Employer match calculator
Many workplace savings plans add money for every amount you put in, up to a share of salary. Enter your plan terms to see what you actually receive.
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How to use it
- Enter annual salary, your contribution rate, employer match rate and match cap (share of salary).
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
Your contribution = salary × your rate. Employer match = salary × the smaller of (your rate, the cap) × match rate. Missed match = salary × (cap − your rate, when lower) × match rate.
Example
Inputs: Annual salary = 120,000, Your contribution rate = 4 %, Employer match rate = 50 %, Match cap (share of salary) = 6 %. Result: Employer match per year: 2,400.00; Your contribution per year: 4,800.00; Total going into the plan per year: 7,200.00.
Limits and caveats
- It assumes a single match rate up to the cap, while some plans use tiers such as 100% on the first 3% and 50% after that.
- Vesting rules, which can take back part of the employer money if you leave early, are not modelled.
Questions about this tool
What does a 50% match up to 6% mean?
The employer adds half of what you pay in, counting no more than 6% of salary from you. Pay 6% and they add 3%.
Should I contribute above the cap?
The match stops at the cap, so anything above it is extra saving of your own with no company money added.
Why does the unclaimed match matter?
It is money on offer that you leave behind. Raising your rate to the cap gives an instant return equal to the match rate, before any investment growth.