401(k) Contribution Optimizer
See how much employer match you’re capturing, compare Traditional vs. Roth, and calculate your tax savings at every contribution level.
How 401(k) Contributions Work
The employer match. If your employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary, the full match is captured at 6%. Below that, the match scales down with the contribution — each matched dollar is an instant 50% return.
Traditional vs. Roth. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income now — you pay taxes later in retirement. Roth contributions are after-tax but grow tax-free. Traditional comes out ahead when the current marginal rate is higher than the retirement rate; Roth comes out ahead when it’s lower.
2026 contribution limits: The employee limit is $24,500. If you’re 50 or older, you can add a $7,500 catch-up. Ages 60–63 get a super catch-up of $11,250 instead (SECURE 2.0).
The total limit. The combined employee + employer limit is $73,500 for 2026 ($81,000 with catch-up). Your employer match counts toward this limit, but not toward the $24,500 employee limit.