Wealthy Pot401(k) Calculator
See how big your 401(k) could grow by retirement — including your employer match, the free money many people leave on the table. A fast 401(k) growth estimator.
See your 401(k) grow — match included
A 401(k) is one of the most powerful retirement tools because of two things: tax-deferred compounding and the employer match. Enter your salary, how much you contribute, and your employer's match formula — the calculator projects your balance at retirement and shows how much of it is free match money versus your own savings versus investment growth.
Always grab the full match first
If your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary and you only contribute 3%, you are leaving half the match on the table — an instant, guaranteed return you will not find anywhere else. The calculator warns you when your contribution rate is below the match cap so you can capture every dollar.
How the math works
- Your annual contribution = salary × your contribution %.
- Employer match = salary × the matched portion × the match rate.
- Both grow together at your expected return until retirement age — see the year-by-year breakdown for how growth overtakes contributions over time.
- A traditional or Roth IRA can sit alongside your 401(k) once you have the full match.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a 401(k) employer match work?
Many employers match part of what you contribute — a common formula is "50% of your contributions up to 6% of your salary." That means if you put in 6% of your pay, your employer adds another 3%. It is free money, so contributing at least enough to capture the full match is almost always worth it. Set your match rate and the cap in the calculator to see the effect.
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
It depends on your salary, how much you and your employer contribute, your investment return, and how many years you have. This calculator compounds your contributions plus the employer match at your expected annual return until your retirement age, so you can see the projected balance and how much of it is pure growth.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
For 2026 the employee deferral limit is $24,500, rising to $32,500 if you are 50 or older (with an even higher catch-up for ages 60–63). Employer matching contributions are on top of that. The calculator flags you if your own contributions would exceed the limit.