403(b) Calculator
Free 403(b) calculator: project your balance at retirement with employer match, salary raises and catch-up, plus a check against the 2026 IRS limits.
Before tax, e.g. 60,000
Pre-tax or Roth deferrals
Held fixed every year
50 = 50¢ per $1 you put in
% of salary you contribute
After fees; hypothetical
For the today’s-dollars figure
Year-by-year projection
| Year | Age | Salary | You | Employer | Growth | End balance |
|---|
About this calculator
A 403(b) is the workplace retirement plan offered by public schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, churches and other tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. It works much like a 401(k): you choose a percentage of each paycheck to defer, the money is invested, and it grows tax-deferred (or tax-free, if you use the Roth option) until you withdraw it.
This 403b calculator projects what your account could be worth at retirement. Enter your age, current balance, salary, contribution rate and any employer match, and it builds a year-by-year projection with salary increases, monthly contributions and compound growth. It splits the final balance into the money you put in, the money your employer put in and the investment growth, and it checks your contributions against the 2026 IRS limit of $24,500, plus catch-up contributions from age 50.
Everything runs in your browser and updates as you type. The page address updates too, so you can bookmark a scenario or share it.
How the 2026 403(b) limits work
For 2026 you can defer up to $24,500 of your salary into a 403(b) (up from $23,500 in 2025). If you are 50 or older at the end of the year you can add a catch-up contribution of $8,000, for a total of $32,500. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, people who turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during the year get a higher catch-up of $11,250 instead, for a total of $35,750.
This deferral limit is shared with any 401(k) you contribute to in the same year: it is a per-person limit, not a per-plan limit. A 457(b) plan is the exception, with its own separate limit — see the 457(b) calculator. Employer contributions do not count toward the $24,500 figure; instead, your deferrals (excluding catch-up) plus employer contributions must stay under the total annual additions limit of $72,000 for 2026, and under 100% of your includible compensation.
Some 403(b) plans also offer a special catch-up for employees with at least 15 years of service with certain employers, such as public schools, hospitals and churches. It can raise your deferral limit by up to $3,000 a year, with a lifetime cap of $15,000. Because eligibility depends on your service history and earlier contributions, this calculator does not model it — ask your plan administrator whether it applies to you.
Starting in 2026, if your wages from the employer were above $150,000 in the prior year, any catch-up contributions you make must go in as Roth (after-tax) contributions. This changes the tax treatment, not the amount you can contribute.
IRS contribution limits for 2026
| Limit (2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferrals — 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contribution, age 50 and over | $8,000 |
| Higher catch-up, ages 60, 61, 62 and 63 | $11,250 |
| Total annual additions (employee + employer) — 401(k), 403(b) | $72,000 |
| Maximum compensation counted for employer contributions | $360,000 |
| Prior-year wages above which catch-up contributions must be Roth | $150,000 |
Limits are the IRS figures for tax year 2026, last checked October 5, 2026. Projections hold them flat in later years; the IRS normally raises them for inflation, so a capped projection is on the conservative side.
Sources: IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026 · IRS: COLA increases for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions · IRS: Retirement topics — catch-up contributions · IRS: Section 457(b) plans — catch-up contributions
How to use it
- Enter your current age and the age at which you plan to stop contributing. The projection runs one year at a time between the two.
- Enter your current 403(b) balance (0 if you are just starting) and your annual salary before tax.
- Choose whether you contribute a percentage of salary or a fixed dollar amount, and enter it. A percentage grows with your raises; a dollar amount stays the same every year.
- If your employer matches, enter the match rate and the share of salary it applies to. For “50% of the first 6%”, enter 50 and 6. Leave the match at 0 if your employer makes no contributions, which is common in public-school 403(b) plans.
- Set an expected annual return after fund fees, your expected yearly raise and an inflation rate for the today’s-dollars figure.
- Tick “Add catch-up contributions” if you plan to contribute the extra amount allowed from age 50, and keep “Keep contributions within the IRS limit” ticked for a realistic projection.
- Read the projected balance, the breakdown, the limit check, the chart and the year-by-year table. Use “Copy link” to save the scenario.
