401(k) Employer Match Calculator 2026
Estimate your employee contributions and employer matching dollars, find out how much match you could be missing, and see the long-term value of a workplace 401(k) benefit.
Your 2026 employer match estimate
Annual contributions
Match capture and missed dollars
A lower deferral percentage may leave match dollars on the table. The chart uses the maximum achievable under the inputs, rather than assuming everyone can access the theoretical maximum.
Long-term value of the 401(k) match
Assumes your current 2026 employee contribution and employer match repeat once per year at year-end, with the same investment return until retirement.
Projection assumes one annual end-of-year contribution, constant dollar amounts and a constant after-fee return. Future match eligibility, vesting, job changes and IRS limits are not forecast. This projection is not a promise of returns or ownership.
If you change your contribution rate
Compare estimated 2026 employee deposits and employer match at selected salary-deferral percentages. Results incorporate your matching method and annual limits.
| Salary deferral | Employee contribution | Employer match | Total additions |
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Retirement growth checkpoints
| Age | Current balance growth | Employee deposits & growth | Employer match & growth | Total portfolio |
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How a 401(k) employer match works
Under a common two-tier example, the employer contributes 100% of your elective deferrals on the first 3% of eligible pay, plus 50% of deferrals on the next 2%. If you earn $90,000 and contribute 4% ($3,600), the example employer contributes $2,700 on the first tier and $450 on the second, a total of $3,150. Raising your contribution to 5% would yield the full $3,600 match before applicable caps and conditions.
For 2026, basic employee elective deferrals to most 401(k)s are generally limited to $24,500. If permitted, catch-up deferrals increase that by $8,000 for age 50 or older, or by $11,250 for ages 60–63. Total annual employee plus employer additions generally cannot exceed the lesser of $72,000 or 100% of compensation, excluding qualifying catch-up amounts. Employer match is calculated on up to $360,000 of compensation. Other plan and testing restrictions can apply.
Annual matching true-up: this model applies the tiers to combined eligible annual salary and actual employee deferrals. No true-up: the model applies each tier per pay period, stops deferrals at the annual IRS limit, and stops matching when eligible compensation reaches the compensation cap. Actual employer rules can vary.
Vesting: employee deferrals are always yours. Employer match can be subject to vesting rules, depending on plan type. The selected vesting percentage is an illustrative snapshot of ownership of this year’s employer amount, not a projection of future vesting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a 401(k) employer match?
Multiply eligible employee deferrals in each tier by its employer match percentage, then apply any plan-specific dollar cap and applicable annual IRS contribution limits. For example, 50% of the first 6% of salary means an employer contribution of up to 3% of eligible salary if you defer 6%.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?
The regular employee elective deferral limit is $24,500. If your plan permits catch-up contributions, the limit increases by $8,000 for eligible employees age 50+, or by $11,250 for ages 60–63. Multiple plans generally share the employee deferral limit.
Does employer matching count toward the employee’s $24,500 limit?
No. Employer matching contributions generally fall under the separate overall annual additions limit, which is $72,000 in 2026 before permitted catch-up contributions, and can also be limited by compensation and plan terms.
What is a 401(k) true-up?
An annual match true-up can make up employer contributions missed because the plan calculates matching per paycheck and contributions vary or stop early. Not every employer offers it, so review your Summary Plan Description.
What does vested employer match mean?
Vesting determines how much of an employer contribution you own if you leave employment. Your own salary deferrals are always fully vested. Some employer contributions vest immediately, others under a service schedule.
Are 2026 catch-up contributions required to be Roth?
Beginning in 2026, some participants with prior-year wages above the applicable IRS threshold must make catch-up contributions as Roth. For 2026, the relevant prior-year wage threshold is $150,000. This tool estimates contribution amounts, not their tax treatment.
Does the long-term projection include future IRS limits or pay raises?
No. To keep the forecast understandable, it repeats the calculated 2026 employee and employer amounts at the end of each year until retirement. Future salary, legislation, employer policies and vesting are not predicted.
Official sources: IRS 401(k) contribution limits; IRS employer matching guidance; IRS employer match vesting. Disclaimer: Educational planning only, not your plan administrator’s actual matching calculation, legal or tax advice. Confirm eligibility, catch-up Roth treatment, payroll timing, true-up, vesting and other annual contributions in your plan documents.
