Estimate how much you’ll have saved by retirement and the income it could pay. A 35-year-old earning $75,000 with $50,000 already saved, contributing 10% of pay with a 50% employer match on the first 6%, could have about $1,583,118 at 67 with a 6% return and 3% raises. After 3% inflation that is $614,783 in today’s dollars, which supports about $24,591 a year ($2,049 a month) at a 4% withdrawal rate.
Retirement Savings Calculator
Savings at retirement, employer match and income · Updated October 13, 2026
- In today’s dollars
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- Yearly income at your withdrawal rate (today’s dollars)
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- Monthly income (today’s dollars)
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- Your contributions
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- Employer contributions
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- Investment growth
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- Years to retirement
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Contributions are added at the end of each year and rise with your salary. Amounts are before tax and leave out Social Security.
How the projection works
- Each year your salary grows by the raise you enter, and you contribute your percentage of it.
- Employer match = salary × the smaller of your contribution and the match limit × the match rate. A 50% match up to 6% adds 3% of salary when you put in 6% or more.
- The balance earns your investment return once a year, and that year’s contributions are added at the end of the year.
- Today’s dollars = future balance ÷ (1 + inflation)years, so you can compare the result with prices now.
- Retirement income = balance in today’s dollars × withdrawal rate. This is the first year’s withdrawal; under the 4% rule you raise it with inflation each year after that.
2026 retirement account limits
| Account | 2026 limit |
|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and TSP: your contributions | $24,500 |
| Catch-up at 50 or older | +$8,000 (total $32,500) |
| Catch-up at ages 60 to 63 | +$11,250 (total $35,750) |
| Total of your and your employer’s contributions | $72,000 |
| IRA (traditional and Roth combined) | $7,500 (+$1,100 at 50 or older) |
If your contribution percentage would go over the 401(k) limit for 2026, the calculator warns you. The limits rise with inflation over time, so the projection doesn’t cap later years.
Is 4% a safe withdrawal rate?
The 4% rule comes from 1990s research on historical U.S. stock and bond returns: withdraw 4% of the balance in the first year of retirement, then increase the dollar amount with inflation, and the money lasted at least 30 years in almost every past period. It’s a planning shortcut, not a guarantee. Morningstar’s research for 2026 puts the highest safe starting rate at 3.9% for a 30-year retirement with 30% to 50% in stocks and a 90% chance of not running out. Retirees who can cut spending after bad years, or who expect a shorter retirement, may be able to start higher. Use the chips to compare.
Worked examples
| Scenario | Balance at retirement | Today’s dollars | Yearly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25, $50,000 salary, 6% with a 100% match up to 4%, 7% return, retire at 67 | $1,710,445 | $494,249 | $19,770 at 4% |
| Age 35, default example | $1,583,118 | $614,783 | $24,591 at 4% |
| Age 40, $90,000, $100,000 saved, 8% with no match, retire at 65 | $956,729 | $456,939 | $17,821 at 3.9% |
| Age 50, $120,000, $200,000 saved, 15% with 50% up to 6%, 5% return, 2.5% inflation, retire at 65 | $943,589 | $651,516 | $26,061 at 4% |
Starting early matters more than any other input: the 25-year-old contributes far less of their own money than the 35-year-old but ends up with more, because the first decade of contributions compounds for over 40 years.
What the calculator leaves out
- Taxes: withdrawals from traditional 401(k)s and IRAs are taxed as ordinary income, so the spendable amount is lower. Qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free.
- Social Security: most retirees also get a Social Security benefit. Check your estimate in your my Social Security account and add it to the income shown here.
- Market swings: real returns vary from year to year. Poor returns early in retirement do the most damage, which is why a slightly lower withdrawal rate gives more margin.
- Fees: enter your return after fund fees. A 1% fee turns a 7% market return into 6%.
- Vesting: employer contributions may take a few years to become fully yours.
FAQ
How much should I have saved for retirement?
Work backward from the income you want. To draw $40,000 a year in today’s dollars at 4%, you need about $1,000,000 in today’s dollars; at 3.9% you need about $1,025,600. Social Security and any pension reduce how much has to come from savings.
What return should I use?
Use a long-term figure that fits your mix of investments and is after fees. Many planners use 5% to 7% for a diversified portfolio before retirement; a lower number gives a more cautious plan.
Does the result include my employer match?
Yes. Enter the match rate and the share of salary it applies to. A common formula is 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of pay; another is 100% up to 4%.
Why is the today’s-dollars figure so much smaller?
Because prices rise. At 3% inflation, a dollar 32 years from now buys about what 39 cents buys today. Planning in today’s dollars keeps the goal realistic.
Related calculators
- 401(k) Contribution CalculatorCheck your 2026 contribution and match
- Compound Interest CalculatorSee how growth compounds over time
- Paycheck Calculator 2026What a higher contribution does to take-home pay
Sources
- IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 (IR-2025-111) · November 13, 2025
- IRS Notice 2025-67: 2026 limitations for retirement plans · PDF
- Morningstar: What’s a safe retirement withdrawal rate for 2026? · December 3, 2025
- IRS Publication 590-B: Distributions from IRAs
Figures current as of October 13, 2026
Each formula is checked against a separate test sheet with at least three worked examples. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and the published rules; your actual figures may differ. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
Spotted a mistake? Contact us and we will fix it and update the date above.