How the calculation works
Monthly growth rate
r = (1 + R)^(1/12) − 1R is the annual return you enter. Using this monthly rate means a balance with no new contributions grows by exactly R over a full year — 7% a year really is 7% a year — while contributions made during the year earn growth only for the months they are invested.
Each month
balance = balance × (1 + r) + (E + M) ÷ 12E is your contribution for the year and M is your employer’s. Both are spread evenly over 12 paychecks and added at the end of each month, after that month’s growth. Your salary, and with it a percentage-based contribution, rises once a year by the salary increase you enter.
Employer match
M = match rate × min(E, match cap × salary)With a 50% match on the first 6% of pay and a $60,000 salary, the employer matches up to $3,600 of your contributions and adds at most $1,800. Contributions above the cap are not matched. Salary above the 2026 compensation limit of $360,000 is not counted.
Limit check (2026)
E ≤ $24,500 + catch-up (catch-up = $8,000 at 50+, $11,250 at ages 60–63)Each year’s planned contribution is compared with the limit for your age in that year. With the cap switched on, any excess is trimmed back to the limit. Later years use the 2026 limits unchanged, because future inflation adjustments are not yet known.
Shortcut for constant contributions
FV = P × (1 + R)^n + C × ((1 + r)^(12n) − 1) ÷ rP is today’s balance, C the monthly contribution and n the number of years. The calculator does not use this shortcut because salary growth and catch-up contributions change C over time, but with no raises and a fixed contribution it gives the same answer.
Worked examples
Example 1: a 30-year-old teacher with a 50% match
You are 30, earn $55,000, have $10,000 in your 403(b) and contribute 8% of pay. Your employer matches 50% of contributions on the first 6% of salary. You expect a 6% annual return and 2.5% raises, and plan to retire at 65 (35 years from now).
- First-year contribution: 8% × $55,000 = $4,400, or $366.67 a month. That is far below the 2026 limit of $24,500, leaving $20,100 of unused room.
- Employer match: the match covers contributions up to 6% × $55,000 = $3,300, so $3,300 of your $4,400 is matched: 50% × $3,300 = $1,650.
- Monthly growth rate: (1 + 6%)^(1/12) − 1 = 0.4868%. After the first year the balance is $16,815.
- On its own, today’s $10,000 would grow to $76,861 over 35 years: $10,000 × (1 + 6%)^35.
- Repeating the monthly step for 35 years, with the salary and contributions rising 2.5% a year, adds $241,684 of your money, $90,632 from your employer and $677,904 of investment growth.
Result: A projected balance of $1,020,220 at 65. At 2.5% inflation that is about $429,891 in today’s dollars. Investment growth makes up 66% of the final balance, which is why starting early matters so much.
Example 2: a 55-year-old hitting the limit
You are 55, earn $120,000, have $250,000 saved and want to contribute 22% of pay plus the catch-up contribution. Your employer matches 100% on the first 5% of salary. You assume a 5% return and 3% raises, and plan to retire at 65.
- Planned first-year contribution: 22% × $120,000 = $26,400, plus the $8,000 catch-up = $34,400.
- The 2026 limit at age 55 is $24,500 + $8,000 = $32,500. The plan is $34,400, so the calculator flags it and trims the contribution to $32,500.
- Employer match: 100% of contributions up to 5% of salary = $6,000 in the first year. The match does not count toward your $24,500 deferral limit.
- From the year you turn 60 through the year you turn 63, the higher catch-up applies and the limit becomes $35,750; at 64 it falls back to $32,500. With raises, the planned contribution is above the limit in 10 of the 10 years, and each of those years is capped.
- Over 10 years you contribute $338,000, your employer adds $68,783 and growth adds $270,985.
Result: A projected balance of $927,768 at 65 (about $724,771 in today’s dollars). Ignoring the limit would have shown $997,326 — $69,558 too much — which is why the calculator caps contributions by default.
Assumptions
- Returns are a constant hypothetical rate, entered after fund fees. Real markets move up and down, and the order of good and bad years matters, especially close to retirement.
- Contributions are made monthly in equal amounts and stop at the retirement age you enter. Salary rises once a year.
