How much should I contribute to get the full 401(k) match?

Contribute at least your plan’s 'match up to' percent of pay (e.g., 6%). That captures all employer dollars available.

Do employer contributions count toward IRS limits?

Employer match counts toward the total annual limit, while your own deferrals are subject to a separate employee limit.

What APY should I assume for 401(k) projections?

Use a conservative long-term estimate, such as 5–7% APY, understanding that actual market returns vary.

Does salary growth affect my 401(k)?

Yes. As salary rises, the same contribution percent yields larger dollar contributions, which compounds over time.

401(k) Employer Match & Growth Calculator

Q: What is vesting in a 401(k)?

Vesting determines how much of employer contributions you keep when you leave. Many plans vest over time; some are immediate.

Figure out the monthly contribution to max your employer match and see your projected balance at retirement.

Enter salary, contribution %, and years to project your 401(k) with employer match.

Your plan & assumptions

Salary

Current 401(k) balance

Employee contribution

Percent of pay you contribute each year.

Expected return (APY)

Years to grow

Employer match

Match rate (employer matches ... of your eligible contribution)

Example: 50% means they add $0.50 per $1 you contribute (on eligible dollars).

Match up to (percent of pay)

Common plans: 50% up to 6% of pay, or 100% up to 3–4%.

Vesting at horizon

Percent of employer dollars you keep by your horizon (0–100%).

Advanced

Salary growth

Employee annual limit

Edit this if IRS limits change (defaults to a recent value).

Total annual limit (employee + employer)

Projection summary

Projected balance

$1,294,199

Vested balance (at horizon)

$1,294,199

Your contributions (total)

$304,483

Employer match (total)

$114,181

First-year full match available

$2,400

First-year match captured

$2,400

Tip: To capture the **full match**, contribute at least your plan’s “match up to” percent of pay. Increasing your contribution from below that threshold is often a 50–100% instant return on those dollars.

Year-by-year schedule

Show schedule

Year	Salary	Your contrib	Employer match	End balance	Vested end balance
1	$80,000	$6,400	$2,400	$35,741	$35,741
2	$82,400	$6,592	$2,472	$47,474	$47,474
3	$84,872	$6,790	$2,546	$60,272	$60,272
4	$87,418	$6,993	$2,623	$74,217	$74,217
5	$90,041	$7,203	$2,701	$89,392	$89,392
6	$92,742	$7,419	$2,782	$105,890	$105,890
7	$95,524	$7,642	$2,866	$123,808	$123,808
8	$98,390	$7,871	$2,952	$143,251	$143,251
9	$101,342	$8,107	$3,040	$164,330	$164,330
10	$104,382	$8,351	$3,131	$187,166	$187,166
11	$107,513	$8,601	$3,225	$211,886	$211,886
12	$110,739	$8,859	$3,322	$238,628	$238,628
13	$114,061	$9,125	$3,422	$267,536	$267,536
14	$117,483	$9,399	$3,524	$298,769	$298,769
15	$121,007	$9,681	$3,630	$332,492	$332,492
16	$124,637	$9,971	$3,739	$368,886	$368,886
17	$128,377	$10,270	$3,851	$408,141	$408,141
18	$132,228	$10,578	$3,967	$450,461	$450,461
19	$136,195	$10,896	$4,086	$496,065	$496,065
20	$140,280	$11,222	$4,208	$545,187	$545,187
21	$144,489	$11,559	$4,335	$598,075	$598,075
22	$148,824	$11,906	$4,465	$654,996	$654,996
23	$153,288	$12,263	$4,599	$716,235	$716,235
24	$157,887	$12,631	$4,737	$782,098	$782,098
25	$162,624	$13,010	$4,879	$852,907	$852,907
26	$167,502	$13,400	$5,025	$929,012	$929,012
27	$172,527	$13,802	$5,176	$1,010,784	$1,010,784
28	$177,703	$14,216	$5,331	$1,098,618	$1,098,618
29	$183,034	$14,643	$5,491	$1,192,939	$1,192,939
30	$188,525	$15,082	$5,656	$1,294,199	$1,294,199

Results interpretation

Max the match first: Contribute at least the plan’s “match up to” % of pay to capture the full employer contribution.
Salary growth compounds contributions: Even small raises increase dollar contributions each year.
Vesting matters when changing jobs: Unvested employer dollars may not be yours yet—check plan rules.
When limits bind: If you hit the employee or total limit, additional match may be curtailed for the remainder of the year.
Who it’s for: anyone deciding how much to contribute to a 401(k) and wanting a realistic long-term projection.

