401(k) Employer Match Calculator
Your employer's 401(k) match is free money — but only if you contribute enough to earn it. This free 401k match calculator shows how much your employer adds to your retirement each year, your total annual contribution, and exactly how much free money you leave on the table when you contribute below the match cap.
Enter your numbers
Vesting (display only): this calculator counts the full employer match. Your plan's vesting schedule only affects when that money is yours to keep — common setups are immediate vesting, a 3-year cliff, or a 6-year graded schedule. Check your plan documents.
Your results
Enter your numbers to see your employer match.
How to use this calculator
Enter your annual salary and the percentage you contribute to your 401(k). Then enter your employer's match rate (how many cents per dollar they add) and the match cap (the max salary percentage they match on). You can find both in your plan documents, benefits portal, or HR department — a typical match is "50% up to 6%".
Results update instantly as you type. The headline number is your employer match — the free money added each year — alongside your own contribution and the total going into your 401(k). Try raising your contribution percentage to see the match grow until you hit the cap.
If you contribute below the cap, a "leaving on the table" row appears showing the free money you'd capture by raising your contribution to the cap. That row alone is often the best reason to bump your deferral rate.
How it works
The math is annual contribution math only — no investment growth is projected. First, your contribution is your % × salary. Then the employer match is min(your %, cap %) × salary × match rate: only the portion of your contribution up to the cap earns the match, and contributions above the cap add no extra match.
Some plans use tiered formulas instead of a single rate — for example, "100% on the first 3% of salary, then 50% on the next 2%". This calculator uses one flat match rate as a simplifying estimate; if your plan tiers its match, use your average rate or consult HR for the exact figure.
Assumptions (estimates): single flat match rate; contributions spread evenly across the year; no per-paycheck true-ups, eligibility waiting periods, or IRS limits modeled. Vesting only affects when the match is yours to keep, not its amount. Results are a planning estimate for general information — not financial advice — and actual plan rules vary.
Frequently asked questions
How does a 401(k) employer match work?
When you contribute part of your paycheck to your 401(k), your employer adds extra money on top, based on a match formula like “50% up to 6%”. The match is part of your compensation — it goes into the same account and is free money once it vests.
What does “50% match up to 6%” mean?
It means your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, up to 6% of your salary. On a $75,000 salary with a 6% contribution, you put in $4,500 and your employer adds $2,250. Contribute less than 6% and your match shrinks proportionally.
How much should I contribute to get the full match?
Contribute at least your plan’s match cap — for a “50% up to 6%” plan, that’s 6% of your salary. Every percentage point you contribute below the cap also costs you part of the free money, which this calculator shows as money “leaving on the table”.
What is vesting, and does it change my match?
Vesting decides when the employer match becomes yours to keep. Some plans vest immediately, others use a cliff schedule where you must stay a set number of years, or a graded schedule that unlocks a portion each year. Vesting does not change the match amount — only whether you keep it if you leave your job.
Is this 401(k) match calculator exact?
It is an estimate. Real plans have details this tool does not model, such as per-paycheck true-ups, eligibility waiting periods, plan-specific definitions of compensation, and IRS contribution limits. It also counts contributions only and does not project investment growth. Check your plan documents or HR department for exact rules.