About the 401(k) Match Calculator
This 401(k) match calculator shows exactly how much your employer adds to your retirement plan and whether you are leaving free money behind. It handles both simple formulas (for example 50% of contributions up to 6% of pay) and two-tier formulas such as the common safe-harbor match of 100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2%.
Enter your salary and the percentage you contribute to see the yearly and per-paycheck match, the contribution rate needed to receive the maximum, and the match you are missing. Because unclaimed match compounds for decades, the calculator also projects what the missed amount would have grown to by retirement.
Most employer match formulas are based on your eligible pay and your deferral percentage each pay period. If your plan has a vesting schedule or a year-end true-up, check your plan documents — this calculator assumes you are fully vested and contribute evenly all year. It applies the 2026 IRS limits: your own deferrals stop at $24,500 (catch-up contributions are not modelled), and the match is figured on no more than $360,000 of pay, assuming your plan trues up the match if you hit the deferral limit early.
With the default inputs, the employer match per year is $2,625.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the 401(k) match calculator
- 1Enter your annual salary and the percentage you currently contribute.
- 2Enter your employer’s match formula; use tier 2 only if the plan has two tiers.
- 3Choose your pay frequency to see the match on each paycheck.
- 4Check the contribution needed for the full match and any missed match.
- 5Set years to retirement and a return to see the long-term cost of missing it.
Formula and method
Your contribution rate c is split into tiers. The first L₁ percent of pay you contribute is matched at rate m₁, the next L₂ percent at rate m₂, and anything above that earns no match. For a single-tier formula such as “50% up to 6%”, set tier 1 to 50% of the first 6% and tier 2 to 0.
The contribution needed for the full match is the end of the last tier. The missed-match projection treats each year’s unclaimed match as a deposit at year end that grows at your expected return until retirement (a future value of an annuity).
- c
- Your contribution as % of salary
- m₁, m₂
- Match rates for tier 1 and tier 2
- L₁, L₂
- Width of each tier as % of salary
- r
- Expected annual return
- n
- Years until retirement
Worked examples
Safe-harbor match: 100% of 3% + 50% of next 2%, contributing 4%
On $75,000, the first 3% ($2,250) is matched in full and the next 1% ($750) at 50%, for $2,625. Contributing 5% would earn the full $3,000, so $375 a year is missed — about $35,400 after 30 years at 7%.
Single tier: 50% up to 6% on $100,000, contributing 6%
Contributing the full 6% ($6,000) earns 50% of it, $3,000 — the maximum. On 24 paychecks that is $125 of match each time.
High earner: $450,000 salary, 6% election, dollar-for-dollar up to 6%
Six percent of $450,000 is $27,000, but deferrals stop at the $24,500 limit. The match is figured on the $360,000 compensation cap: 6% × $360,000 = $21,600, for $46,100 in total — within the $72,000 annual additions limit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical 401(k) match?+
Common formulas are 50% of contributions up to 6% of pay (worth 3% of salary) and 100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2% (worth 4%). Some employers match dollar-for-dollar up to 4%–6%.
How much should I contribute to get the full match?+
Contribute at least up to the top of your employer’s formula — 6% for “50% up to 6%”, or 5% for the safe-harbor “100% of 3% plus 50% of 2%”. The calculator shows the exact rate for your plan.
Does the employer match count toward my contribution limit?+
No. The $24,500 employee deferral limit for 2026 covers only your contributions. Employer match counts toward the separate total annual additions limit, which is $72,000 for 2026 (employee plus employer contributions, excluding catch-ups).
What if I hit the IRS limit early in the year?+
If you max out before December, you may stop receiving a per-paycheck match for the rest of the year unless your plan offers a true-up contribution. Spreading contributions evenly avoids this.
Is my employer match mine right away?+
Not always. Employers can require vesting — up to 3 years for cliff vesting or 6 years for graded vesting. Traditional safe-harbor matches must be 100% vested immediately; a QACA safe-harbor match can require up to 2 years of service.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.