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How does an employer match work?
The employer adds a proportion of what you contribute, up to a cap. A common structure is 50% up to 6% of salary: contribute 6% and they add 3%, contribute more and they add nothing further.
What is the minimum I should contribute?
At least enough to claim the full match. Below the cap you are declining money — a 50% match is an immediate 50% return on those contributions before any investment growth, which nothing else reliably offers.
Should I contribute more than the match cap?
That depends on the alternatives, and there is no universal answer. Above the cap the employer adds nothing, so the question becomes whether the account's tax treatment beats your other options — including clearing high-interest debt first.
Are contribution limits included here?
No, deliberately. Annual limits, tax relief rules and vesting schedules all vary by country and change every year, and hard-coding them would make this page quietly wrong within months.
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