403(b) Calculator

Begin by entering your current financial situation in the "Salary & Contributions" section. Input your gross annual salary, the percentage you contribute to your 403(b), and the percentage your employer contributes or matches.

Next, in the "Personal Details" section, provide your current age and planned retirement age to set your savings timeline. Enter your current 403(b) balance as the starting point for the projection and your expected annual investment return. If you're unsure what return to use, 6-8% is a common long-term assumption for a balanced portfolio, but your actual returns will vary.

For more detailed planning, open the "Advanced Settings." Here you can input your years of service with your current employer, which is used to determine if you qualify for the special 15-year rule catch-up contribution. You can also enable the standard age 50+ catch-up contribution if applicable. Using these advanced options provides a more accurate projection for long-tenured employees or those nearing retirement. For help deciding when to retire, try the retirement age calculator.

Annual Salary & Contribution Rate

Your annual salary is your gross pay before taxes or other deductions. Your contribution rate is the percentage of that salary you defer into your 403(b) account each year. Together, these two inputs determine the dollar amount of your base employee contribution. A higher contribution rate is one of the most direct ways to increase your final retirement balance.

Employer Contribution

This is the percentage of your salary your employer contributes to your plan. This could be a matching contribution (e.g., they match 100% of your contributions up to 5% of your salary) or a non-elective contribution they make regardless of whether you contribute. Capturing the full employer match is crucial, as it's essentially free money that accelerates your savings.

Current Age, Retirement Age, & Current Balance

Your current age and planned retirement age define your investment horizon—the number of years your money has to grow. Your current balance is the starting principal for the projection. The longer your timeline and the larger your starting balance, the more significant the impact of compounding will be.

Expected Annual Return

This is the average annual rate of return you expect your 403(b) investments to generate. This is a long-term estimate, not a guarantee. Younger investors with a longer time horizon may assume a higher rate of return from a more aggressive portfolio, while those closer to retirement might use a more conservative figure.

Years of Service (15-Year Rule)

This input is unique to 403(b) plans. If you have 15 or more years of service with the same qualifying employer, you may be eligible to contribute an additional amount, typically up to $3,000 per year. This calculator automatically factors in this benefit if you meet the years of service requirement.

Catch-Up Eligible (Age 50+)

Federal law allows individuals age 50 and over to make additional "catch-up" contributions to their retirement plans. For 2026, this amount is $7,500 for 403(b) plans. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, those aged 60-63 can make a "super catch-up" contribution of $11,250 (instead of $7,500), bringing their total employee contribution to $34,750. If you are 50 or older, enabling this option will increase your personal contribution limit, allowing you to save more aggressively as you approach retirement. For those who feel behind, see our guide on if it's too late to save for retirement.

This calculator uses a year-by-year projection to model your 403(b) growth from your current age to your planned retirement age.

First, it calculates your total annual contribution by combining three main parts:

1. Your Contribution: Calculated as Annual Salary × Contribution Rate %, capped at the 2026 employee limit of $23,500.
2. Special Catch-Ups: If you are age 50 or over and have enabled it, a $7,500 catch-up is added. If you have 15+ years of service, an additional $3,000 may be added for the 15-year rule.
3. Employer Contribution: Calculated as Annual Salary × Employer Contribution %.

Each year, the total annual contribution is added to your existing balance. Then, the calculator applies your expected annual return to the new, larger balance to determine the investment growth for that year. This process repeats for every year until you reach your specified retirement age.

The calculator does not account for investment fees, inflation, or taxes on withdrawals in retirement. For a more comprehensive plan, use the full retirement calculator, which models these factors.

The calculator projects your 403(b) balance on an annual basis. The formulas below outline the core calculations for each year of the projection.

Contribution Formulas

The calculator first determines each component of the annual contribution.

// Your base contribution, capped at the IRS limit
baseEmployeeContribution = min(annualSalary * (contributionRate / 100), 23500)

// Standard catch-up for those age 50+
catchUpAmount = if(currentAge >= 50 and catchUpEligible, 7500, 0)

// Special 15-year rule catch-up
fifteenYearExtra = if(yearsOfService >= 15, 3000, 0)

// Total amount you can contribute, including catch-ups
totalEmployeeContribution = baseEmployeeContribution + catchUpAmount + fifteenYearExtra

// Your employer's contribution
employerMatch = annualSalary * (employerContributionRate / 100)

// The total amount added to your 403(b) each year
totalAnnualContribution = totalEmployeeContribution + employerMatch

Annual Growth Projection Formula

For each year from your current age to retirement age, the balance is updated.

investmentGrowth = currentBalance * (expectedReturn / 100)
newBalance = currentBalance + totalAnnualContribution + investmentGrowth

The newBalance from one year becomes the currentBalance for the next, demonstrating the effect of compounding.

