401(k) Contribution Calculator
Find out what your 401(k) actually costs per paycheck. Plug in your salary, contribution rate, and employer match to see your tax savings and where you stand against the 2026 IRS limit.
Annual Salary
Your Contribution Rate
Percentage of pre-tax salary deferred to your 401(k) each pay period.
Contribution Type
Employer Match
Pay Frequency
Filing Status
State
Age Group
Sets your IRS contribution limit. Workers 50+ and 60-63 can contribute more.
Paycheck Impact
Estimates only. Not tax or legal advice. Consult a tax professional for accuracy.
2026 IRS Limit Progress
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How 401(k) Contributions Affect Your Paycheck
People often assume a $500 401(k) contribution means $500 less in take-home pay. Not quite. Pre-tax contributions lower your taxable income, so your paycheck drops by less than the full amount. If you're in the 22% federal bracket, that $500 contribution only costs you about $390 per paycheck.
Roth 401(k) contributions are different. You pay taxes on the money before it goes into your account, so the full contribution amount does come out of your paycheck. The tradeoff: Roth money grows tax-free, and you won't owe anything on withdrawals in retirement.
One thing to keep in mind: FICA taxes (6.2% for Social Security, 1.45% for Medicare) are calculated on your full gross pay no matter how much you put into your 401(k). Pre-tax deferrals only reduce federal and state income taxes.
How employer matching works
When your company offers a 401(k) match, they put extra money into your account based on what you contribute. You'll usually see it written as something like "100% match on the first 3%" or "50% match up to 6% of salary." Most employers match somewhere between 4-6% of pay.
At a bare minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match. If your employer matches 50% up to 6% and you're only putting in 3%, you're passing up free money. One pitfall to watch for: if your employer matches per paycheck and you max out the IRS limit early in the year, you could miss out on matching contributions for the rest of your pay periods.
Keep in mind that employer contributions usually come with vesting schedules. Your company might vest you immediately, use a 3-year cliff (nothing until year 3, then you own 100%), or phase it in over 6 years at 20% per year starting in year 2.
2026 IRS 401(k) Contribution Limits
| Age Group | Base Limit | Catch-Up | Total Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | $0 | $24,500 |
| Age 50+ | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 |
| Age 60-63 | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 |
The combined employee + employer limit for 2026 is $72,000 (the Section 415 limit). One 2026 change worth noting: workers who earned $150,000+ in prior-year FICA wages must make catch-up contributions as Roth.
401(k) Contribution by Salary and Rate
This table shows annual employee contributions at common salary and deferral rate combinations. An asterisk (*) means the contribution hits the 2026 IRS cap of $24,500.
| Salary | 3% | 6% | 10% | 15% | Rate to Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,200 | $2,400 | $4,000 | $6,000 | 61.3% |
| $50,000 | $1,500 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $7,500 | 49.0% |
| $60,000 | $1,800 | $3,600 | $6,000 | $9,000 | 40.8% |
| $75,000 | $2,250 | $4,500 | $7,500 | $11,250 | 32.7% |
| $100,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | 24.5% |
| $125,000 | $3,750 | $7,500 | $12,500 | $18,750 | 19.6% |
| $150,000 | $4,500 | $9,000 | $15,000 | $22,500 | 16.3% |
| $200,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 | $20,000 | $24,500* | 12.3% |
| $250,000 | $7,500 | $15,000 | $24,500* | $24,500* | 9.8% |
| $300,000 | $9,000 | $18,000 | $24,500* | $24,500* | 8.2% |
Pre-tax vs. Roth 401(k) contributions
Pre-tax (traditional) contributions cut your taxable income now. You pay taxes later when you withdraw in retirement. This usually makes more sense if you expect to be in a lower bracket after you stop working.
Roth contributions come out of after-tax dollars, so you don't get a tax break today. But both your contributions and earnings grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free. If you think your tax rate will be higher later, Roth tends to come out ahead.
Some people split their contributions between pre-tax and Roth to hedge their bets. That way you can pull from either account in retirement depending on what your tax situation looks like that year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about 401(k) contributions, limits, and tax savings
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
A common target is 10-15% of gross salary for retirement (counting employer match). At a minimum, put in enough to get your full employer match -- that's free money you'd otherwise lose. Beyond that, the right number depends on how close you are to retirement and what other savings you have.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The IRS employee deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500. If you're 50 or older, you can add another $8,000 in catch-up contributions ($32,500 total). Workers aged 60-63 get a higher catch-up of $11,250 ($35,750 total). The combined employee + employer limit is $72,000.
How does a 401(k) reduce my taxes?
Pre-tax (traditional) 401(k) contributions lower your taxable income for the year. Say you earn $75,000 and contribute $6,000 pre-tax: you're only taxed on $69,000. The savings depend on your marginal tax rate. Roth 401(k) contributions don't reduce current taxes, but the money grows tax-free.
What is an employer 401(k) match and how does it work?
Your company puts extra money into your 401(k) based on how much you contribute. Typical formulas look like "100% match on the first 3%" or "50% match up to 6% of salary." Most employers match somewhere between 4-6% of pay. Employer contributions don't count against your personal $24,500 limit.
What happens if I contribute too much to my 401(k)?
If you go over the IRS limit ($24,500 for 2026), you need to withdraw the excess before your tax filing deadline. Otherwise you face double taxation: the excess gets taxed in the year you contributed it AND again when you eventually withdraw it. Your plan administrator should catch this before it happens.
Should I choose pre-tax or Roth 401(k) contributions?
Pre-tax tends to win if you expect a lower tax bracket in retirement. Roth wins if you think your rate will go up. A lot of people split between both to keep their options open. One new rule for 2026: high earners ($150k+ in prior-year FICA wages) must make catch-up contributions as Roth.
Does my 401(k) contribution reduce Social Security and Medicare taxes?
No. FICA taxes (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare) are calculated on your full gross pay. Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals only reduce federal and state income taxes. A lot of people get this wrong.
How do I maximize my employer's 401(k) match?
Contribute at least enough to hit your employer's match limit. If they match 50% up to 6% of salary, put in at least 6%. Watch out for front-loading: if your employer matches per paycheck and you hit the IRS limit early in the year, you could miss matching dollars for the remaining pay periods.
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