Tool

How much of your 401(k) match are you leaving behind?

Type your salary and how much you contribute. Pick a common match formula (or your own). The tool shows, in plain English, whether you're getting your full employer match, and what it's worth in dollars. General education, not personal advice. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Example numbers. Change them to yours.

Annual salary You contribute (% of salary)

Common match formulas

Employer puts in 50¢ for every $1 you put in, on the first 6% of your salary.

Employer matches (% of what you put in) …up to this % of your salary

Advanced: two-tier match

Some plans say “100% of the first 3%, then 50% of the next 2%.” Turn this on if yours looks like that.

Use two-tier formula instead of the simple one above

Per year	Amount
You put in	—
Employer adds	—
Maximum employer would add	—
Match you’re not collecting	—

What “match” means

When you put money into your 401(k), some employers add money on top. That's the match. It usually stops growing once you put in a certain percent of your salary. Put in less, and you leave money behind.

Example: employer matches 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of salary. On a $70,000 salary:

You contribute	You put in	Employer adds	Total going in
3%	$2,100	$1,050	$3,150
6% (full match)	$4,200	$2,100	$6,300
10%	$7,000	$2,100	$9,100

Past 6% in this example, the employer adds no extra. Your own contributions still grow; there’s just no bonus.

Where to find your formula: benefits portal → 401(k) → “employer contribution” or “match.” A common simple one reads “50% of contributions up to 6% of pay.” A common two-tier reads “100% of the first 3%, then 50% of the next 2%.”

The matched money may not be yours right away. Check your vesting schedule. More in What a 401(k) match is, with real numbers.

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