🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 148 (from laksa048)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa148.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/","crawl_time":1775792783,"first_indexed_time":1552608469,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,bankrate!www,\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/ s443","src_root_hash":"16841441868536461148","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"401(k) Contribution Limits For 2026 | Bankrate","meta_descriptions":["The 401(k) is a powerful retirement savings tool, letting you stash away up to $24,500 in 2026 — and even more if you're 50 or older.","The 401(k) is a powerful retirement savings tool, letting you stash away up to $24,500 in 2026 — and even more if you're 50 or older."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Key takeaways\nIn 2026, employees can defer up to $24,500 of their salary to fund their 401(k), an increase from $23,500 in 2025.\nWhen including employer matches and after-tax contributions, you can amass up to $72,000 in total in 2026.\nWorkers aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions on top of the normal limit — and those aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 can add even more to their workplace retirement plans.\nIf your long-term goals include enjoying a comfortable retirement, the\n401(k)\nis a great way to get there. Whether you choose a traditional or Roth 401(k), the annual contribution limits are the same, though the amount generally increases each year.\nWith a 401(k) plan, workers can make substantial annual contributions to their\nretirement savings\nand get a nice break on taxes, too. It’s simply a matter of initially setting up a payroll deduction to contribute to your 401(k) and choosing investments, and perhaps revisiting your preferences maybe once a year. Some employers automatically enroll new hires with a nominal contribution, unless they explicitly opt out or change that amount.\nThe 401(k) is one of the\nbest retirement plans\navailable to workers, thanks to high contribution limits set by the IRS — thousands more than you can save in an\nIRA\n— and the potential to earn an employer match.\n2026 401(k) contribution limits\nThe 401(k) limit for employee deferrals is $24,500 in 2026. This is the most that workers can contribute pre-tax to their 401(k) plans, but that amount doesn’t include any employer match.\nHowever, the\ntotal\ncontribution limit to a 401(k) in 2026 is $72,000. That includes employer contributions and after-tax contributions you make, if your employer offers that feature. \nFor older workers, the contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is even higher. Workers who are 50 and older can take advantage of a catch-up contribution of $8,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can make an even\nhigher catch-up contribution\nof up to $11,250 in 2026. (This new provision for workers approaching retirement went into effect in 2025 and the amount remains the same for 2026.)\nThe 401(k) contribution limits also apply to other so-called “defined-contribution plans,” including:\n403(b) plans\n, available to education and non-profit workers.\nMost\n457 plans\nused by state and local government employees.\nThe federal government’s\nThrift Savings Plan\n.\n401(k) plan limits\n2025\n2026\nMaximum salary deferral for workers\n$23,500\n$24,500\nCatch-up contributions for workers age 50 and older\n$7,500\n$8,000\nCatch-up contributions for workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63\n$11,250\n$11,250\nTotal contribution limit\n$70,000\n$72,000\nTotal contribution limit, plus 50+ catch-up contribution\n$77,500\n$80,000\nTotal contribution limit, plus 60 through 63 catch-up contribution\n$81,250\n$83,250\nCompensation limit for figuring contributions\n$350,000\n$360,000\nCompensation threshold for key employee nondiscrimination testing\n$230,000\n$235,000\nThreshold for highly compensated employee nondiscrimination testing\n$160,000\n$160,000\nTake advantage of any 401(k) match\nA majority of employers provide a matching contribution, and the average value of the promised match is 4.6%, according to Vanguard’s latest How America Saves report. If you don’t take advantage of your employer match, you’re rejecting free money.\nBut keep in mind that you may not be immediately entitled to that money.\nWhile your\ncontributions\nare always\nvested\nin the 401(k) — meaning they’re immediately credited to your account — employers sometimes impose time restrictions on their matching contributions to provide an incentive for workers to stick around.\nThere’s another catch with matching contributions: You must save enough to get the full match.\nA typical 401(k)\nemployer match\nis 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6% of a worker’s salary, which would be the equivalent of 3% of compensation. To take advantage of the full match, however, employees must defer at least 6% of their salary toward the 401(k) plan. Some plans are more generous, offering a 6% total match or more, and potentially other types of contributions to eligible employees that aren’t predicated on a match.\nLightbulb Icon\nMoney tip\nBe sure to take advantage of any employer match, because that’s free money to you — and a guaranteed return on your investment.\nEmployers have a higher contribution ceiling\nThe employer’s 401(k) maximum contribution limit is much more liberal. Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is $72,000 in 2026. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of up to $8,000 in 2026 and the catch-up contribution limit for workers aged 60 through 63 is $11,250.) That means a particularly generous employer could potentially contribute much more than you do to your plan, though this is not the norm.\nThe salary cap for determining employer and employee contributions for all tax-qualified plans increased to $360,000 in 2026, up from $350,000 in 2025.\nTraditional vs. Roth 401(k)\nSome employers offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With a\ntraditional 401(k) plan\n, you can defer paying income tax on the amount you contribute. In other words, if you earn $100,000 in 2026 and contribute the maximum $24,500 to your traditional 401(k), your taxable earnings (assuming no other deductions) for the 2026 tax year would be $75,500.\nWith a\nRoth 401(k) plan\n, you don’t get an upfront tax break, but when it’s time to withdraw that money in retirement, you won’t owe any tax on it. All of your accumulated contributions and earnings come out tax-free.\nInvesting in both types of plans provides you with tax diversification, which can come in handy during retirement.\nIf you have access to both a Roth and a traditional 401(k) plan, you can contribute to both, as long as your total contribution to both as an employee doesn’t exceed $24,500 in 2026.\nIn addition to the Roth and traditional 401(k), some employers also offer an “after-tax plan,” allowing you to save up to the total annual limit of $72,000 in 2026. With this account you can put away money after-tax and it can grow tax-deferred in your 401(k) account until withdrawal, at which point any withdrawn earnings become taxable.\nCan I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?\nIf your earnings are below $24,500, then the most you can contribute to your 401(k) plan is the amount you earn. Above this amount, however, you can generally contribute whatever percentage you elect to your 401(k) plan until you reach the contribution limit, unless your 401(k)’s plan document (a document governs each 401(k) plan) places any restrictions on that amount. This applies especially to highly compensated employees, which in 2026 is defined as those earning more than $160,000 or who own more than 5% of the business.\nSponsors of large company plans must abide by certain discrimination-testing rules to make sure highly compensated employees don’t get a lopsided benefit compared to the rank and file. Generally, highly compensated employees cannot contribute higher than 2 percentage points of their pay more than employees who earn less, on average, even though they likely can afford to stash away more. The goal is to encourage everyone to participate in the plan rather than favor one group over another.\nThere is a way around this for companies that want to avoid discrimination-testing rules. They can give everyone 3% of pay regardless of how much their employees contribute, or they can give everyone a 4% matching contribution.\nHow much should you contribute to a 401(k)?\nAt a minimum, employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plan to earn any company match. Beyond that, experts recommend that your contributions should be based on a percentage of your income, depending on your age, with the amount increasing over time.\nIn your 20s and 30s, a good goal is to stash away between 10% and 15% of your gross income toward retirement, if you can manage it. If you’re behind in retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, you may want to prioritize a goal of saving between 15% and 25% of your income.\nBut don’t let those percentages scare you away: If you’re not saving anything for retirement right now, you can get started with a lower amount, like 3%, and increase your savings from there. If you get a raise, that’s a good opportunity to increase your 401(k) contributions. Many plans also offer automated annual contribution increases of 1% or more, or you can manually increase this amount — by, say, 2% each year — until you hit your target savings goal.\nCatch-up contributions: Perks for older retirement investors\nIf you’re 50 years old or older, you’re entitled to make “catch-up” contributions — and that amount increases the closer you get to the typical retirement age:\nIn 2026, you can add an additional $8,000 to your workplace retirement plan, for a total contribution of $32,500.\nBut if you’re 60, 61, 62 or 63, you can contribute a higher amount: $11,250. This higher amount is a result of changes that were part of the\nSECURE 2.0 Act\nand went into effect in 2025.\nWorkers who are 64 or older can only take advantage of the $8,000 catch-up contribution.\nWhen including your employer’s match, after-tax contributions and allocations of forfeiture, the maximum amount that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan in 2026 is $80,000 for workers older than 50 and $83,250 for those workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 — amounts that are much higher than the $72,000 maximum that applies to everyone else. (Forfeitures come from an account in which company contributions accumulate from departing employees who weren’t vested in the plan.)\nHow to claim your retirement savings\nUnless you’re really in a bind, it’s best to avoid cracking open your 401(k) nest egg before age 59½, which is the age you’re allowed to dip into your savings without paying an early withdrawal penalty. \nHowever, there are some exceptions to that early withdrawal rule. Some 401(k) plans include provisions that allow for penalty-free early access in the form of\n401(k) loans\nor\nhardship withdrawals\n. Also, a company may allow access if you retire and leave the year you turn 55 or after (known as the “\nrule of 55\n” ). \nNot all plans include the option for loans, hardship withdrawals or penalty-free withdrawals for early retirees, and some plans require that a person be terminated before accessing their money, even if they are 59½ or older.\nBut given the risk of penalties and missing out on the time your money could grow while in the market, experts caution against taking a distribution or a loan from your 401(k) early, if you can avoid it. Rather, you should focus on consistent saving over time and, if it becomes necessary, first decrease your contributions rather than dipping into your retirement plan early.\nDid you find this page helpful?\nInfo Icon\nHelp us improve our content","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to Main Content](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#main-content)\n\n{closeNav(); \\$refs.siteNavMenuButton.focus();}\"\\>\n\n- [Banking](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/banking\/)\n  All\n  \n  Banking\n  \n  Checking & savings\n  \n  CDs\n  \n  Money market\n  \n  Banks\n  \n  [Explore all banking resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/banking\/)\n  \n  Banking\n  \n  Compare accounts\n  \n  - [Best high-yield savings accounts](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/banking\/savings\/best-high-yield-interests-savings-accounts\/)\n  - [Best checking accounts](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/banking\/checking\/best-checking-accounts\/)\n  - [Best free checking accounts](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/banking\/checking\/best-free-checking-accounts\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - 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[![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/3d6f458d84\/how-to-start-investing-nav-imagery.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to start investing 7 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/how-to-start-investing\/)\n  \n  Compare plans\n  \n  - [Best retirement plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-retirement-plans\/)\n  - [Best IRA accounts](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-ira-accounts\/)\n  - [Best Roth IRA accounts](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/best-roth-ira\/)\n  - [Best 401(k) rollover options](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-places-to-rollover-401k\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [401(k) calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401-k-calculator\/)\n  - [Retirement plan calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/retirement-plan-calculator\/)\n  - [Roth IRA calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/roth-ira-plan-calculator\/)\n  - [All retirement calculators](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/calculators\/)\n  - 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[Financial planner vs advisor](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/financial-advisor-vs-financial-planner\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [What is financial planning?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/what-is-financial-planning\/)\n  - [What is a fiduciary?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/what-is-a-fiduciary\/)\n  - [What is a CFP?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/what-is-a-certified-financial-planner\/)\n  - [What is wealth management?