401(k) & Employer Match Calculator
How much of your balance is your money, and how much is the match you would lose by not contributing.
How this number is built
Doing it by hand
Step 1
Find the match formula in your plan documents — the rate and the salary cap it applies to.
Step 2
Set your contribution at least up to the match cap before considering any other investment.
Step 3
Check the vesting schedule; unvested match is not yours until you have served the required time.
Step 4
Model a realistic return and salary growth rather than optimistic ones.
Step 5
Revisit after every raise, since a percentage contribution scales automatically but the cap does not.
What people ask next
Should I contribute past the match?
Often yes, for the tax treatment, but compare against clearing high-interest debt first. The match itself is almost always the top priority.
What is vesting?
The schedule on which employer contributions become permanently yours. Leaving before you vest can forfeit that money entirely.
Searches this page answers
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