401k Employer Match Calculator

Work out 401k employer match instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About 401k Employer Match Calculator

An employer match is only paid on contributions up to a capped share of pay. Contributing less than the cap forfeits free money, which is why the first priority in any plan is to capture the full match.

Formula

Match

Match = salary × min(your rate, cap) × match rate

Worked example

With the default values below, 401k Employer Match Calculator returns Employer Match of $180,000.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Annual Salaryminimum 0: 6,000,000
Your Contribution Rateaccepts 0–50 %: 8 %
Employer Match Rateaccepts 0–200 %: 50 %
Match Capped At This Share Of Payaccepts 0–20 %: 6 %

Results

Employer Match: $180,000.00
Your Contribution: $480,000.00
Total Going Into The Plan: $660,000.00
Match You Are Leaving Behind: $0.00

Step by step

1Values used
2Match
3Employer Match= 180,000.00
4Your Contribution= 480,000.00
5Total Going Into The Plan= 660,000.00
6Match You Are Leaving Behind= 0.00

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Figures are estimates for planning only. Market returns are not guaranteed, and rates, limits and tax rules change. This is not financial or tax advice — speak to a qualified adviser before acting.
This is an estimate for general information and not professional financial, tax or legal advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Figures are estimates for planning only. Market returns are not guaranteed, and rates, limits and tax rules change. This is not financial or tax advice — speak to a qualified adviser before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the match an instant return?

Effectively yes — a 50% match is an immediate 50% gain on the matched portion, before any investment return.

Does vesting apply?

Often. Employer money may vest over several years, so leaving early can forfeit part of it.