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/what-is-wealth-management\/)\n  - [Financial advisor resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/1cdbf65950\/what-is-wealth-management-s.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) When to get an advisor 4 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/when-to-get-a-financial-advisor\/)\n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/38750a2d5a\/what-is-a-certified-financial-planner-s.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Pros & cons of financial advising 7 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/pros-cons-financial-advisor\/)\n  \n  [Explore all investing resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/)\n- [Credit cards](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/)\n  All\n  \n  Credit cards\n  \n  Cards by category\n  \n  Cards by credit\n  \n  Tools & reviews\n  \n  Guides & resources\n  \n  [Explore all credit cards resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/)\n  \n  Credit cards\n  \n  Compare cards\n  \n  - [Best cards of 2026](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/best-credit-cards\/)\n  - [Best cash back cards](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/cash-back\/best-cash-back-cards\/)\n  - [Best balance transfer cards](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/balance-transfer\/best-balance-transfer-cards\/)\n  - 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[Excellent credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/rewards\/best-for-excellent-credit\/)\n  - [Good credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/building-credit\/best-for-good-credit\/)\n  - [Fair credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/building-credit\/best-for-fair-credit\/)\n  - [Bad credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/bad-credit\/best-for-bad-credit\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/2e8651b174\/how-to-build-credit-nav-imagery.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to build credit 7 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/personal-finance\/credit\/how-to-build-credit-fast\/)\n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/5a53191033\/best-cards-for-building-credit-nav-imagery.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Best cards for building credit Find out which credit cards could help](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/building-credit\/best-for-no-credit-history\/)\n  \n  See what the experts say\n  \n  Read in-depth credit card reviews to find out which cards have the best perks and more.\n  \n  [Read card reviews](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/reviews\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [Credit card payoff calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/credit-card-payoff-calculator\/)\n  - [Balance transfer calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/credit-card-balance-transfer-calculator\/)\n  - [Credit utilization calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/credit-utilization-calculator\/)\n  - [Points and miles calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/points-and-miles-calculator\/)\n  - [All credit card calculators](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/43548bf9cd\/spender-type-tool-nav-imagery.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Spender type tool Find cards that fit your needs](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/spender-type-tool\/)\n  \n  Get advice\n  \n  - [Credit cards 101](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/advice\/)\n  - [Balance transfer advice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/balance-transfer\/)\n  - [Zero interest credit cards](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/zero-interest\/)\n  - [Rewards credit card advice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/rewards\/)\n  - [Cash back credit card advice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/cash-back\/)\n  - [Travel credit card advice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/travel\/)\n  - [Business credit card advice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/business\/)\n  \n  Build credit\n  \n  - [Advice for bad credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/bad-credit\/)\n  - [Rebuilding credit score](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/building-credit\/)\n  \n  [Explore all credit cards resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/credit-cards\/)\n- [Loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/)\n  All\n  \n  Loans\n  \n  Personal loans\n  \n  Auto loans\n  \n  Student loans\n  \n  Small business loans\n  \n  [Explore all loans resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/)\n  \n  Loans\n  \n  Compare lenders\n  \n  - [Best personal loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/rates\/)\n  - [Best personal loans for bad credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/bad-credit-loans\/)\n  - [Best debt consolidation loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/debt-consolidation-loans\/)\n  - [Best home improvement loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/home-improvement\/rates\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [Personal loan resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/)\n  - [Personal loan lender reviews](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/reviews\/)\n  - [Personal loans calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/personal-loan-calculator\/)\n  - [Average personal loan interest rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/average-personal-loan-rates\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/38750a2d5a\/what-is-a-certified-financial-planner-s.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Personal loan basics 9 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/what-is-a-personal-loan\/)\n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/4c26764452\/how-to-start-saving.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to get a personal loan 11 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/personal-loans\/how-to-get-personal-loan\/)\n  \n  Compare lenders\n  \n  - [Best auto loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/rates\/)\n  - [Best auto loan refinance rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/refinance-rates\/)\n  - [Best car loans for bad credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/bad-credit-loans\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [Auto loan resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/)\n  - [Auto loan lender reviews](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/reviews\/)\n  - [Auto loan calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/auto-loan-calculator\/)\n  - [Auto loan refinancing guide](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/how-to-refinance-car-loan\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/d1a328a134\/auto-loan-refinancing-guide-nav.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to get the best auto loan rate 10 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/how-to-get-the-best-auto-loan-rate\/)\n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/720x720\/c481afa0d2\/auto-loan-refinancing-guide-s.jpg\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Auto loan basics 5 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/auto-loans\/what-is-an-auto-loan\/)\n  \n  Compare lenders\n  \n  - [Student loan rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/rates\/)\n  - [Student loan refinancing rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/refinance-rates\/)\n  - [Best bad credit student loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/bad-credit-loans\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [Student loan resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/)\n  - [Student loan lender reviews](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/reviews\/)\n  - [Student loan calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/student-loan-calculator\/)\n  - [Student loan refinance calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/student-loan-refinance-calculator\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/3d6f458d84\/how-to-start-investing-nav-imagery.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Private student loan basics 10 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/private-student-loans-guide\/)\n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/4c26764452\/how-to-start-saving.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to get a student loan 11 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/student-loans\/how-to-get-student-loan\/)\n  \n  Compare lenders\n  \n  - [Best small business loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/best-small-business-loans\/)\n  - [Bad credit small business loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/bad-credit-business-loans\/)\n  - [Business lines of credit](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/business-line-of-credit\/)\n  - [Small business loan banks](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/best-banks-for-small-business-loans\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [Small business loans resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/)\n  - [Small business loan reviews](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/reviews\/)\n  - [Small business loan calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/business-loan-calculator\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/4c26764452\/how-to-start-saving.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How small business loans work 9 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/how-do-small-business-loans-work\/)\n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/38750a2d5a\/what-is-a-certified-financial-planner-s.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to get a business loan 9 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/small-business\/how-to-get-a-business-loan\/)\n  \n  [Explore all loans resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/loans\/)\n- [Home equity](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/)\n  All\n  \n  Home equity\n  \n  HELOC\n  \n  Home equity loans\n  \n  [Explore all home equity resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/)\n  \n  Home equity\n  \n  HELOC\n  \n  A HELOC is a variable-rate line of credit that lets you borrow funds for a set period and repay them later.\n  \n  [HELOC Rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/heloc-rates\/)\n  \n  Home equity basics\n  \n  - [Best HELOC lenders](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/heloc-lenders\/)\n  - [HELOC calculator](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/heloc-calculator\/)\n  - [What is a HELOC?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/what-is-heloc\/)\n  - [Pros and cons of HELOCs](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/pros-cons-of-home-equity-lines\/)\n  - [Home equity lender reviews](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/reviews\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1440x1440\/e9e92b7729\/home-equity-heloc-guide-nav-imagery.png\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) What is home equity? 8 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/what-is-home-equity\/)\n  - [![Home purchase](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1280x720\/98576f9f53\/home-purchase.jpeg\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) How to calculate home equity 6 min read](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/how-to-calculate-equity-in-your-home\/)\n  \n  Home equity loans\n  \n  Home equity loans let you borrow a lump sum at a fixed rate, based on how much of the home you own outright.\n  \n  [Home equity loan rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/home-equity-loan-rates\/)\n  \n  Get guidance\n  \n  - [What is a home equity loan?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/what-is-home-equity-loan\/)\n  - [Home equity loan pros and cons](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/pros-cons-home-equity-loan\/)\n  - [Home equity loan requirements](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/requirements-to-borrow-from-home-equity\/)\n  - [HELOC vs home equity loan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/home-equity-loan-vs-line-of-credit\/)\n  - [How to build home equity](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/how-to-build-equity-in-your-home\/)\n  \n  - [![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/721x720\/bad3fd8f56\/heloc-lender-reviews-s.jpg\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Best home equity loan lenders Compare top home equity lenders](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/home-equity-loan-lenders\/)\n  - [![CD Rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/f\/102997\/1920x1080\/2654611691\/cd-rates.jpeg\/m\/50x50\/filters:quality\$90\$:format\$webp\$) Home equity calculator Calculate how much you can borrow](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/home-equity-calculator\/)\n  \n  [Explore all home equity resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/home-equity\/)\n- [Insurance](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/insurance\/)\n  All\n  \n  Insurance\n  \n  Auto insurance\n  \n  Home insurance\n  \n  Tools & reviews\n  \n  [Explore all insurance resources](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/insurance\/)\n  \n  Insurance\n  \n  Compare rates\n  \n  - 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[Retirement](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/)  ›\n2. 401(k) contribution limits for 2026\n\nAdvertiser Disclosure\n\n# 401(k) contribution limits for 2026\n![Brian Baker, CFA](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2021\/05\/20103456\/brian-baker.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) ![Anna-Louise Jackson](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2024\/11\/26141710\/Anna-Louise-Jackson-headshot.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) ![Andrea Coombes, CFP®](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2024\/10\/23192234\/andrea-coombes.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) ![Kenneth Chavis IV](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2025\/01\/24125453\/VCM-Headshot.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\nWritten by\n\nBrian Baker, CFA\n\n![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2021\/05\/20103456\/brian-baker.