Your 401(k) is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available. With pre-tax contributions, employer matching (free money), and compound growth, it can grow significantly over decades. This calculator projects your retirement balance factoring in your contributions, your employer's match, and expected annual returns.
Retirement Balance:
Total Interest Earned:
How to Use This Tool
Enter your current age and planned retirement age.
Enter your current 401(k) balance.
Enter how much you contribute monthly.
Enter your employer's match percentage (e.g., 50% match up to 6% of salary).
Enter your annual salary.
Enter your expected annual return (historically 7-8% for diversified portfolios).
Click Calculate to see your projected retirement balance.
The Formula
Uses future value of lump sum + future value of annuity: FV = CurrentBalance x (1+r)^n + MonthlyContrib x [(1+r)^n - 1] / r where r is monthly return rate and n is total months until retirement.
Why It Matters
You are 30 with $25,000 in your 401(k), earning $75,000/year, contributing $500/month with a 50% employer match up to 6%. At 7% annual return, your balance at 65 could reach $1,118,000 — including $28,125 in free employer money every month. Not contributing the full match leaves $14,063 on the table.