401(k) match calculator
Enter your salary, the percentage you contribute and your employer's match formula to see the yearly total, the match, and whether you're capturing all of it.
Into your 401(k) this year
$3,900.00
$2,600.00 from you plus $1,300.00 from your employer, 6.00% of salary
You're leaving $650.00 of free money on the table. Raising your contribution to 6.00% captures the full match.
How to use it
- Enter your yearly salary before tax.
- Enter the percentage you've chosen to contribute in your plan settings.
- Enter your employer's match formula from the plan documents or HR: the match rate and the cap it applies up to.
- Read the yearly total and the match. If the calculator says you're missing match, that's the cheapest raise you'll ever get.
Worked example
A $65,000 salary, contributing 4%, with an employer match of 50% of the first 6%.
You put in $65,000 × 4% = $2,600, about $100 a paycheck. The employer matches 50% of that: $1,300. Total into the plan: $3,900, which is 6% of salary.
At 6% you’d put in $3,900 and the employer would add $1,950, the full match. By staying at 4% you’re giving up $650 a year of free money.
How this is calculated
Most employer matches follow the pattern "we match X% of what you contribute, up to Y% of your salary". A common one is 50% of the first 6%: put in 6% and the employer adds 3%; put in 4% and they add 2%; put in 10% and they still add only 3%, because the match stops at 6%. Your contribution is your salary times your rate. The match is your salary times the smaller of your rate and the cap, times the match rate. The free money you're missing is the difference between the match at the cap and the match you're getting. The calculator also flags the IRS yearly limit on employee contributions, which is a hard ceiling on what you can defer pre-tax, and shows the amount from each biweekly paycheck so you can check it against your stub.
your contribution = salary × your rate
matched portion = salary × the smaller of your rate and the cap
employer match = matched portion × match rate
missed match = (salary × cap × match rate) − employer match
The IRS limits employee contributions to $24,500 for 2026, plus a catch-up for those 50 and over; employer contributions don’t count against it.
Rates, sources and limits
- 401(k) contribution limits, 2026 rates effective 1 Jan 2026, checked 23 Sep 2026. Source
General information about how matches are calculated. Plan rules, vesting schedules and limits vary; check your plan documents. Not financial advice.
Rates current as of 2026. Last reviewed 23 Sep 2026 by the CalcRabbit team. Estimates only, not financial, tax or medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the match really free money?
It's part of your compensation that you only receive if you contribute. Not taking it is the same as declining part of your salary. A 50% match is an immediate 50% return on the money you put in, before it's invested at all; nothing else in personal finance comes close.
What does vesting mean?
Your own contributions are always yours. The employer's match may vest over time: for example 20% a year, so you keep all of it only after five years, or all at once after three. Leave before then and some of the match goes back. Check your plan's schedule if you're thinking of moving jobs.
What's the contribution limit?
For 2026 the employee deferral limit is $24,500, with an additional $8,000 catch-up for people 50 and over. Employer matches don't count toward that limit; they count toward a separate, higher overall cap. The calculator warns when your own contributions would exceed the employee limit.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional contributions reduce this year's taxable income and are taxed on withdrawal; Roth contributions are taxed now and come out tax-free. The match is always made pre-tax, whichever you choose. If you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than today, Roth tends to win; if lower, traditional. Many people split.
Should I contribute more than the match?
Once you've captured the full match, the next question is usually high-interest debt, then an emergency fund, then more retirement saving. Contributing beyond the match still gets you the tax advantage, and most advisers suggest working toward 10% to 15% of salary in total over time.