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\n[Brian Baker, CFA](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/brian-baker-cfa\/)\n\nFormer Senior Writer, Investing and Retirement\n\nExpertise\n\n- •  Investing\n- •  Wealth management\n\n16 Years of experience\n\nBrian Baker covered investing and retirement for Bankrate. He is a CFA Charterholder and previously worked in equity research at a buyside investment firm. Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can better plan for their financial futures.\n\n[Read more](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/brian-baker-cfa\/)\n\n- [Connect with Brian Baker, CFA on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/briandbaker1)\n- [Connect with Brian Baker, CFA on LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-baker-cfa-1019779)\n- [Get in contact with Brian Baker, CFA via Email](mailto:brbaker@redventures.com)\n\nClose\n\n[Brian Baker, CFA](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/brian-baker-cfa\/)\n\nand\n\nAnna-Louise Jackson\n\n,\n\n![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2024\/11\/26141710\/Anna-Louise-Jackson-headshot.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\n[Anna-Louise Jackson](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/anna-louise-jackson\/)\n\nExpertise\n\n- •  Financial markets\n- •  Taxes\n\n16 Years of experience\n\nAnna-Louise Jackson is a contributor to Bankrate, covering taxes and personal finance. Jackson's career began about 15 years ago at Bloomberg, where she covered financial markets and the economy. She's since written about personal finance topics for CNBC, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Money, NerdWallet. Her reporting has also been published by Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company and Success. Jackson enjoys making complex topics more understandable for readers.\n\n[Read more](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/anna-louise-jackson\/)\n\nClose\n\n[Anna-Louise Jackson](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/anna-louise-jackson\/),\n\nEdited by\n\nAndrea Coombes, CFP®\n\n,\n\n![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2024\/10\/23192234\/andrea-coombes.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\n[Andrea Coombes, CFP®](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/andrea-coombes-cfp\/)\n\nEditor\n\nCredentials\n\n- •  CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™\n\nExpertise\n\n- •  Investing\n- •  Real estate\n\nAndrea Coombes, a Bankrate editor, translates complex personal finance topics into understandable language that helps people live their best financial lives. She’s a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and over the past 25 years has worked as a financial coach, personal finance writer and editor and volunteer tax preparer. Her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch and many newspapers nationwide. She's been interviewed on local and national TV and radio, including NPR's All Things Considered, CBS News, Nasdaq and Marketplace.\n\n[Read more](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/andrea-coombes-cfp\/)\n\n- [Connect with Andrea Coombes, CFP® on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/@andreacoombes)\n- [Connect with Andrea Coombes, CFP® on LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/acoombes\/)\n\nClose\n\n[Andrea Coombes, CFP®](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/andrea-coombes-cfp\/),\n\nReviewed by\n\nKenneth Chavis IV\n\n,\n\n![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2025\/01\/24125453\/VCM-Headshot.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\n[Kenneth Chavis IV](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/kenneth-chavis-iv\/)\n\nSenior wealth advisor at Versant Capital Management\n\nExpertise\n\n- •  Investing and retirement\n- •  Mortgages and real estate\n\nKenneth Chavis IV is a senior wealth counselor at Versant Capital Management who provides investment management, complex wealth strategy, financial planning and tax advice to business owners, executives, medical doctors, and more.\n\n[Read more](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/kenneth-chavis-iv\/)\n\n[About our review board](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/financial-review-board\/)\n\nClose\n\n[Kenneth Chavis IV](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/kenneth-chavis-iv\/),\n\nExpert verified\n\nHow is this page expert verified?\n\nAt Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously.\n\n“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced.\n\nTheir reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content.\n\n[About our Review Board](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/financial-review-board\/)\n\nClose\n\n[Expert verified](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/financial-review-board\/)\n\nPublished on January 22, 2026 \\| 6 min read\n\nBankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money . Our Bankrate promise is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.\n\n![Person looking at laptop screen.](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2021\/11\/04172313\/GettyImages-1334323287.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=16:9)\n\nFG Trade\/Getty Images\n\nTable of contents\n\n- [401(k) contribution limits for 2026](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#limits)\n- [Employer match](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#employer-match)\n- [Employers have a higher contribution ceiling](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#ceiling)\n- [Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#traditional-vs-roth)\n- [Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#all-salary)\n- [How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#what-percentage)\n- [Catch-up contributions](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#perks-for-older-investors)\n- [How to claim your retirement savings](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#claim)\n\nTable of contents\n\nBack to top\n\n## Key takeaways\n- In 2026, employees can defer up to \\$24,500 of their salary to fund their 401(k), an increase from \\$23,500 in 2025.\n- When including employer matches and after-tax contributions, you can amass up to \\$72,000 in total in 2026.\n- Workers aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions on top of the normal limit — and those aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 can add even more to their workplace retirement plans.\n\nIf your long-term goals include enjoying a comfortable retirement, the [401(k)](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k\/) is a great way to get there. Whether you choose a traditional or Roth 401(k), the annual contribution limits are the same, though the amount generally increases each year.\n\nWith a 401(k) plan, workers can make substantial annual contributions to their [retirement savings](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-retirement-plans\/) and get a nice break on taxes, too. It’s simply a matter of initially setting up a payroll deduction to contribute to your 401(k) and choosing investments, and perhaps revisiting your preferences maybe once a year. Some employers automatically enroll new hires with a nominal contribution, unless they explicitly opt out or change that amount.\n\nThe 401(k) is one of the [best retirement plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-retirement-plans\/) available to workers, thanks to high contribution limits set by the IRS — thousands more than you can save in an [IRA](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/roth-ira-income-and-contribution-limits\/) — and the potential to earn an employer match.\n\n## 2026 401(k) contribution limits\nThe 401(k) limit for employee deferrals is \\$24,500 in 2026. This is the most that workers can contribute pre-tax to their 401(k) plans, but that amount doesn’t include any employer match.\n\nHowever, the *total* contribution limit to a 401(k) in 2026 is \\$72,000. That includes employer contributions and after-tax contributions you make, if your employer offers that feature.\n\nFor older workers, the contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is even higher. Workers who are 50 and older can take advantage of a catch-up contribution of \\$8,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can make an even [higher catch-up contribution](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/catch-up-contributions\/) of up to \\$11,250 in 2026. (This new provision for workers approaching retirement went into effect in 2025 and the amount remains the same for 2026.)\n\nThe 401(k) contribution limits also apply to other so-called “defined-contribution plans,” including:\n\n- [403(b) plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/403b-plan\/), available to education and non-profit workers.\n- Most [457 plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/perks-of-a-government-457-retirement-plan\/) used by state and local government employees.\n- The federal government’s [Thrift Savings Plan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/thrift-savings-plan-tsp\/).\n\n| 401(k) plan limits | 2025 | 2026 |\n|---|---|---|\n| Maximum salary deferral for workers | \\$23,500 | \\$24,500 |\n| Catch-up contributions for workers age 50 and older | \\$7,500 | \\$8,000 |\n| Catch-up contributions for workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 | \\$11,250 | \\$11,250 |\n| Total contribution limit | \\$70,000 | \\$72,000 |\n| Total contribution limit, plus 50+ catch-up contribution | \\$77,500 | \\$80,000 |\n| Total contribution limit, plus 60 through 63 catch-up contribution | \\$81,250 | \\$83,250 |\n| Compensation limit for figuring contributions | \\$350,000 | \\$360,000 |\n| Compensation threshold for key employee nondiscrimination testing | \\$230,000 | \\$235,000 |\n| Threshold for highly compensated employee nondiscrimination testing | \\$160,000 | \\$160,000 |\n## Take advantage of any 401(k) match\nA majority of employers provide a matching contribution, and the average value of the promised match is 4.6%, according to Vanguard’s latest How America Saves report. If you don’t take advantage of your employer match, you’re rejecting free money.\n\nBut keep in mind that you may not be immediately entitled to that money.\n\nWhile your *contributions* are always [vested](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/what-it-means-to-be-vested\/) in the 401(k) — meaning they’re immediately credited to your account — employers sometimes impose time restrictions on their matching contributions to provide an incentive for workers to stick around.\n\nThere’s another catch with matching contributions: You must save enough to get the full match.\n\nA typical 401(k) [employer match](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-match\/) is 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6% of a worker’s salary, which would be the equivalent of 3% of compensation. To take advantage of the full match, however, employees must defer at least 6% of their salary toward the 401(k) plan. Some plans are more generous, offering a 6% total match or more, and potentially other types of contributions to eligible employees that aren’t predicated on a match.\n\nMoney tip\n\nBe sure to take advantage of any employer match, because that’s free money to you — and a guaranteed return on your investment.\n\nCalculator:  [Estimate your retirement savings when contributing to a 401(k)](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401-k-calculator\/)\n\n## Employers have a higher contribution ceiling\nThe employer’s 401(k) maximum contribution limit is much more liberal. Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is \\$72,000 in 2026. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of up to \\$8,000 in 2026 and the catch-up contribution limit for workers aged 60 through 63 is \\$11,250.) That means a particularly generous employer could potentially contribute much more than you do to your plan, though this is not the norm.\n\nThe salary cap for determining employer and employee contributions for all tax-qualified plans increased to \\$360,000 in 2026, up from \\$350,000 in 2025.\n\n## Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)\nSome employers offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With a [traditional 401(k) plan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k\/), you can defer paying income tax on the amount you contribute. In other words, if you earn \\$100,000 in 2026 and contribute the maximum \\$24,500 to your traditional 401(k), your taxable earnings (assuming no other deductions) for the 2026 tax year would be \\$75,500.\n\nWith a [Roth 401(k) plan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/roth-ira-vs-roth-401k-how-they-differ\/), you don’t get an upfront tax break, but when it’s time to withdraw that money in retirement, you won’t owe any tax on it. All of your accumulated contributions and earnings come out tax-free.\n\nInvesting in both types of plans provides you with tax diversification, which can come in handy during retirement.\n\nIf you have access to both a Roth and a traditional 401(k) plan, you can contribute to both, as long as your total contribution to both as an employee doesn’t exceed \\$24,500 in 2026.\n\nIn addition to the Roth and traditional 401(k), some employers also offer an “after-tax plan,” allowing you to save up to the total annual limit of \\$72,000 in 2026. With this account you can put away money after-tax and it can grow tax-deferred in your 401(k) account until withdrawal, at which point any withdrawn earnings become taxable.\n\n## Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?\nIf your earnings are below \\$24,500, then the most you can contribute to your 401(k) plan is the amount you earn. Above this amount, however, you can generally contribute whatever percentage you elect to your 401(k) plan until you reach the contribution limit, unless your 401(k)’s plan document (a document governs each 401(k) plan) places any restrictions on that amount. This applies especially to highly compensated employees, which in 2026 is defined as those earning more than \\$160,000 or who own more than 5% of the business.\n\nSponsors of large company plans must abide by certain discrimination-testing rules to make sure highly compensated employees don’t get a lopsided benefit compared to the rank and file. Generally, highly compensated employees cannot contribute higher than 2 percentage points of their pay more than employees who earn less, on average, even though they likely can afford to stash away more. The goal is to encourage everyone to participate in the plan rather than favor one group over another.