CostOfLivingByState

Free calculator | Updated October 2026

Retirement Calculator: Your 401(k) and Where It Goes Furthest

Project your 401(k) with your employer’s match and the 2026 IRS limits, see the income it supports in today’s dollars, and compare how much of it you keep in each state after tax.

$
$
%

% of salary

%

% of what you put in

%

% of salary

%

Per year, before inflation

Raises, inflation, Social Security and where you retire
%

Per year

%

10-year US average 3.4%

$

Monthly, from ssa.gov/myaccount

At 67

You could have $1,567,141, about $537,590 in today’s money: $1,792 a month at a 4% withdrawal.
Saved so far$50,000
Your contributions$357,019
Employer match+$133,882
Investment growth+$1,026,241
Balance at 67$1,567,141
$1,567,141Year 1Year 32
401(k) balance

Retiring in Texas, that income ($21,504 a year in today’s money) would owe about $540 federal and $0 Texas income tax. Texas is one of 31 states where it would owe no state income tax.

No state income tax on this income in: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Projection, not a promise: returns vary year to year. Contributions are capped at the 2026 IRS limits held flat in future years (the real limits rise with inflation). We do not estimate Social Security, which depends on your full earnings record; get yours from SSA. State tax applies each state’s own exclusion for 401(k) income at your retirement age, from the state’s tax instructions (the latest published year, linked), then its 2026 brackets. It covers you as the account owner; a spouse’s own exclusion would lower the tax further.

Three numbers decide most of it

How much you put in, whether you collect the full employer match, and how many years it compounds. Raising a contribution from 6% to 10% of salary at 35 can add hundreds of thousands of dollars by 67, and starting five years earlier often matters more than a slightly higher return. Contributions above the IRS limit are capped automatically.

Where you retire changes what you keep

The same withdrawals are taxed very differently by state: nothing in nine states, nothing on retirement income in a few more, partial exclusions in many. The state result under the calculator ranks all 50 on your own numbers. For the rest of the cost of living, see retirement-friendly states and the 2027 Social Security increase.

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Frequently Asked

Retirement Calculator: questions answered

How much do I need to retire?
A common starting point is the 4% rule: withdrawing 4% of your savings in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, has historically lasted about 30 years. By that rule $1 million supports about $40,000 a year, before Social Security. The calculator shows that income in today's dollars, so you can compare it with what you spend now.
What are the 401(k) limits for 2026?
You can defer up to $24,500 in 2026. From age 50 you can add a $8,000 catch-up, and at ages 60 to 63 a larger $11,250 catch-up (IRS Notice 2025-67). IRAs allow $7,500. Employer matching does not count toward your limit. The calculator caps your contributions at these amounts for your age each year.
How does an employer match work?
A typical match is 50% of what you contribute, on contributions up to 6% of salary: contribute 6% and your employer adds 3%. Contributing less than the matched amount leaves free money behind. Enter your plan's formula to see what the match adds by retirement; it is often a large share of the final balance.
Which states tax retirement income?
Nine states have no income tax on wages or withdrawals. Others exempt some or all 401(k) and IRA withdrawals: Illinois, Mississippi and Pennsylvania exempt them entirely, Iowa from age 55, and many states exclude a set amount. Eight states tax Social Security benefits in 2026: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont. The calculator shows the tax on your projected income in your chosen state and ranks all 50.
Does the calculator include Social Security?
Only if you enter it. Your benefit depends on your whole earnings record and the age you claim, so the honest source is the Social Security Administration: sign in at ssa.gov/myaccount for your estimate, then enter the monthly amount here to see total retirement income.
What return should I assume?
Long-run stock market returns have averaged roughly 10% a year before inflation, bonds less, and a typical retirement mix somewhere between. Many planners use 5% to 7% before inflation for a diversified portfolio, and lower near retirement. The default is 6%; try a lower figure to see a cautious case. Returns vary widely from year to year.

Reader questions

Something this site doesn't answer?

Write to us. A person reads every message and we answer the ones we can, with the source cited. If your question would help other readers, we may publish an anonymised version, and we ask you first. Price-level figures here are a general reference for comparing states, not financial or relocation advice, so check your own move with a certified financial planner.

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