- IRS limits are the 2026 amounts and are held flat in future years. Catch-up eligibility uses the age you reach in each projection year (your current age in year 1).
- The employer match is a single tier (for example 50% up to 6%). If your plan uses a multi-tier formula or a fixed employer contribution, enter the equivalent average.
- Taxes are not modelled. Traditional (pre-tax) balances will be taxed as income when withdrawn; qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free.
- Vesting is not modelled: if you leave before your employer’s contributions vest, you may forfeit some of them.
What the result means
The projected balance is what your account would be worth if every assumption held exactly. Treat it as one plausible outcome, not a forecast. Running a few scenarios — a lower return, a later start, a higher contribution — tells you more than any single number.
The today’s-dollars figure divides the result by cumulative inflation, so you can compare it with prices you know. A million dollars 35 years from now buys far less than a million dollars today.
The split between your contributions, your employer’s and growth shows where the money comes from. Early in a career growth dominates; for someone starting late, contributions do most of the work, which is why catch-up contributions exist.
To turn a balance into income, try the savings withdrawal calculator: it shows how long a balance lasts for a given monthly withdrawal, or how much you can take out over a set number of years.
Common mistakes
- Entering the return before fees. A fund that earns 7% but charges 1% leaves you with about 6%; over 30 years that difference changes the result by roughly a quarter.
- Forgetting that the $24,500 limit is shared with a 401(k). If you change jobs mid-year, or have a 403(b) and a 401(k) at the same time, your combined deferrals must stay under the limit.
- Assuming the match counts toward your limit. Employer money does not reduce the $24,500 you can defer in a 403(b) or 401(k) (it does in a 457(b)).
- Using an optimistic return with no inflation. A nominal 7% with 0% inflation makes the future look much richer than it is. Use the today’s-dollars figure.
- Skipping the match. Contributing less than the match cap leaves free money behind; the 401(k) contribution calculator shows exactly how much, and the same logic applies to a 403(b).
- Treating the projection as guaranteed. A bad market in the years just before retirement can leave you well short of a projection based on an average return.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 403(b) contribution limit for 2026?
The employee elective deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500. If you are 50 or older by the end of the year you can add $8,000 of catch-up contributions ($32,500 in total), and if you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2026 the catch-up is $11,250 ($35,750 in total). Total contributions including your employer’s are capped at $72,000, excluding catch-up.
Is a 403(b) the same as a 401(k)?
They are very similar: both let you defer salary before tax or as Roth, both share the same $24,500 deferral limit and catch-up rules, and both offer tax-deferred growth. The differences are who offers them (403(b) plans are for public schools and tax-exempt organizations), the investments allowed (annuity contracts and mutual funds), and the extra 15-year-of-service catch-up that some 403(b) plans allow.
Can I contribute to a 403(b) and a 457(b) at the same time?
Yes, and the limits are separate. In 2026 you could defer up to $24,500 into a 403(b) and another $24,500 into a 457(b), plus catch-up in each plan if you qualify. Many public-school and university employees have access to both; the 457(b) calculator on this site models that plan.
What return should I assume?
There is no right answer, which is why the return is an input. Many planners use 5–7% a year for a stock-heavy portfolio before inflation, and lower for a conservative mix. Use a return after fund fees, and try a lower figure to see how sensitive your plan is.
How does the age 60–63 super catch-up work?
Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, a participant who turns 60, 61, 62 or 63 during the calendar year can make a larger catch-up contribution: $11,250 in 2026 instead of $8,000. In the year you turn 64 the regular catch-up applies again. The calculator applies this automatically when “Add catch-up contributions” is ticked.
When can I withdraw from a 403(b) without penalty?
Generally from age 59½. Earlier withdrawals are usually taxed as income plus a 10% additional tax, with exceptions — for example if you leave your employer in or after the year you turn 55. Rules vary by plan and situation, so check with your plan or a tax adviser.
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Disclaimer
This calculator is for education and illustration only. Results are hypothetical projections that depend entirely on the inputs and the constant rate of return you enter; real investment returns vary from year to year and can be negative. Nothing on this page is investment, tax or legal advice. Check your plan’s documents and consider speaking with a qualified financial professional or tax adviser before making decisions.