\n\nThere is a way around this for companies that want to avoid discrimination-testing rules. They can give everyone 3% of pay regardless of how much their employees contribute, or they can give everyone a 4% matching contribution.\n\n## How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?\nAt a minimum, employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plan to earn any company match. Beyond that, experts recommend that your contributions should be based on a percentage of your income, depending on your age, with the amount increasing over time.\n\nIn your 20s and 30s, a good goal is to stash away between 10% and 15% of your gross income toward retirement, if you can manage it. If you’re behind in retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, you may want to prioritize a goal of saving between 15% and 25% of your income.\n\nBut don’t let those percentages scare you away: If you’re not saving anything for retirement right now, you can get started with a lower amount, like 3%, and increase your savings from there. If you get a raise, that’s a good opportunity to increase your 401(k) contributions. Many plans also offer automated annual contribution increases of 1% or more, or you can manually increase this amount — by, say, 2% each year — until you hit your target savings goal.\n\nLearn more:  [The average 401(k) balance by age](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/average-401k-balance-by-age\/)\n\n## Catch-up contributions: Perks for older retirement investors\nIf you’re 50 years old or older, you’re entitled to make “catch-up” contributions — and that amount increases the closer you get to the typical retirement age:\n\n- In 2026, you can add an additional \\$8,000 to your workplace retirement plan, for a total contribution of \\$32,500.\n- But if you’re 60, 61, 62 or 63, you can contribute a higher amount: \\$11,250. This higher amount is a result of changes that were part of the [SECURE 2.0 Act](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/secure-act-2-retirement-account-changes\/) and went into effect in 2025.\n- Workers who are 64 or older can only take advantage of the \\$8,000 catch-up contribution.\n\nWhen including your employer’s match, after-tax contributions and allocations of forfeiture, the maximum amount that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan in 2026 is \\$80,000 for workers older than 50 and \\$83,250 for those workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 — amounts that are much higher than the \\$72,000 maximum that applies to everyone else. (Forfeitures come from an account in which company contributions accumulate from departing employees who weren’t vested in the plan.)\n\n## How to claim your retirement savings\nUnless you’re really in a bind, it’s best to avoid cracking open your 401(k) nest egg before age 59½, which is the age you’re allowed to dip into your savings without paying an early withdrawal penalty.\n\nHowever, there are some exceptions to that early withdrawal rule. Some 401(k) plans include provisions that allow for penalty-free early access in the form of [401(k) loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/borrow-from-401k-loan\/) or [hardship withdrawals](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/ways-to-take-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-ira-or-401k\/). Also, a company may allow access if you retire and leave the year you turn 55 or after (known as the “[rule of 55](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/rule-of-55\/)” ).\n\nNot all plans include the option for loans, hardship withdrawals or penalty-free withdrawals for early retirees, and some plans require that a person be terminated before accessing their money, even if they are 59½ or older.\n\nBut given the risk of penalties and missing out on the time your money could grow while in the market, experts caution against taking a distribution or a loan from your 401(k) early, if you can avoid it. Rather, you should focus on consistent saving over time and, if it becomes necessary, first decrease your contributions rather than dipping into your retirement plan early.\n\nCompare advisors:  [Bankrate's list of the best financial advisors](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/investing\/financial-advisors\/best-financial-advisors\/%20)\n\nDid you find this page helpful?\n\n**Why we ask for feedback** Your feedback helps us improve our content and services. It takes less than a minute to complete.\n\nYour responses are anonymous and will only be used for improving our website.\n\nHelp us improve our content\n\nYes\n\nNo\n\nThank you for your feedback\\!\n\nYour input helps us improve our content and services.\n\nCite us\n\nShare this article\n\nShare this article\n\nClose\n\n![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2021\/05\/20103456\/brian-baker.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=96&height=96&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\nWritten by\n\n[Brian Baker, CFA](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/brian-baker-cfa\/)\n\nFormer Senior Writer, Investing and Retirement\n\n- [Connect with Brian Baker, CFA on Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/briandbaker1)\n- [Connect with Brian Baker, CFA on LinkedIn](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-baker-cfa-1019779)\n- [Get in contact with Brian Baker, CFA via Email](mailto:brbaker@redventures.com)\n\n[Read more from Brian](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/brian-baker-cfa\/)\n\nBrian Baker covered investing and retirement for Bankrate. He is a CFA Charterholder and previously worked in equity research at a buyside investment firm. Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can better plan for their financial futures.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/brp\/2024\/11\/26141710\/Anna-Louise-Jackson-headshot.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=96&height=96&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart)\n\nCo-written by\n\n[Anna-Louise Jackson](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/anna-louise-jackson\/)\n\n[Read more from Anna-Louise](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/anna-louise-jackson\/)\n\nAnna-Louise Jackson is a contributor to Bankrate, covering taxes and personal finance. Jackson's career began about 15 years ago at Bloomberg, where she covered financial markets and the economy. She's since written about personal finance topics for CNBC, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Money, NerdWallet. Her reporting has also been published by Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company and Success. Jackson enjoys making complex topics more understandable for readers.\n\n![Person looking at laptop screen.](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2021\/11\/04172313\/GettyImages-1334323287.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=16:9)\n\nFG Trade\/Getty Images\n\nBankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money . Our Bankrate promise is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.\n\nTable of contents\n\n- [401(k) contribution limits for 2026](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#limits)\n- [Employer match](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#employer-match)\n- [Employers have a higher contribution ceiling](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#ceiling)\n- [Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#traditional-vs-roth)\n- [Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#all-salary)\n- [How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#what-percentage)\n- [Catch-up contributions](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#perks-for-older-investors)\n- [How to claim your retirement savings](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-contributions\/#claim)\n\nBack to top\n\n## You may also like\n![Illustrated collage featuring two bags of money and a set of keys](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2023\/11\/16165643\/Homes-How-to-get-a-second-VA-home-loan.jpg)\n\n[How many VA loans can you have?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/mortgages\/second-va-loan\/)\n\nMortgages\n\nBy [David McMillin](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/david-mcmillin\/)\n\n3 min read\n\n![Senior woman overworking at home](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2024\/02\/14125021\/What-is-a-required-minimum-distribution-RMD.jpeg)\n\n[What is a required minimum distribution (RMD)?](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/required-minimum-distribution-rmd\/)\n\nRetirement\n\nBy [James Royal, Ph.D.](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/james-royal\/)\n\n4 min read\n\n![Inherited 401(k) rules](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2022\/10\/04114507\/GettyImages-1200561591.jpg)\n\n[Inherited 401(k) rules: What beneficiaries need to know](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/inherited-401k-rules\/)\n\nRetirement\n\nBy [Karen Roberts](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/karen-roberts\/)\n\n5 min read\n\n![A man explains retirement options to a younger couple](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2019\/07\/25145806\/Untitled14.jpeg)\n\n[Best alternatives to a 401(k)](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/investing-alternatives-to-401k-retirement-plan\/)\n\nRetirement\n\nBy [James Royal, Ph.D.](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/authors\/james-royal\/)\n\n6 min read\n\n## [Bankrate logo](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/)\n### About\n- [About us](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/about\/)\n- [Leadership](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/leadership\/)\n- [Press room](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/press-releases\/)\n- [Bankrate Data Center](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/data-center\/)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/careers\/)\n- [Site map](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/corporate\/site-map\/)\n\n### Help\n- [Compare rates](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/compare-rates\/)\n- [Latest news](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/news\/)\n- [Popular topics](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/popular-finance-topics\/)\n- [Advertise with us](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/media-kit\/)\n\n### Legal\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/privacy\/)\n- Cookie settings\n- [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/do-not-sell-or-share-my-personal-information\/)\n- [Consumer Health Information Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/consumer-health-information-privacy-policy\/)\n- [Understanding Bankrate’s averages](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/understanding-bankrates-rate-averages\/)\n- [Terms of use](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/terms\/)\n- [GLBA annual notice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/glba-notice\/)\n- [California Consumer Financial Privacy Notice](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/2022\/02\/15094901\/california-notice.pdf)\n- [Licenses](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/licenses\/)\n\n### How we make money\nBankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. Our websites may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. Therefore, this compensation may impact what products appear and how, where, and in what order they appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.\n\nBankrate, LLC NMLS ID\\# 1427381 \\| [NMLS Consumer Access](http:\/\/www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org\/EntityDetails.aspx\/COMPANY\/1427381)  \n BR Tech Services, Inc. NMLS ID \\#1743443 \\| [NMLS Consumer Access](http:\/\/www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org\/EntityDetails.aspx\/COMPANY\/1743443)\n\n© 2026 Bankrate, LLC. A Red Ventures company. All Rights Reserved.","attrs_readable_markdown":"## Key takeaways\n- In 2026, employees can defer up to \\$24,500 of their salary to fund their 401(k), an increase from \\$23,500 in 2025.\n- When including employer matches and after-tax contributions, you can amass up to \\$72,000 in total in 2026.\n- Workers aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions on top of the normal limit — and those aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 can add even more to their workplace retirement plans.\n\nIf your long-term goals include enjoying a comfortable retirement, the [401(k)](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k\/) is a great way to get there. Whether you choose a traditional or Roth 401(k), the annual contribution limits are the same, though the amount generally increases each year.\n\nWith a 401(k) plan, workers can make substantial annual contributions to their [retirement savings](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-retirement-plans\/) and get a nice break on taxes, too. It’s simply a matter of initially setting up a payroll deduction to contribute to your 401(k) and choosing investments, and perhaps revisiting your preferences maybe once a year. Some employers automatically enroll new hires with a nominal contribution, unless they explicitly opt out or change that amount.\n\nThe 401(k) is one of the [best retirement plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/best-retirement-plans\/) available to workers, thanks to high contribution limits set by the IRS — thousands more than you can save in an [IRA](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/roth-ira-income-and-contribution-limits\/) — and the potential to earn an employer match.\n\n## 2026 401(k) contribution limits\nThe 401(k) limit for employee deferrals is \\$24,500 in 2026. This is the most that workers can contribute pre-tax to their 401(k) plans, but that amount doesn’t include any employer match.\n\nHowever, the *total* contribution limit to a 401(k) in 2026 is \\$72,000. That includes employer contributions and after-tax contributions you make, if your employer offers that feature.