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Employer match calculator

An employer match is money an employer adds to a worker's workplace retirement account, based on what the worker puts in.

Plans word the terms differently, such as “50% of contributions up to 6% of salary.” Enter the terms from a plan document to see what they work out to in dollars.

$
% of salary
% of your contribution

50 means the employer adds 50 cents for each dollar you put in.

% of salary

The employer matches contributions only up to this share of salary.

At these inputs

At these inputs, your employer adds $1,800 a year.

You put in per year
$3,600
Employer adds per year
$1,800
Total per year
$5,400

The match applies to contributions up to $3,600 a year. Of the $3,600 you put in, $3,600 is matched.

How it is calculated

  • Your yearly contribution is your salary times your contribution percentage.
  • The match applies to the lesser of that and the match cap times your salary.
  • The employer adds the match percentage of that matched amount.
  • The IRS sets a yearly limit on retirement account contributions. This calculator does not apply it.
  • Some plans add a waiting period or a vesting schedule. Neither is included here.

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Educational illustration with hypothetical inputs. Not financial advice.