401(k) vs Roth 401(k) Calculator
Your employer match is free money — but should your own contributions go pre-tax or Roth? Enter salary, contribution, match, taxes, and growth to project both paths after tax.
Estimates only — not financial advice. This calculator gives approximate figures for planning. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice; check with a qualified professional before making decisions.
How the 401(k) vs Roth 401(k) calculator works
Your contribution and the employer match are projected forward as yearly contributions compounding at your growth rate. The twist: the employer match is always pre-tax, so it lands in the Traditional bucket either way and gets taxed at withdrawal. Your own dollars go pre-tax in the Traditional column (taxed later) or after-tax in the Roth column (tax-free later) — compared on equal take-home sacrifice, so the two tax rates alone decide the winner.
The after-tax totals decide the winner — and the match narrows the gap, since it is taxed identically in both scenarios. As with IRAs, lower future taxes favor Traditional; higher future taxes favor Roth.
FV = yearly × ((1+g)ⁿ−1)/g · match taxed at withdrawal in both cases
Related tools
Keep exploring: Traditional vs Roth IRA Calculator · After Tax Yield Calculator · EMI Calculator.
401(k) vs Roth 401(k) calculator FAQ
Is the employer match affected by Roth vs Traditional?
The match itself is always pre-tax, no matter which option you pick for your own contributions. It grows tax-deferred and is taxed when you withdraw it in retirement.
Should I pick Roth 401(k) when I am young?
Often yes — early-career earners usually face lower tax rates now than in their peak years, so paying tax now at the lower rate wins. Run your own numbers above.
Do Roth 401(k)s have required minimum distributions?
Since 2024, Roth 401(k)s are exempt from pre-death required minimum distributions, matching Roth IRAs — one less reason to roll over at retirement.
What are the contribution limits?
The IRS sets yearly elective-deferral limits (recently around $23,500 under 50, plus catch-up contributions). This calculator models any percentage you enter.
Can I split contributions between both?
Yes — most plans let you divide each paycheck between Traditional and Roth. The calculator compares all-in scenarios; splitting lands somewhere between.