\n\nFor older workers, the contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is even higher. Workers who are 50 and older can take advantage of a catch-up contribution of \\$8,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can make an even [higher catch-up contribution](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/catch-up-contributions\/) of up to \\$11,250 in 2026. (This new provision for workers approaching retirement went into effect in 2025 and the amount remains the same for 2026.)\n\nThe 401(k) contribution limits also apply to other so-called “defined-contribution plans,” including:\n\n- [403(b) plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/403b-plan\/), available to education and non-profit workers.\n- Most [457 plans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/perks-of-a-government-457-retirement-plan\/) used by state and local government employees.\n- The federal government’s [Thrift Savings Plan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/thrift-savings-plan-tsp\/).\n\n| 401(k) plan limits | 2025 | 2026 |\n|---|---|---|\n| Maximum salary deferral for workers | \\$23,500 | \\$24,500 |\n| Catch-up contributions for workers age 50 and older | \\$7,500 | \\$8,000 |\n| Catch-up contributions for workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 | \\$11,250 | \\$11,250 |\n| Total contribution limit | \\$70,000 | \\$72,000 |\n| Total contribution limit, plus 50+ catch-up contribution | \\$77,500 | \\$80,000 |\n| Total contribution limit, plus 60 through 63 catch-up contribution | \\$81,250 | \\$83,250 |\n| Compensation limit for figuring contributions | \\$350,000 | \\$360,000 |\n| Compensation threshold for key employee nondiscrimination testing | \\$230,000 | \\$235,000 |\n| Threshold for highly compensated employee nondiscrimination testing | \\$160,000 | \\$160,000 |\n## Take advantage of any 401(k) match\nA majority of employers provide a matching contribution, and the average value of the promised match is 4.6%, according to Vanguard’s latest How America Saves report. If you don’t take advantage of your employer match, you’re rejecting free money.\n\nBut keep in mind that you may not be immediately entitled to that money.\n\nWhile your *contributions* are always [vested](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/what-it-means-to-be-vested\/) in the 401(k) — meaning they’re immediately credited to your account — employers sometimes impose time restrictions on their matching contributions to provide an incentive for workers to stick around.\n\nThere’s another catch with matching contributions: You must save enough to get the full match.\n\nA typical 401(k) [employer match](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k-match\/) is 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6% of a worker’s salary, which would be the equivalent of 3% of compensation. To take advantage of the full match, however, employees must defer at least 6% of their salary toward the 401(k) plan. Some plans are more generous, offering a 6% total match or more, and potentially other types of contributions to eligible employees that aren’t predicated on a match.\n\nMoney tip\n\nBe sure to take advantage of any employer match, because that’s free money to you — and a guaranteed return on your investment.\n## Employers have a higher contribution ceiling\nThe employer’s 401(k) maximum contribution limit is much more liberal. Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is \\$72,000 in 2026. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of up to \\$8,000 in 2026 and the catch-up contribution limit for workers aged 60 through 63 is \\$11,250.) That means a particularly generous employer could potentially contribute much more than you do to your plan, though this is not the norm.\n\nThe salary cap for determining employer and employee contributions for all tax-qualified plans increased to \\$360,000 in 2026, up from \\$350,000 in 2025.\n\n## Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)\nSome employers offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With a [traditional 401(k) plan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/401k\/), you can defer paying income tax on the amount you contribute. In other words, if you earn \\$100,000 in 2026 and contribute the maximum \\$24,500 to your traditional 401(k), your taxable earnings (assuming no other deductions) for the 2026 tax year would be \\$75,500.\n\nWith a [Roth 401(k) plan](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/roth-ira-vs-roth-401k-how-they-differ\/), you don’t get an upfront tax break, but when it’s time to withdraw that money in retirement, you won’t owe any tax on it. All of your accumulated contributions and earnings come out tax-free.\n\nInvesting in both types of plans provides you with tax diversification, which can come in handy during retirement.\n\nIf you have access to both a Roth and a traditional 401(k) plan, you can contribute to both, as long as your total contribution to both as an employee doesn’t exceed \\$24,500 in 2026.\n\nIn addition to the Roth and traditional 401(k), some employers also offer an “after-tax plan,” allowing you to save up to the total annual limit of \\$72,000 in 2026. With this account you can put away money after-tax and it can grow tax-deferred in your 401(k) account until withdrawal, at which point any withdrawn earnings become taxable.\n\n## Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?\nIf your earnings are below \\$24,500, then the most you can contribute to your 401(k) plan is the amount you earn. Above this amount, however, you can generally contribute whatever percentage you elect to your 401(k) plan until you reach the contribution limit, unless your 401(k)’s plan document (a document governs each 401(k) plan) places any restrictions on that amount. This applies especially to highly compensated employees, which in 2026 is defined as those earning more than \\$160,000 or who own more than 5% of the business.\n\nSponsors of large company plans must abide by certain discrimination-testing rules to make sure highly compensated employees don’t get a lopsided benefit compared to the rank and file. Generally, highly compensated employees cannot contribute higher than 2 percentage points of their pay more than employees who earn less, on average, even though they likely can afford to stash away more. The goal is to encourage everyone to participate in the plan rather than favor one group over another.\n\nThere is a way around this for companies that want to avoid discrimination-testing rules. They can give everyone 3% of pay regardless of how much their employees contribute, or they can give everyone a 4% matching contribution.\n\n## How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?\nAt a minimum, employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plan to earn any company match. Beyond that, experts recommend that your contributions should be based on a percentage of your income, depending on your age, with the amount increasing over time.\n\nIn your 20s and 30s, a good goal is to stash away between 10% and 15% of your gross income toward retirement, if you can manage it. If you’re behind in retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, you may want to prioritize a goal of saving between 15% and 25% of your income.\n\nBut don’t let those percentages scare you away: If you’re not saving anything for retirement right now, you can get started with a lower amount, like 3%, and increase your savings from there. If you get a raise, that’s a good opportunity to increase your 401(k) contributions. Many plans also offer automated annual contribution increases of 1% or more, or you can manually increase this amount — by, say, 2% each year — until you hit your target savings goal.\n\n## Catch-up contributions: Perks for older retirement investors\nIf you’re 50 years old or older, you’re entitled to make “catch-up” contributions — and that amount increases the closer you get to the typical retirement age:\n\n- In 2026, you can add an additional \\$8,000 to your workplace retirement plan, for a total contribution of \\$32,500.\n- But if you’re 60, 61, 62 or 63, you can contribute a higher amount: \\$11,250. This higher amount is a result of changes that were part of the [SECURE 2.0 Act](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/secure-act-2-retirement-account-changes\/) and went into effect in 2025.\n- Workers who are 64 or older can only take advantage of the \\$8,000 catch-up contribution.\n\nWhen including your employer’s match, after-tax contributions and allocations of forfeiture, the maximum amount that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan in 2026 is \\$80,000 for workers older than 50 and \\$83,250 for those workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 — amounts that are much higher than the \\$72,000 maximum that applies to everyone else. (Forfeitures come from an account in which company contributions accumulate from departing employees who weren’t vested in the plan.)\n\n## How to claim your retirement savings\nUnless you’re really in a bind, it’s best to avoid cracking open your 401(k) nest egg before age 59½, which is the age you’re allowed to dip into your savings without paying an early withdrawal penalty.\n\nHowever, there are some exceptions to that early withdrawal rule. Some 401(k) plans include provisions that allow for penalty-free early access in the form of [401(k) loans](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/borrow-from-401k-loan\/) or [hardship withdrawals](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/ways-to-take-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-ira-or-401k\/). Also, a company may allow access if you retire and leave the year you turn 55 or after (known as the “[rule of 55](https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/retirement\/rule-of-55\/)” ).\n\nNot all plans include the option for loans, hardship withdrawals or penalty-free withdrawals for early retirees, and some plans require that a person be terminated before accessing their money, even if they are 59½ or older.\n\nBut given the risk of penalties and missing out on the time your money could grow while in the market, experts caution against taking a distribution or a loan from your 401(k) early, if you can avoid it. Rather, you should focus on consistent saving over time and, if it becomes necessary, first decrease your contributions rather than dipping into your retirement plan early.\n\nDid you find this page helpful?\n\nHelp us improve our content","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Description	The 401(k) is a powerful retirement savings tool, letting you stash away up to $24,500 in 2026 — and even more if you're 50 or older., The 401(k) is a powerful retirement savings tool, letting you stash away up to $24,500 in 2026 — and even more if you're 50 or older.
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Boilerpipe Text	Key takeaways In 2026, employees can defer up to $24,500 of their salary to fund their 401(k), an increase from $23,500 in 2025. When including employer matches and after-tax contributions, you can amass up to $72,000 in total in 2026. Workers aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions on top of the normal limit — and those aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 can add even more to their workplace retirement plans. If your long-term goals include enjoying a comfortable retirement, the 401(k) is a great way to get there. Whether you choose a traditional or Roth 401(k), the annual contribution limits are the same, though the amount generally increases each year. With a 401(k) plan, workers can make substantial annual contributions to their retirement savings and get a nice break on taxes, too. It’s simply a matter of initially setting up a payroll deduction to contribute to your 401(k) and choosing investments, and perhaps revisiting your preferences maybe once a year. Some employers automatically enroll new hires with a nominal contribution, unless they explicitly opt out or change that amount. The 401(k) is one of the best retirement plans available to workers, thanks to high contribution limits set by the IRS — thousands more than you can save in an IRA — and the potential to earn an employer match. 2026 401(k) contribution limits The 401(k) limit for employee deferrals is $24,500 in 2026. This is the most that workers can contribute pre-tax to their 401(k) plans, but that amount doesn’t include any employer match. However, the total contribution limit to a 401(k) in 2026 is $72,000. That includes employer contributions and after-tax contributions you make, if your employer offers that feature. For older workers, the contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is even higher. Workers who are 50 and older can take advantage of a catch-up contribution of $8,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can make an even higher catch-up contribution of up to $11,250 in 2026. (This new provision for workers approaching retirement went into effect in 2025 and the amount remains the same for 2026.) The 401(k) contribution limits also apply to other so-called “defined-contribution plans,” including: 403(b) plans , available to education and non-profit workers. Most 457 plans used by state and local government employees. The federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan . 401(k) plan limits 2025 2026 Maximum salary deferral for workers $23,500 $24,500 Catch-up contributions for workers age 50 and older $7,500 $8,000 Catch-up contributions for workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 $11,250 $11,250 Total contribution limit $70,000 $72,000 Total contribution limit, plus 50+ catch-up contribution $77,500 $80,000 Total contribution limit, plus 60 through 63 catch-up contribution $81,250 $83,250 Compensation limit for figuring contributions $350,000 $360,000 Compensation threshold for key employee nondiscrimination testing $230,000 $235,000 Threshold for highly compensated employee nondiscrimination testing $160,000 $160,000 Take advantage of any 401(k) match A majority of employers provide a matching contribution, and the average value of the promised match is 4.6%, according to Vanguard’s latest How America Saves report. If you don’t take advantage of your employer match, you’re rejecting free money. But keep in mind that you may not be immediately entitled to that money. While your contributions are always vested in the 401(k) — meaning they’re immediately credited to your account — employers sometimes impose time restrictions on their matching contributions to provide an incentive for workers to stick around. There’s another catch with matching contributions: You must save enough to get the full match. A typical 401(k) employer match is 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6% of a worker’s salary, which would be the equivalent of 3% of compensation. To take advantage of the full match, however, employees must defer at least 6% of their salary toward the 401(k) plan. Some plans are more generous, offering a 6% total match or more, and potentially other types of contributions to eligible employees that aren’t predicated on a match. Lightbulb Icon Money tip Be sure to take advantage of any employer match, because that’s free money to you — and a guaranteed return on your investment. Employers have a higher contribution ceiling The employer’s 401(k) maximum contribution limit is much more liberal. Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is $72,000 in 2026. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of up to $8,000 in 2026 and the catch-up contribution limit for workers aged 60 through 63 is $11,250.) That means a particularly generous employer could potentially contribute much more than you do to your plan, though this is not the norm. The salary cap for determining employer and employee contributions for all tax-qualified plans increased to $360,000 in 2026, up from $350,000 in 2025. Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Some employers offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With a traditional 401(k) plan , you can defer paying income tax on the amount you contribute. In other words, if you earn $100,000 in 2026 and contribute the maximum $24,500 to your traditional 401(k), your taxable earnings (assuming no other deductions) for the 2026 tax year would be $75,500. With a Roth 401(k) plan , you don’t get an upfront tax break, but when it’s time to withdraw that money in retirement, you won’t owe any tax on it. All of your accumulated contributions and earnings come out tax-free. Investing in both types of plans provides you with tax diversification, which can come in handy during retirement. If you have access to both a Roth and a traditional 401(k) plan, you can contribute to both, as long as your total contribution to both as an employee doesn’t exceed $24,500 in 2026. In addition to the Roth and traditional 401(k), some employers also offer an “after-tax plan,” allowing you to save up to the total annual limit of $72,000 in 2026. With this account you can put away money after-tax and it can grow tax-deferred in your 401(k) account until withdrawal, at which point any withdrawn earnings become taxable. Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)? If your earnings are below $24,500, then the most you can contribute to your 401(k) plan is the amount you earn. Above this amount, however, you can generally contribute whatever percentage you elect to your 401(k) plan until you reach the contribution limit, unless your 401(k)’s plan document (a document governs each 401(k) plan) places any restrictions on that amount. This applies especially to highly compensated employees, which in 2026 is defined as those earning more than $160,000 or who own more than 5% of the business. Sponsors of large company plans must abide by certain discrimination-testing rules to make sure highly compensated employees don’t get a lopsided benefit compared to the rank and file. Generally, highly compensated employees cannot contribute higher than 2 percentage points of their pay more than employees who earn less, on average, even though they likely can afford to stash away more. The goal is to encourage everyone to participate in the plan rather than favor one group over another. There is a way around this for companies that want to avoid discrimination-testing rules. They can give everyone 3% of pay regardless of how much their employees contribute, or they can give everyone a 4% matching contribution. How much should you contribute to a 401(k)? At a minimum, employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plan to earn any company match. Beyond that, experts recommend that your contributions should be based on a percentage of your income, depending on your age, with the amount increasing over time. In your 20s and 30s, a good goal is to stash away between 10% and 15% of your gross income toward retirement, if you can manage it. If you’re behind in retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, you may want to prioritize a goal of saving between 15% and 25% of your income. But don’t let those percentages scare you away: If you’re not saving anything for retirement right now, you can get started with a lower amount, like 3%, and increase your savings from there. If you get a raise, that’s a good opportunity to increase your 401(k) contributions. Many plans also offer automated annual contribution increases of 1% or more, or you can manually increase this amount — by, say, 2% each year — until you hit your target savings goal. Catch-up contributions: Perks for older retirement investors If you’re 50 years old or older, you’re entitled to make “catch-up” contributions — and that amount increases the closer you get to the typical retirement age: In 2026, you can add an additional $8,000 to your workplace retirement plan, for a total contribution of $32,500. But if you’re 60, 61, 62 or 63, you can contribute a higher amount: $11,250. This higher amount is a result of changes that were part of the SECURE 2.0 Act and went into effect in 2025. Workers who are 64 or older can only take advantage of the $8,000 catch-up contribution. When including your employer’s match, after-tax contributions and allocations of forfeiture, the maximum amount that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan in 2026 is $80,000 for workers older than 50 and $83,250 for those workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 — amounts that are much higher than the $72,000 maximum that applies to everyone else. (Forfeitures come from an account in which company contributions accumulate from departing employees who weren’t vested in the plan.) How to claim your retirement savings Unless you’re really in a bind, it’s best to avoid cracking open your 401(k) nest egg before age 59½, which is the age you’re allowed to dip into your savings without paying an early withdrawal penalty. However, there are some exceptions to that early withdrawal rule. Some 401(k) plans include provisions that allow for penalty-free early access in the form of 401(k) loans or hardship withdrawals . Also, a company may allow access if you retire and leave the year you turn 55 or after (known as the “ rule of 55 ” ). Not all plans include the option for loans, hardship withdrawals or penalty-free withdrawals for early retirees, and some plans require that a person be terminated before accessing their money, even if they are 59½ or older. But given the risk of penalties and missing out on the time your money could grow while in the market, experts caution against taking a distribution or a loan from your 401(k) early, if you can avoid it. Rather, you should focus on consistent saving over time and, if it becomes necessary, first decrease your contributions rather than dipping into your retirement plan early. Did you find this page helpful? Info Icon Help us improve our content
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[Retirement](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/) › 2. 401(k) contribution limits for 2026 Advertiser Disclosure # 401(k) contribution limits for 2026 ![Brian Baker, CFA](https://www.bankrate.com/2021/05/20103456/brian-baker.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) ![Anna-Louise Jackson](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/11/26141710/Anna-Louise-Jackson-headshot.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) ![Andrea Coombes, CFP®](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/10/23192234/andrea-coombes.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) ![Kenneth Chavis IV](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2025/01/24125453/VCM-Headshot.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=24&height=24&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) Written by Brian Baker, CFA ![](https://www.bankrate.com/2021/05/20103456/brian-baker.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) [Brian Baker, CFA](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/brian-baker-cfa/) Former Senior Writer, Investing and Retirement Expertise - • Investing - • Wealth management 16 Years of experience Brian Baker covered investing and retirement for Bankrate. He is a CFA Charterholder and previously worked in equity research at a buyside investment firm. Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can better plan for their financial futures. [Read more](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/brian-baker-cfa/) - [Connect with Brian Baker, CFA on Twitter](https://twitter.com/briandbaker1) - [Connect with Brian Baker, CFA on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-baker-cfa-1019779) - [Get in contact with Brian Baker, CFA via Email](mailto:brbaker@redventures.com) Close [Brian Baker, CFA](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/brian-baker-cfa/) and Anna-Louise Jackson , ![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/11/26141710/Anna-Louise-Jackson-headshot.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) [Anna-Louise Jackson](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/anna-louise-jackson/) Expertise - • Financial markets - • Taxes 16 Years of experience Anna-Louise Jackson is a contributor to Bankrate, covering taxes and personal finance. Jackson's career began about 15 years ago at Bloomberg, where she covered financial markets and the economy. She's since written about personal finance topics for CNBC, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Money, NerdWallet. Her reporting has also been published by Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company and Success. Jackson enjoys making complex topics more understandable for readers. [Read more](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/anna-louise-jackson/) Close [Anna-Louise Jackson](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/anna-louise-jackson/), Edited by Andrea Coombes, CFP® , ![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/10/23192234/andrea-coombes.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) [Andrea Coombes, CFP®](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/andrea-coombes-cfp/) Editor Credentials - • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Expertise - • Investing - • Real estate Andrea Coombes, a Bankrate editor, translates complex personal finance topics into understandable language that helps people live their best financial lives. She’s a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and over the past 25 years has worked as a financial coach, personal finance writer and editor and volunteer tax preparer. Her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch and many newspapers nationwide. She's been interviewed on local and national TV and radio, including NPR's All Things Considered, CBS News, Nasdaq and Marketplace. [Read more](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/andrea-coombes-cfp/) - [Connect with Andrea Coombes, CFP® on Twitter](https://twitter.com/@andreacoombes) - [Connect with Andrea Coombes, CFP® on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/acoombes/) Close [Andrea Coombes, CFP®](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/andrea-coombes-cfp/), Reviewed by Kenneth Chavis IV , ![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2025/01/24125453/VCM-Headshot.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85&width=64&height=64&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) [Kenneth Chavis IV](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/kenneth-chavis-iv/) Senior wealth advisor at Versant Capital Management Expertise - • Investing and retirement - • Mortgages and real estate Kenneth Chavis IV is a senior wealth counselor at Versant Capital Management who provides investment management, complex wealth strategy, financial planning and tax advice to business owners, executives, medical doctors, and more. [Read more](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/kenneth-chavis-iv/) [About our review board](https://www.bankrate.com/financial-review-board/) Close [Kenneth Chavis IV](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/kenneth-chavis-iv/), Expert verified How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. “Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. [About our Review Board](https://www.bankrate.com/financial-review-board/) Close [Expert verified](https://www.bankrate.com/financial-review-board/) Published on January 22, 2026 \\| 6 min read Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money . Our Bankrate promise is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. ![Person looking at laptop screen.](https://www.bankrate.com/2021/11/04172313/GettyImages-1334323287.