401(k) Employer Match Calculator

Free · no sign-up · reviewed September 2026

An employer 401(k) match is the closest thing to free money in personal finance: your company adds to your retirement account just for contributing to it yourself. This shows exactly how much that match is worth, and whether you're leaving any of it on the table.

Set your salary, how much you contribute, and your employer's match formula to see the free money in dollars.

Drag to adjust

Your numbers

Your yearly salary

You contribute

Employer matches

50% means 50¢ for every $1 you put in

Up to this % of your pay

Employer match (free money) per year

$1,200

You could get $1,800 by contributing 6%

💡 You're leaving about $600 a year on the table. Raising your contribution to 6% of pay would capture the full $1,800 match, no extra effort required.

$2,400

You contribute

4% of pay

$1,200

Employer match

free money

$3,600

Total invested/yr

into your 401(k)

You put in$2,400
Employer adds$1,200
Free money missed$600

Your yearly contribution: $2,400
Employer match: $1,200
Free money left behind: $600
Total into your 401(k): $3,600
Match grown over 30 yrs (7%): $113,353

401(k) Match Calculator · Far Better Off

https://farbetteroff.com/calculators/401k-match-calculator

Open that link to get this calculator back with these exact numbers. Estimates for education only — Far Better Off is not a lender or a financial advisor, and these results are not financial advice.

The 2-minute guide

How a match usually works

A common formula is '50% up to 6% of pay.' That means for every dollar you contribute, your employer adds 50 cents, until your own contributions reach 6% of your salary. Contribute at least that 6% and you collect the entire match; contribute less and you forfeit part of it.

Always grab the full match first

A 50% match is an instant 50% return on that money, before it even starts growing. No investment reliably beats that. Before paying extra on low-rate debt or investing elsewhere, contribute enough to capture every matched dollar.

The match compounds too

Those free dollars get invested alongside your own and grow for decades. A match of a couple thousand a year can quietly become six figures by retirement, which is why skipping it is so costly.

Watch the vesting schedule

Some employers require you to stay a few years before the matched money is fully yours (called vesting). Your own contributions are always yours; check your plan so you know when the match locks in.

Frequently asked questions

What does '50% match up to 6%' mean?

Your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, until your contributions reach 6% of your salary. On a $60,000 salary, contributing 6% ($3,600) earns a $1,800 match. Contributing more than 6% still helps your savings but earns no extra match.

How much should I contribute to get the full match?

At least up to your employer's match limit, shown as a percent of pay. If they match up to 6%, contribute at least 6%. That's the minimum to avoid leaving free money behind.

Is the employer match really free money?

Yes. It's extra compensation added to your retirement account at no cost to you beyond contributing yourself. The main catch is vesting: some plans require you to stay a few years before the matched money is fully yours.

Does the match count toward my contribution limit?

No. The employee limit (for example the annual 401(k) elective deferral cap) applies to your own contributions. Employer match is on top of that, under a separate, much higher combined limit.

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