Employer retirement match calculator
A match is the only raise you can give yourself. This shows what it's worth in dollars, and exactly how much to contribute so you don't leave any of it behind.
Enter your salary, the match rate, and the cap
How the math works
Most plans read like "50% of the first 6%" or "100% up to 4%." The first number is the match rate; the second is the cap. You contribute up to the cap (salary × cap %), and the employer adds match rate × your contribution. Anything you put in above the cap is yours alone, and anything below it leaves match money on the table. A dollar-for-dollar match up to 4% is an immediate 100% return on that 4%.
When you'd use it
• Starting a new job and setting your contribution for the first time.
• Comparing two offers where one has a better match. The match is part of pay.
• Checking that a budget-driven cut to your contribution isn't costing you free money.
The match is one lever. The bigger one is the salary it's calculated on. See whether yours matches your role and state, in two minutes, free.
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What It Pays™ provides pay data and tools for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, financial, or employment advice. Salary figures are estimates drawn from government-published data and may not reflect any specific employer or offer.