How to use this calculator

Enter your salary, current balance, and the percent you contribute.
Set your employer’s match rate and “match up to” percent of pay.
Adjust vesting, expected return (APY), years, and salary growth.
Review the projection summary and the year-by-year schedule.
Increase your contribution to at least the “match up to” percent to capture all match.

How this calculator works

Formula & assumptions

Each month we add your contribution and any employer match, then apply growth at a monthly rate r = APY / 12. Employer match equals matchRate × min(your contribution, matchCap% × pay), subject to the total annual contribution limit. Employee contributions are capped by the employee annual limit.

Salary increases annually by your salary growth %. Vesting is applied to employer dollars at your horizon to estimate a vested balance.

Assumptions: fixed APY, contributions spread monthly, no withdrawals/loans/fees/taxes, and simplified IRS limits (you can edit the limits as they change). Results are planning estimates, not financial advice.

Use cases & examples

Example 1 — Max the match: Salary $80k, contribute 6%, plan matches 50% up to 6% → employer adds about $2400 in year 1. At 6.5% APY for 30 years, the match alone compounds to a large share of the final balance.

Example 2 — Below the cap: Salary $60k, you contribute 3% but the plan matches up to 6%. Increasing to 6% roughly doubles employer dollars captured each year.

Example 3 — Vesting: If you are 60% vested at year 5, only 60% of employer match is counted in the vested balance (shown in the schedule and summary).

401(k) Employer Match: How Much to Contribute and What Your Balance Could Be

Our 401(k) employer match calculator helps you answer two crucial questions: “How much should I contribute to capture the full match?” and “What will my 401(k) balance look like if I keep that up?” Because a match is effectively instant, risk-free return on your contributions, it’s usually the first priority after an emergency fund. This page shows how to set your contribution rate, how vesting affects what you keep, and how salary growth and compounding turn today’s dollars into tomorrow’s nest egg.

Why the match is so valuable

Consider a plan that offers 50% up to 6% of pay. If you make $80,000 and contribute 6% ($4,800), your employer adds $2,400. That’s a guaranteed 50% return on those first dollars before investment growth even begins. Missing the match is leaving money on the table—especially early in your career when compounding time is longest.

Set your contribution rate the smart way

Start by contributing at least the plan’s “match up to” percentage. If cash is tight, step up by 1% every few months or sync increases with raises. Many payroll systems make this automatic. Once the full match is secured, you can aim for longer-term targets (e.g., 12–15% combined employee + employer) to reach retirement goals.

Understand limits and vesting

The calculator includes editable fields for the employee annual limit and the total annual limit (employee + employer). If you reach the employee limit, contributions usually stop for the year and the company match may stop with them. If the total limit binds, additional match may be reduced. Vesting schedules determine how much of the employer match you keep when you leave—100% if fully vested, and less if you depart early.

Estimate realistic growth

Investment returns are uncertain, so the APY here is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. The power comes from consistency: a steady contribution rate, salary growth that lifts dollar contributions over time, and years in the market. Even modest returns turn regular contributions into meaningful balances.

Put it together

Use the inputs above to align the model with your plan: salary, contribution %, match policy, vesting, expected returns, and years to grow. The Projection summary and Year-by-year schedule show where the balance comes from—your contributions, employer dollars, and compounding. Capture the match, automate increases, and let time do the heavy lifting.

401(k) Match — FAQ

How much should I contribute to get the full match?

Contribute at least your plan’s “match up to” percent of pay. For a 50% up to 6% plan, contribute 6% to capture all available employer dollars.

Does the match count toward IRS limits?

Yes, employer match counts toward the total annual limit (employee + employer). Employee deferrals have their own separate limit.

What is vesting?

Vesting is how much of employer contributions you keep when you leave. Many plans vest over time; some are immediate. This tool applies your vesting % at the horizon.

Should I increase contributions above the match?

After capturing the full match, raising your contribution accelerates growth. Many households aim for 12–15% combined (you + employer) as a long-run target.

What return should I use?

Pick a conservative APY for planning (e.g., 5–7% long-term). Markets vary—treat this as an estimate, not a promise.

Do raises matter?

Yes. Even small salary growth boosts dollar contributions and compounds over years.