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&crop=16:9) FG Trade/Getty Images Table of contents - [401(k) contribution limits for 2026](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#limits) - [Employer match](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#employer-match) - [Employers have a higher contribution ceiling](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#ceiling) - [Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#traditional-vs-roth) - [Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#all-salary) - [How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#what-percentage) - [Catch-up contributions](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#perks-for-older-investors) - [How to claim your retirement savings](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#claim) Table of contents Back to top ## Key takeaways - In 2026, employees can defer up to \$24,500 of their salary to fund their 401(k), an increase from \$23,500 in 2025. - When including employer matches and after-tax contributions, you can amass up to \$72,000 in total in 2026. - Workers aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions on top of the normal limit — and those aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 can add even more to their workplace retirement plans. If your long-term goals include enjoying a comfortable retirement, the [401(k)](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k/) is a great way to get there. Whether you choose a traditional or Roth 401(k), the annual contribution limits are the same, though the amount generally increases each year. With a 401(k) plan, workers can make substantial annual contributions to their [retirement savings](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-retirement-plans/) and get a nice break on taxes, too. It’s simply a matter of initially setting up a payroll deduction to contribute to your 401(k) and choosing investments, and perhaps revisiting your preferences maybe once a year. Some employers automatically enroll new hires with a nominal contribution, unless they explicitly opt out or change that amount. The 401(k) is one of the [best retirement plans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-retirement-plans/) available to workers, thanks to high contribution limits set by the IRS — thousands more than you can save in an [IRA](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/roth-ira-income-and-contribution-limits/) — and the potential to earn an employer match. ## 2026 401(k) contribution limits The 401(k) limit for employee deferrals is \$24,500 in 2026. This is the most that workers can contribute pre-tax to their 401(k) plans, but that amount doesn’t include any employer match. However, the total contribution limit to a 401(k) in 2026 is \$72,000. That includes employer contributions and after-tax contributions you make, if your employer offers that feature. For older workers, the contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is even higher. Workers who are 50 and older can take advantage of a catch-up contribution of \$8,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can make an even [higher catch-up contribution](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/catch-up-contributions/) of up to \$11,250 in 2026. (This new provision for workers approaching retirement went into effect in 2025 and the amount remains the same for 2026.) The 401(k) contribution limits also apply to other so-called “defined-contribution plans,” including: - [403(b) plans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/403b-plan/), available to education and non-profit workers. - Most [457 plans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/perks-of-a-government-457-retirement-plan/) used by state and local government employees. - The federal government’s [Thrift Savings Plan](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/thrift-savings-plan-tsp/). \| 401(k) plan limits \| 2025 \| 2026 \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Maximum salary deferral for workers \| \$23,500 \| \$24,500 \| \| Catch-up contributions for workers age 50 and older \| \$7,500 \| \$8,000 \| \| Catch-up contributions for workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 \| \$11,250 \| \$11,250 \| \| Total contribution limit \| \$70,000 \| \$72,000 \| \| Total contribution limit, plus 50+ catch-up contribution \| \$77,500 \| \$80,000 \| \| Total contribution limit, plus 60 through 63 catch-up contribution \| \$81,250 \| \$83,250 \| \| Compensation limit for figuring contributions \| \$350,000 \| \$360,000 \| \| Compensation threshold for key employee nondiscrimination testing \| \$230,000 \| \$235,000 \| \| Threshold for highly compensated employee nondiscrimination testing \| \$160,000 \| \$160,000 \| ## Take advantage of any 401(k) match A majority of employers provide a matching contribution, and the average value of the promised match is 4.6%, according to Vanguard’s latest How America Saves report. If you don’t take advantage of your employer match, you’re rejecting free money. But keep in mind that you may not be immediately entitled to that money. While your contributions are always [vested](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/what-it-means-to-be-vested/) in the 401(k) — meaning they’re immediately credited to your account — employers sometimes impose time restrictions on their matching contributions to provide an incentive for workers to stick around. There’s another catch with matching contributions: You must save enough to get the full match. A typical 401(k) [employer match](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-match/) is 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6% of a worker’s salary, which would be the equivalent of 3% of compensation. To take advantage of the full match, however, employees must defer at least 6% of their salary toward the 401(k) plan. Some plans are more generous, offering a 6% total match or more, and potentially other types of contributions to eligible employees that aren’t predicated on a match. Money tip Be sure to take advantage of any employer match, because that’s free money to you — and a guaranteed return on your investment. Calculator: [Estimate your retirement savings when contributing to a 401(k)](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401-k-calculator/) ## Employers have a higher contribution ceiling The employer’s 401(k) maximum contribution limit is much more liberal. Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is \$72,000 in 2026. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of up to \$8,000 in 2026 and the catch-up contribution limit for workers aged 60 through 63 is \$11,250.) That means a particularly generous employer could potentially contribute much more than you do to your plan, though this is not the norm. The salary cap for determining employer and employee contributions for all tax-qualified plans increased to \$360,000 in 2026, up from \$350,000 in 2025. ## Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Some employers offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With a [traditional 401(k) plan](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k/), you can defer paying income tax on the amount you contribute. In other words, if you earn \$100,000 in 2026 and contribute the maximum \$24,500 to your traditional 401(k), your taxable earnings (assuming no other deductions) for the 2026 tax year would be \$75,500. With a [Roth 401(k) plan](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/roth-ira-vs-roth-401k-how-they-differ/), you don’t get an upfront tax break, but when it’s time to withdraw that money in retirement, you won’t owe any tax on it. All of your accumulated contributions and earnings come out tax-free. Investing in both types of plans provides you with tax diversification, which can come in handy during retirement. If you have access to both a Roth and a traditional 401(k) plan, you can contribute to both, as long as your total contribution to both as an employee doesn’t exceed \$24,500 in 2026. In addition to the Roth and traditional 401(k), some employers also offer an “after-tax plan,” allowing you to save up to the total annual limit of \$72,000 in 2026. With this account you can put away money after-tax and it can grow tax-deferred in your 401(k) account until withdrawal, at which point any withdrawn earnings become taxable. ## Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)? If your earnings are below \$24,500, then the most you can contribute to your 401(k) plan is the amount you earn. Above this amount, however, you can generally contribute whatever percentage you elect to your 401(k) plan until you reach the contribution limit, unless your 401(k)’s plan document (a document governs each 401(k) plan) places any restrictions on that amount. This applies especially to highly compensated employees, which in 2026 is defined as those earning more than \$160,000 or who own more than 5% of the business. Sponsors of large company plans must abide by certain discrimination-testing rules to make sure highly compensated employees don’t get a lopsided benefit compared to the rank and file. Generally, highly compensated employees cannot contribute higher than 2 percentage points of their pay more than employees who earn less, on average, even though they likely can afford to stash away more. The goal is to encourage everyone to participate in the plan rather than favor one group over another. There is a way around this for companies that want to avoid discrimination-testing rules. They can give everyone 3% of pay regardless of how much their employees contribute, or they can give everyone a 4% matching contribution. ## How much should you contribute to a 401(k)? At a minimum, employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plan to earn any company match. Beyond that, experts recommend that your contributions should be based on a percentage of your income, depending on your age, with the amount increasing over time. In your 20s and 30s, a good goal is to stash away between 10% and 15% of your gross income toward retirement, if you can manage it. If you’re behind in retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, you may want to prioritize a goal of saving between 15% and 25% of your income. But don’t let those percentages scare you away: If you’re not saving anything for retirement right now, you can get started with a lower amount, like 3%, and increase your savings from there. If you get a raise, that’s a good opportunity to increase your 401(k) contributions. Many plans also offer automated annual contribution increases of 1% or more, or you can manually increase this amount — by, say, 2% each year — until you hit your target savings goal. Learn more: [The average 401(k) balance by age](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/average-401k-balance-by-age/) ## Catch-up contributions: Perks for older retirement investors If you’re 50 years old or older, you’re entitled to make “catch-up” contributions — and that amount increases the closer you get to the typical retirement age: - In 2026, you can add an additional \$8,000 to your workplace retirement plan, for a total contribution of \$32,500. - But if you’re 60, 61, 62 or 63, you can contribute a higher amount: \$11,250. This higher amount is a result of changes that were part of the [SECURE 2.0 Act](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/secure-act-2-retirement-account-changes/) and went into effect in 2025. - Workers who are 64 or older can only take advantage of the \$8,000 catch-up contribution. When including your employer’s match, after-tax contributions and allocations of forfeiture, the maximum amount that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan in 2026 is \$80,000 for workers older than 50 and \$83,250 for those workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 — amounts that are much higher than the \$72,000 maximum that applies to everyone else. (Forfeitures come from an account in which company contributions accumulate from departing employees who weren’t vested in the plan.) ## How to claim your retirement savings Unless you’re really in a bind, it’s best to avoid cracking open your 401(k) nest egg before age 59½, which is the age you’re allowed to dip into your savings without paying an early withdrawal penalty. However, there are some exceptions to that early withdrawal rule. Some 401(k) plans include provisions that allow for penalty-free early access in the form of [401(k) loans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/borrow-from-401k-loan/) or [hardship withdrawals](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/ways-to-take-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-ira-or-401k/). Also, a company may allow access if you retire and leave the year you turn 55 or after (known as the “[rule of 55](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/rule-of-55/)” ). Not all plans include the option for loans, hardship withdrawals or penalty-free withdrawals for early retirees, and some plans require that a person be terminated before accessing their money, even if they are 59½ or older. But given the risk of penalties and missing out on the time your money could grow while in the market, experts caution against taking a distribution or a loan from your 401(k) early, if you can avoid it. Rather, you should focus on consistent saving over time and, if it becomes necessary, first decrease your contributions rather than dipping into your retirement plan early. Compare advisors: [Bankrate's list of the best financial advisors](https://www.bankrate.com/investing/financial-advisors/best-financial-advisors/%20) Did you find this page helpful? Why we ask for feedback Your feedback helps us improve our content and services. It takes less than a minute to complete. Your responses are anonymous and will only be used for improving our website. 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Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can better plan for their financial futures. ![](https://www.bankrate.com/brp/2024/11/26141710/Anna-Louise-Jackson-headshot.png?auto=webp&quality=85&width=96&height=96&fit=cover&enable=upscale&crop=1:1,smart) Co-written by [Anna-Louise Jackson](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/anna-louise-jackson/) [Read more from Anna-Louise](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/anna-louise-jackson/) Anna-Louise Jackson is a contributor to Bankrate, covering taxes and personal finance. Jackson's career began about 15 years ago at Bloomberg, where she covered financial markets and the economy. She's since written about personal finance topics for CNBC, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Time, Money, NerdWallet. Her reporting has also been published by Bloomberg Businessweek, Fast Company and Success. 