401(k) Employer Match Calculator
Find out exactly how much your employer’s 401(k) match is worth. Enter your salary, how much you contribute, and your plan’s matching formula, and the calculator shows the yearly match, the contribution needed to collect all of it, and any match you’re missing.
An employer match is an instant return on your contribution, often 50% or 100%, before any investment growth. The calculator also projects what the match — and any unclaimed match — grows to by retirement.
Calculator
Your employer adds each year
$1,400
on top of your $2,800
- Contribute to get the full match
- 6% of pay
- Maximum match
- 3% of pay ($2,100)
- Match grows to in 25 years
- $94,508
You’re leaving $700 of free match on the table each year — about $47,254 by retirement at a 7% return. Raise your contribution to 6% to collect it all.
Employer matches don’t count toward your $24,500 employee limit for 2026 (plus catch-up contributions if you’re 50 or older). Matching dollars may be subject to a vesting schedule, so check how long you must stay to keep them. Some plans match per paycheck, so front-loading contributions early in the year can miss match dollars.
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Calculation Formulas
Safe harbor: 100% of contributions up to 3% of pay plus 50% of the next 2%.
Example:
5% contribution under safe harbor → 3% + 1% = 4% match.
Matches are figured on pay; some plans match each paycheck.
Shows what the match — or the unclaimed match — becomes by retirement.
Key Figures
| Figure | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 employee limit | $24,500 | Plus $8,000 catch-up at 50+, $11,250 at 60–63. |
| 2026 total additions limit | $72,000 | Employee + employer, excluding catch-up. |
Note: Results are estimates for planning purposes. Rates, fees, taxes, and insurance vary by lender and location — confirm exact figures with a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
Standards & Sources
Last verified: October 2026
- IRS Notice 2025-67
Sets the 2026 elective deferral limit of $24,500 and the $72,000 annual additions limit.
- Vesting
Employer contributions may vest over several years; leaving early can forfeit unvested match.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your salary and your contribution as a percentage of pay.
- Choose your employer’s matching formula, or enter a custom one.
- Enter years until retirement and an expected return.
- Read your yearly match, the contribution for the full match, and what missing it costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a 401(k) match work?
Your employer adds money to your 401(k) based on what you contribute. With a common “50% of the first 6%” match, if you contribute 6% of a $70,000 salary ($4,200), your employer adds 3% ($2,100). Contribute only 4% and the match drops to $1,400.
How much should I contribute to get the full match?
The percentage of pay your formula matches up to — 6% for “50% of the first 6%,” 4% for “100% of the first 4%,” and 5% for the common safe-harbor formula (100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2%).
How much does missing the match cost?
More than it looks. On a $70,000 salary with a 50%-up-to-6% match, contributing 4% instead of 6% leaves $700 a year unclaimed — about $47,000 after 25 years at a 7% return.
Does the employer match count toward the 401(k) limit?
No. The $24,500 employee limit for 2026 covers only your own contributions. Employer contributions count toward a separate combined limit of $72,000.
Guides to go with this calculator
2027 HSA Contribution Limits (and 2026): Full Guide
The IRS has already set the 2027 HSA limits: $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for families. Here are the 2026 and 2027 numbers, who qualifies, and how to decide between an HSA and an FSA at open enrollment.
2027 Social Security COLA: 3.6% Raise & New Numbers
Social Security and SSI payments rise 3.6% in 2027, the biggest bump since 2023. Here is what it adds to your check, when it arrives, and every limit that changed with it.
When to Claim Social Security: 62, FRA, or 70?
The age you claim Social Security locks in your benefit for life. Here’s how much each year of waiting is worth, your full retirement age, and the break-even math behind the decision.
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