401(k) Max Contribution Calculator

Enter your age, salary, current employee contribution rate, employer match percentage, and the salary percentage eligible for matching. Add your current 401(k) balance, expected annual return, salary raise assumption, and planned retirement age. The catch-up option affects modeled contribution limits for eligible ages.

The calculator projects the current-contribution path and a maximum-contribution path side by side. For a paycheck-level comparison, use the 401(k) Paycheck Impact Calculator. For contribution strategies that are not limited to the maximum, compare the 401(k) Contribution Calculator.

At an $85,000 salary, a 6% employee contribution is $85,000 × 6% = $5,100. The match applies to 6% of salary, so the matchable contribution amount is $85,000 × 6% = $5,100. At a 50% match, the employer contributes $5,100 × 50% = $2,550. Total current annual deposits are $5,100 + $2,550 = $7,650.

The calculator reports a modeled maximum annual contribution of $27,050, including the employer contribution under its assumptions. It reports a current employer match of $2,550 and a maximum-path match of $2,550. The match does not rise in the first-year comparison because the current 6% employee contribution already reaches the full 6% match limit.

The projection begins with $50,000 in both paths. It then adds modeled annual deposits, applies a 7% annual return, and raises salary by 3% annually. After 30 projection years, the current path reaches $1,441,657 and the maximum path reaches $3,466,982. The difference is $3,466,982 − $1,441,657 = $2,025,325 using the displayed rounded balances; the calculator’s underlying unrounded values produce its reported $2,025,326 difference.

The 2026 elective deferral limit provided for this calculator is $24,500. Employees age 50 or older may be eligible for a $8,000 catch-up contribution, and employees ages 60 through 63 may be eligible for a $11,250 super catch-up, subject to plan and tax rules. The total employee-plus-employer annual additions limit is $72,000, not including applicable catch-up contributions.

Employer matching contributions count toward the total annual additions limit but do not reduce the employee elective deferral limit. A plan may have lower limits, and not all employers offer matching contributions. The IRS publishes current 401(k) contribution limits and plan guidance.

The calculator’s default result card reports $27,050 as “Max Annual Contribution,” while the 2026 employee deferral limit in the assumptions above is $24,500. The card also reports a maximum-path employer match of $2,550, which would imply a different employee-contribution amount if interpreted as a simple sum. Treat the result as the calculator’s modeled output, not as a verified IRS limit; check the plan and current IRS guidance before choosing a contribution election. The long-term projection is also sensitive to this modeled maximum.

The calculator estimates the employee contribution as a percentage of salary, subject to its modeled annual cap.

Employee contribution =
the lesser of (annual salary × contribution rate) or employee contribution limit

Employer match =
the lesser of (employee contribution or salary × match limit) × employer match rate

For the default current path: $85,000 × 6% = $5,100 employee contribution. The match is the lesser of $5,100 and $85,000 × 6% ($5,100), multiplied by 50%, giving $2,550.

Next projected balance =
(current balance + employee contribution + employer match) × (1 + annual return)

This calculator applies annual contributions before the annual return in its projection. Actual plan deposits occur throughout the year, so real-world growth may differ.

Extra from maxing out =
projected balance at maximum contribution − projected balance at current contribution

Using the displayed results: $3,466,982 − $1,441,657 = approximately $2,025,325; the reported $2,025,326 reflects unrounded internal balances.

The examples below vary salary, contribution rate, match, and match limit. They illustrate first-year deposits before investment growth and do not exceed the 2026 employee contribution limit.

The first example gets the full match at a 4% contribution, so contributing 5% receives no additional match under those terms. In the second, 10% employee savings exceeds the 6% match limit, but only the first 6% is matchable. In the third, the employee deposit is below the $24,500 elective deferral limit, and the employer contribution is separate from that employee limit.

The calculation assumes a steady annual return. Markets fluctuate, and a sequence of poor returns near retirement can affect results even when the long-term average matches the assumption. It also assumes salary raises and contributions follow the entered rates, while real pay, job changes, plan fees, contribution timing, and investment choices can vary.

The result is a nominal future balance, not the amount you can spend after taxes or inflation. Traditional 401(k) withdrawals are generally taxable as ordinary income, while qualified Roth withdrawals can receive different treatment. Learn more about how 401(k) withdrawals are taxed in retirement, and compare a Roth strategy with the Roth 401(k) Calculator.

An employer match is subject to plan rules and may vest over time. The U.S. Department of Labor explains vesting and participant plan information. Do not count a match as guaranteed if you may leave before vesting or if you have not checked the plan’s matching formula.

Does “max contribution” include the employer match?

The employee elective deferral limit applies to your contributions, while the total annual additions limit includes employer contributions. This calculator’s result card is a modeled annual amount and should be checked against the plan’s breakdown and current IRS limits.

Should I contribute enough to get the full employer match before maxing out?

Often, capturing an available match is a strong priority because it adds employer money to your account. But cash-flow needs, high-interest debt, emergency savings, and plan vesting terms can change the decision.

Does increasing my contribution by 1% reduce take-home pay by 1% of salary?

No. A traditional pre-tax contribution generally reduces taxable wages, so take-home pay often falls by less than the contribution amount. The exact effect depends on tax withholding, state rules, payroll deductions, and whether contributions are traditional or Roth.

Can I contribute more than the employee limit if my employer matches?

Employer matching contributions do not count toward the employee elective deferral limit, but they count toward the overall annual additions limit. For 2026, the provided total limit is $72,000, with separate rules for catch-up contributions.

How does the catch-up option affect the forecast?

The calculator increases its modeled employee limit when the projected age reaches catch-up eligibility. The default forecast begins at age 35, so the catch-up assumption affects later years rather than the first-year contribution.

Is the projected extra balance guaranteed if I max out?

No. It is a scenario using entered salary growth and investment-return assumptions. Actual contributions, market performance, plan fees, and time in the plan can all change the outcome.

Confirm the current-year employee limit, employer match formula, and vesting schedule with your plan administrator. Then compare the projected balance with your budget using the 401(k) Paycheck Impact Calculator and test contribution timing with the 401(k) Compound Interest Calculator. For a broader retirement forecast, use the 401(k) Calculator or retirement calculator.