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Table of contents - [401(k) contribution limits for 2026](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#limits) - [Employer match](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#employer-match) - [Employers have a higher contribution ceiling](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#ceiling) - [Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#traditional-vs-roth) - [Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)?](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#all-salary) - [How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#what-percentage) - [Catch-up contributions](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#perks-for-older-investors) - [How to claim your retirement savings](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-contributions/#claim) Back to top ## You may also like ![Illustrated collage featuring two bags of money and a set of keys](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/11/16165643/Homes-How-to-get-a-second-VA-home-loan.jpg) [How many VA loans can you have?](https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/second-va-loan/) Mortgages By [David McMillin](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/david-mcmillin/) 3 min read ![Senior woman overworking at home](https://www.bankrate.com/2024/02/14125021/What-is-a-required-minimum-distribution-RMD.jpeg) [What is a required minimum distribution (RMD)?](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/required-minimum-distribution-rmd/) Retirement By [James Royal, Ph.D.](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/james-royal/) 4 min read ![Inherited 401(k) rules](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/10/04114507/GettyImages-1200561591.jpg) [Inherited 401(k) rules: What beneficiaries need to know](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/inherited-401k-rules/) Retirement By [Karen Roberts](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/karen-roberts/) 5 min read ![A man explains retirement options to a younger couple](https://www.bankrate.com/2019/07/25145806/Untitled14.jpeg) [Best alternatives to a 401(k)](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/investing-alternatives-to-401k-retirement-plan/) Retirement By [James Royal, Ph.D.](https://www.bankrate.com/authors/james-royal/) 6 min read ## [Bankrate logo](https://www.bankrate.com/) ### About - [About us](https://www.bankrate.com/about/) - [Leadership](https://www.bankrate.com/leadership/) - [Press room](https://www.bankrate.com/press-releases/) - [Bankrate Data Center](https://www.bankrate.com/data-center/) - [Careers](https://www.bankrate.com/careers/) - [Site map](https://www.bankrate.com/corporate/site-map/) ### Help - [Compare rates](https://www.bankrate.com/compare-rates/) - [Latest news](https://www.bankrate.com/news/) - [Popular topics](https://www.bankrate.com/popular-finance-topics/) - [Advertise with us](https://www.bankrate.com/media-kit/) ### Legal - [Privacy policy](https://www.bankrate.com/privacy/) - Cookie settings - [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://www.bankrate.com/do-not-sell-or-share-my-personal-information/) - [Consumer Health Information Privacy Policy](https://www.bankrate.com/consumer-health-information-privacy-policy/) - [Understanding Bankrate’s averages](https://www.bankrate.com/understanding-bankrates-rate-averages/) - [Terms of use](https://www.bankrate.com/terms/) - [GLBA annual notice](https://www.bankrate.com/glba-notice/) - [California Consumer Financial Privacy Notice](https://www.bankrate.com/2022/02/15094901/california-notice.pdf) - [Licenses](https://www.bankrate.com/licenses/) ### How we make money Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. 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Readable Markdown	## Key takeaways - In 2026, employees can defer up to \$24,500 of their salary to fund their 401(k), an increase from \$23,500 in 2025. - When including employer matches and after-tax contributions, you can amass up to \$72,000 in total in 2026. - Workers aged 50 and older can make catch-up contributions on top of the normal limit — and those aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 can add even more to their workplace retirement plans. If your long-term goals include enjoying a comfortable retirement, the [401(k)](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k/) is a great way to get there. Whether you choose a traditional or Roth 401(k), the annual contribution limits are the same, though the amount generally increases each year. With a 401(k) plan, workers can make substantial annual contributions to their [retirement savings](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-retirement-plans/) and get a nice break on taxes, too. It’s simply a matter of initially setting up a payroll deduction to contribute to your 401(k) and choosing investments, and perhaps revisiting your preferences maybe once a year. Some employers automatically enroll new hires with a nominal contribution, unless they explicitly opt out or change that amount. The 401(k) is one of the [best retirement plans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-retirement-plans/) available to workers, thanks to high contribution limits set by the IRS — thousands more than you can save in an [IRA](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/roth-ira-income-and-contribution-limits/) — and the potential to earn an employer match. ## 2026 401(k) contribution limits The 401(k) limit for employee deferrals is \$24,500 in 2026. This is the most that workers can contribute pre-tax to their 401(k) plans, but that amount doesn’t include any employer match. However, the total contribution limit to a 401(k) in 2026 is \$72,000. That includes employer contributions and after-tax contributions you make, if your employer offers that feature. For older workers, the contribution limit for a 401(k) plan is even higher. Workers who are 50 and older can take advantage of a catch-up contribution of \$8,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can make an even [higher catch-up contribution](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/catch-up-contributions/) of up to \$11,250 in 2026. (This new provision for workers approaching retirement went into effect in 2025 and the amount remains the same for 2026.) The 401(k) contribution limits also apply to other so-called “defined-contribution plans,” including: - [403(b) plans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/403b-plan/), available to education and non-profit workers. - Most [457 plans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/perks-of-a-government-457-retirement-plan/) used by state and local government employees. - The federal government’s [Thrift Savings Plan](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/thrift-savings-plan-tsp/). \| 401(k) plan limits \| 2025 \| 2026 \| \|---\|---\|---\| \| Maximum salary deferral for workers \| \$23,500 \| \$24,500 \| \| Catch-up contributions for workers age 50 and older \| \$7,500 \| \$8,000 \| \| Catch-up contributions for workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 \| \$11,250 \| \$11,250 \| \| Total contribution limit \| \$70,000 \| \$72,000 \| \| Total contribution limit, plus 50+ catch-up contribution \| \$77,500 \| \$80,000 \| \| Total contribution limit, plus 60 through 63 catch-up contribution \| \$81,250 \| \$83,250 \| \| Compensation limit for figuring contributions \| \$350,000 \| \$360,000 \| \| Compensation threshold for key employee nondiscrimination testing \| \$230,000 \| \$235,000 \| \| Threshold for highly compensated employee nondiscrimination testing \| \$160,000 \| \$160,000 \| ## Take advantage of any 401(k) match A majority of employers provide a matching contribution, and the average value of the promised match is 4.6%, according to Vanguard’s latest How America Saves report. If you don’t take advantage of your employer match, you’re rejecting free money. But keep in mind that you may not be immediately entitled to that money. While your contributions are always [vested](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/what-it-means-to-be-vested/) in the 401(k) — meaning they’re immediately credited to your account — employers sometimes impose time restrictions on their matching contributions to provide an incentive for workers to stick around. There’s another catch with matching contributions: You must save enough to get the full match. A typical 401(k) [employer match](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k-match/) is 50 cents on the dollar, up to 6% of a worker’s salary, which would be the equivalent of 3% of compensation. To take advantage of the full match, however, employees must defer at least 6% of their salary toward the 401(k) plan. Some plans are more generous, offering a 6% total match or more, and potentially other types of contributions to eligible employees that aren’t predicated on a match. Money tip Be sure to take advantage of any employer match, because that’s free money to you — and a guaranteed return on your investment. ## Employers have a higher contribution ceiling The employer’s 401(k) maximum contribution limit is much more liberal. Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is \$72,000 in 2026. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of up to \$8,000 in 2026 and the catch-up contribution limit for workers aged 60 through 63 is \$11,250.) That means a particularly generous employer could potentially contribute much more than you do to your plan, though this is not the norm. The salary cap for determining employer and employee contributions for all tax-qualified plans increased to \$360,000 in 2026, up from \$350,000 in 2025. ## Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) Some employers offer both a traditional 401(k) and a Roth 401(k). With a [traditional 401(k) plan](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/401k/), you can defer paying income tax on the amount you contribute. In other words, if you earn \$100,000 in 2026 and contribute the maximum \$24,500 to your traditional 401(k), your taxable earnings (assuming no other deductions) for the 2026 tax year would be \$75,500. With a [Roth 401(k) plan](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/roth-ira-vs-roth-401k-how-they-differ/), you don’t get an upfront tax break, but when it’s time to withdraw that money in retirement, you won’t owe any tax on it. All of your accumulated contributions and earnings come out tax-free. Investing in both types of plans provides you with tax diversification, which can come in handy during retirement. If you have access to both a Roth and a traditional 401(k) plan, you can contribute to both, as long as your total contribution to both as an employee doesn’t exceed \$24,500 in 2026. In addition to the Roth and traditional 401(k), some employers also offer an “after-tax plan,” allowing you to save up to the total annual limit of \$72,000 in 2026. With this account you can put away money after-tax and it can grow tax-deferred in your 401(k) account until withdrawal, at which point any withdrawn earnings become taxable. ## Can I contribute 100% of my salary to a 401(k)? If your earnings are below \$24,500, then the most you can contribute to your 401(k) plan is the amount you earn. Above this amount, however, you can generally contribute whatever percentage you elect to your 401(k) plan until you reach the contribution limit, unless your 401(k)’s plan document (a document governs each 401(k) plan) places any restrictions on that amount. This applies especially to highly compensated employees, which in 2026 is defined as those earning more than \$160,000 or who own more than 5% of the business. Sponsors of large company plans must abide by certain discrimination-testing rules to make sure highly compensated employees don’t get a lopsided benefit compared to the rank and file. Generally, highly compensated employees cannot contribute higher than 2 percentage points of their pay more than employees who earn less, on average, even though they likely can afford to stash away more. The goal is to encourage everyone to participate in the plan rather than favor one group over another. There is a way around this for companies that want to avoid discrimination-testing rules. They can give everyone 3% of pay regardless of how much their employees contribute, or they can give everyone a 4% matching contribution. ## How much should you contribute to a 401(k)? At a minimum, employees should contribute enough to their 401(k) plan to earn any company match. Beyond that, experts recommend that your contributions should be based on a percentage of your income, depending on your age, with the amount increasing over time. In your 20s and 30s, a good goal is to stash away between 10% and 15% of your gross income toward retirement, if you can manage it. If you’re behind in retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, you may want to prioritize a goal of saving between 15% and 25% of your income. But don’t let those percentages scare you away: If you’re not saving anything for retirement right now, you can get started with a lower amount, like 3%, and increase your savings from there. If you get a raise, that’s a good opportunity to increase your 401(k) contributions. Many plans also offer automated annual contribution increases of 1% or more, or you can manually increase this amount — by, say, 2% each year — until you hit your target savings goal. ## Catch-up contributions: Perks for older retirement investors If you’re 50 years old or older, you’re entitled to make “catch-up” contributions — and that amount increases the closer you get to the typical retirement age: - In 2026, you can add an additional \$8,000 to your workplace retirement plan, for a total contribution of \$32,500. - But if you’re 60, 61, 62 or 63, you can contribute a higher amount: \$11,250. This higher amount is a result of changes that were part of the [SECURE 2.0 Act](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/secure-act-2-retirement-account-changes/) and went into effect in 2025. - Workers who are 64 or older can only take advantage of the \$8,000 catch-up contribution. When including your employer’s match, after-tax contributions and allocations of forfeiture, the maximum amount that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan in 2026 is \$80,000 for workers older than 50 and \$83,250 for those workers aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 — amounts that are much higher than the \$72,000 maximum that applies to everyone else. (Forfeitures come from an account in which company contributions accumulate from departing employees who weren’t vested in the plan.) ## How to claim your retirement savings Unless you’re really in a bind, it’s best to avoid cracking open your 401(k) nest egg before age 59½, which is the age you’re allowed to dip into your savings without paying an early withdrawal penalty. However, there are some exceptions to that early withdrawal rule. Some 401(k) plans include provisions that allow for penalty-free early access in the form of [401(k) loans](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/borrow-from-401k-loan/) or [hardship withdrawals](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/ways-to-take-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-ira-or-401k/). Also, a company may allow access if you retire and leave the year you turn 55 or after (known as the “[rule of 55](https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/rule-of-55/)” ). Not all plans include the option for loans, hardship withdrawals or penalty-free withdrawals for early retirees, and some plans require that a person be terminated before accessing their money, even if they are 59½ or older. But given the risk of penalties and missing out on the time your money could grow while in the market, experts caution against taking a distribution or a loan from your 401(k) early, if you can avoid it. Rather, you should focus on consistent saving over time and, if it becomes necessary, first decrease your contributions rather than dipping into your retirement plan early. Did you find this page helpful? Help us improve our content
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