401(k) Match Calculator
Find out if you're leaving free money on the table. Calculate your 401(k) employer match, lost match, and the contribution needed to max it out.
Pre-tax or Roth 401(k) percentage
100% = dollar-for-dollar; 50% = $0.50 per $1
Most common: 3-6% cap
You're leaving $1,700.00 on the table
Increase contribution to 6% to claim the full match ($5,100.00/year from your paycheck).
How to use this calculator
Enter your annual salary, how much of it you currently contribute (as a percent), and your employer's match formula. The calculator shows what you're getting, what the full match would look like, and how much free money you're leaving on the table if you're under-contributing.
Reading a match formula
A formula like "100% match on the first 6% of salary" means: the employer matches your contribution dollar-for-dollar until your contribution hits 6% of salary. If you earn $80,000 and contribute 6%, you put in $4,800 and the employer adds $4,800. If you only contribute 3%, you get half the available match.
Why people under-contribute
Default contribution rates on auto-enrollment plans are often set at 3% — below most match caps. Many people never bump it up, thinking 3% must be "enough." Once you realize the employer would match up to 6%, the fix is a 30-second form change that's mathematically equivalent to a raise.
The first dollar priority
If you can't max out everything, the right priority order for most people is: (1) contribute up to the full employer match first, (2) pay off high-interest debt (credit cards, payday loans), (3) build a 3-6 month emergency fund, (4) max out a Roth IRA, (5) increase 401(k) beyond the match, (6) taxable investments. Skipping step 1 is almost always a mistake.
Beyond the match: the tax benefit
Even without match, 401(k) contributions reduce current-year taxable income (traditional) or grow tax-free forever (Roth). On a $100k salary in a 24% federal bracket, contributing $10k to a traditional 401(k) saves you $2,400 in federal tax plus state. The tax savings alone make 401(k) contributions compelling well past the match cap.
Frequently asked questions
What are typical 401(k) match formulas?▾
Most common: 50% match on the first 6% of salary (you contribute 6%, employer adds 3%). Second most common: 100% match on first 3% + 50% on next 2% (employer adds 4% total). Generous employers: 100% on first 6% = 6% of salary added. Check your plan document for the exact formula.
Is the match really 'free money'?▾
Essentially yes — it's unconditional compensation offered to people who contribute. Not taking it is leaving agreed-upon pay on the table. On a $100k salary with a 100% match on 6%, that's $6,000/year you're walking away from if you contribute less than 6%.
Can I contribute more than the match limit?▾
Yes. The 2026 federal 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+). You can contribute up to that full amount, but the employer only matches up to the plan's cap (typically 3-6% of salary). Contributing over the match cap is still valuable — the tax savings and compounding are yours, just without more match dollars.
What's a vesting schedule?▾
Some employer match contributions vest over time — meaning you don't fully own them until you've worked there long enough. Common schedules: immediate (you own it right away), 3-year cliff (100% vested at 3 years), or 6-year graded (20% per year starting year 2). Check your plan; leaving before full vesting forfeits unvested match.
Should I prioritize 401(k) match over paying off debt?▾
Usually yes. A 100% match is a guaranteed 100% return on your contribution — better than any debt interest rate. For a 50% match, the return is ~50%, still better than virtually any debt. The only exception: payday-loan-level interest (20%+) or if you're missing minimum payments. Always capture the match first, then tackle debt.
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