401k Calculator — How Much Will You Have at Retirement?
Project your 401k balance at retirement. See the impact of contribution rate, employer match, and investment returns.
The Power of Compound Growth
A 25-year-old contributing 10% of a $75,000 salary with a 4% employer match at 8% annual returns will have approximately $2.8 million at age 65. Total contributed: $525,000. Investment growth: $2.3 million. The majority of your retirement wealth comes from compound growth, not contributions — which is why starting early is the single most important retirement decision.
Never Leave Free Money on the Table
If your employer matches up to 4% of your salary, contribute at least 4%. Anything less is leaving free money on the table. A 4% match on a $75,000 salary is $3,000/year. Over 30 years at 8% returns, that employer match alone grows to $340,000. This is an immediate 100% return on your contribution — no investment in history has consistently matched this.
The 2025 401k contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 for age 50+). If you max it out for 30 years at 8% returns, your 401k alone grows to $2.95 million. Even if you start maxing at age 35 (25 years), you reach $1.95 million. The 401k is the single most powerful wealth-building tool available to most Americans.
