401(k) Paycheck Calculator 2026

See exactly how your 401(k) contributions affect your take-home pay, tax savings, and retirement growth. The 2026 contribution limit is $24,500 ($32,500 with catch-up for age 50+, $35,750 for ages 60-63).

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2026 401(k) Contribution Limits

IRS Limits for 2026

  • Employee contribution limit: $24,500
  • Catch-up contribution (age 50+): $8,000 (total $32,500)
  • Super catch-up (ages 60-63): $11,250 (total $35,750)
  • Employer + employee total limit: $70,500
  • High earners ($145,000+ prior year): catch-up must be Roth

How 401(k) Contributions Reduce Taxes

Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax, meaning they reduce your taxable income for the year. If you earn $80,000 and contribute $10,000 to your 401(k), you are only taxed on $70,000. This means every dollar you contribute saves you money at your marginal tax rate. For someone in the 22% bracket, a $10,000 contribution saves $2,200 in federal income taxes.

Employer Match

Many employers match a percentage of your 401(k) contributions. A common match is 50% of the first 6% of salary, or 100% of the first 3%. Employer matches do not count toward your $24,500 employee limit. Not taking full advantage of an employer match is leaving free money on the table.

Example

$75,000 salary, 10% contribution, 50% match on first 6%

  • Your annual contribution: $7,500
  • Employer match: $2,250 (50% of $4,500)
  • Total going to 401(k): $9,750/year
  • Tax savings at 22%: $1,650/year
  • Paycheck reduction: ~$446/month (not $625, because of tax savings)