Result Formulas

The final results are derived from the completed projection.

projectedBalance = final balance at retirement age
totalContributions = sum of all totalAnnualContribution amounts over the years
totalGrowth = sum of all investmentGrowth amounts over the years
utilizationRate = (totalEmployeeContribution / (23500 + catchUpAmount + fifteenYearExtra)) * 100

A 403(b) plan is a tax-sheltered retirement savings plan available to employees of public schools, colleges, universities, and certain non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). This includes employees of hospitals, religious institutions, and charitable organizations.

Functionally, a 403(b) is very similar to a 401(k) plan. Both allow employees to contribute pre-tax money that grows tax-deferred until retirement. Many 403(b) plans also offer a Roth option, where you contribute after-tax dollars in exchange for tax-free qualified withdrawals in retirement. You can learn more about this in our Roth vs. Traditional IRA guide, as the principles are similar.

The main difference between a 401(k) and a 403(b) is the type of employer that can offer it. 401(k)s are for private, for-profit companies, while 403(b)s are for public education and non-profit sectors. Another key distinction is that 403(b) plans often feature unique contribution rules, such as the 15-year rule for long-tenured employees.

For 2026, the contribution limits for 403(b) plans are as follows:

• Employee Elective Deferral Limit: You can contribute up to $23,500 of your salary. This is the primary limit for most employees.
• Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution: If you are age 50 or older at any point during the year, you can contribute an additional $7,500. This raises your total potential employee contribution to $31,000.
• SECURE 2.0 "Super" Catch-Up (Ages 60-63): Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, individuals aged 60, 61, 62, and 63 can make a higher catch-up contribution of $11,250 instead of the standard $7,500, bringing their total employee contribution to $34,750. This super catch-up does apply to 403(b) plans.
• 15-Year Rule Special Catch-Up: If you have worked for the same qualifying employer for 15 years or more, you may be able to contribute an extra $3,000 per year, subject to a $15,000 lifetime limit on this specific type of catch-up. This can be used in addition to the age 50+ catch-up.
• Overall Limit (Section 415 Limit): The total of all contributions (your deferrals, employer contributions, and any after-tax contributions) cannot exceed the lesser of 100% of your compensation or $70,000 for 2026.

It's important to coordinate contributions if you participate in multiple retirement plans (e.g., a 403(b) and a 401(k)) in the same year, as the employee deferral and catch-up limits apply to the combined total across all plans.

The calculator provides several key outputs to help you assess your 403(b) plan.

The Projected Balance at Retirement is the primary result, showing the estimated total value of your account when you plan to stop working. This figure is a direct result of your inputs and the power of compound growth.

The Contribution Utilization Score measures how much of your personal contribution limit you are using. A score of 100 means you are maxing out your available contribution space, including any catch-up provisions you're eligible for. A lower score indicates there's room to increase your savings rate.

The Total Contributions vs. Growth summary breaks down your projected balance into two parts: the money you (and your employer) put in, and the money your investments earned. For long-term savers, it's common for growth to be larger than total contributions.

The 403(b) Growth Projection chart visualizes your savings journey. The upward curve shows how your balance accelerates over time due to compounding. This helps you see the impact of starting early and contributing consistently.

Finally, the Insights Panel offers personalized feedback. It may highlight that you're eligible for a catch-up contribution, congratulate you on maxing out your plan, or suggest increasing your savings rate to better utilize your available limits.

If your projected balance is lower than you'd like, consider these actions:

1. Increase Your Contribution Rate: Even a 1% increase in your savings rate can make a significant difference over decades. Try to increase it every time you get a raise.
2. Capture the Full Employer Match: If your employer offers a match and you're not contributing enough to get all of it, you are leaving free money on the table. This should be your top priority.
3. Utilize Catch-Up Contributions: If you are age 50 or older, make sure you are taking advantage of the $7,500 catch-up contribution. Check if you qualify for the 15-year rule as well.
4. Extend Your Timeline: Working a few extra years can dramatically increase your final balance by giving your investments more time to compound and allowing you to make more contributions. Use the retirement age calculator to model different scenarios.
5. Review Your Investments: Ensure your investment allocation matches your risk tolerance and time horizon. An overly conservative portfolio may not generate the growth needed to reach your goals.

1. Ignoring High Fees: Many older 403(b) plans are based on high-fee annuity products. Review your plan's investment options and fees. If they are high, see if lower-cost mutual fund options are available.
2. Not Getting the Employer Match: Failing to contribute enough to receive the full employer match is one of the most common and costly retirement saving mistakes.
3. Overlooking Special Catch-Up Rules: Many eligible employees are unaware of the 15-year rule, potentially missing out on thousands in extra contribution space.
4. Setting and Forgetting: Your financial situation and goals change over time. Review your contribution rate, investments, and overall progress at least once a year.
5. Not Understanding Vesting: Employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule, meaning you must work for a certain number of years to have full ownership of that money. Know your plan's schedule before changing jobs.