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| Meta Title | What is 401(k) matching & how does it work? | Empower |
| Meta Description | Learn what 401(k) matching is and how it works. Check out considerations to keep in mind when offered a 401(k) contribution match by your employer. |
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| Boilerpipe Text | Key takeaways
Matching 401(k) contributions are additional contributions made by employers, on top of the contributions made by employees.
These matches are made on a percentage basis, such as 25%, 50%, or even 100% of the employee’s contribution amount, often up to a set dollar amount or a set percentage of the employee’s salary.
Employer matching contributions can apply to 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) plans, depending on the employer.
Saving enough max out an employer match can top up retirement funds, even if savers don’t max out the contribution limits.
401(k) plans are one of the most common investment vehicles that Americans use to save for retirement, and a common perk of these plans is that they sometimes come with an employer match. However, according toÂ
Empower research
, 25% of workplace savers aren't contributing enough to maximize their employer match — meaning that they're leaving money on the table.
Below, we cover the types of matching, contribution limits, and other frequently asked questions.
What is 401(k) matching?
For most employees, a defined contribution plan is one of the primary benefits offered by their employer, with aÂ
401(k)
plan being the standard employer-sponsored retirement plan used by for-profit businesses. Employer matching of your 401(k) contributions
Â
means that your employer contributes a certain amount to your retirement savings plan based on the amount you contribute.
Similarly, some employers use 403(b) or 457(b)Â plans. While there are some minor differences between these plans, they are generally treated in a similar manner, and they usually have the same maximum contribution limits.
The type of plan is based on the type of entity:
403(b) plans
 are used by tax-exempt groups, such as schools or hospitals.
457(b) plans
 are for government workers, although there are some non-governmental organizations that also qualify to use these plans.
Whether you’re on your first job or are thinking about retirement, here are a few considerations to keep in mind when offered an employer match to your 401(k) contributions.
Read more:
Â
401(k) vs 403(b): What’s the difference?
How much can you contribute?
You canÂ
contribute up to
 $23,500 in 2025, plus an additional $7,500 if you are age 50 or older. There’s an additionalÂ
$11,250 catch-up contribution
available for those age 60 to 63. Note that employer matching contributions don’t count toward this limit, but there is a limit for employee and employer contributions combined: Either 100% of your salary or $70,000 ($77,500 if you’re over 50), whichever comes first.
When it comes to matching, specific terms of a 401(k) plan can vary widely. Your employer may use a very generous matching formula or choose not to match employee contributions at all. Additionally, not all employer contributions to an employee’s 401(k) plan are the result of matching. Employers may make regular profit-sharing type contributions to employee plans regardless of employee contributions, though this is not particularly common.
Make sure you check your employer’s plan documents for the details on exactly how your 401(k) works.
Types of employee matching
If you’re able, contributing up to your full company match is generally a good idea. There’s a reason a 401(k) match is often referred to as “free money.” You don’t have to do anything to earn it other than contribute to your retirement plan; if you contribute to your 401(k), your employer also contributes funds. In some cases, matching contributions may be subject to vesting schedule based on your years of employment.
Â
Knowing how your match works is a key piece of understanding your 401(k) plan.
Employer matches are typically made each payroll period, but some employers may make them annually instead. Two common types of matching are:
1. Partial matching
A partial match means that your employer will match part of the money you put into your 401(k), up to a certain amount. A common partial match provided by employers is 50% of what you contribute, up to 6% of your salary.
In practical terms, this means that if you earn $80,000 per year, your contributions that will be eligible for matching are 6% of your salary, or $4,800 in this case. But since your company only offers a 50% partial match, they will match half of the $4,800, or $2,400. To get the maximum amount of 401(k) match, you must put in 6%.
If you put in more, say 8%, your employer will still only match half of 6% of your salary, because that’s their max. The employer can determine the matching parameters.
2. Full matching (100% match)
With a dollar-for-dollar match, your employer will put in the same amount of money you do — up to a certain amount. An example of dollar-for-dollar is up to 4% of your salary. In this case, if you put in 4%, they put in 4%; if you put in 2%, they put in 2%. If you put in 6%, they still only put in 4%, because that’s their max.
401(k) matching example
So now that you understand how a 401(k) match generally works, and why it’s often referred to as “free money,” let’s look at how this could potentially affect your retirement savings over time.
This scenario assumes a salary of $65,000 a year, along with a company match of 100% on up to 5% of salary.
Employee contribution
Annual dollar amount
Total (after 40 years invested)
2%
(not maximizing match)
Employee: $1,300
Employer: $1,300
$433,019
5%
(maximizing match)
Employee: $3,250
Employer: $3,250
$1,082,547
10%
(contributing above match)
Employee: $6,500
Employer: $3,250
$1,623,820
FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. This is a hypothetical illustration to show the value of an increase in contributions; it is not intended as a projection or prediction of future investment results, nor is it intended as financial planning or investment advice. It assumes a 6% average annual rate of return and a $65,000 starting salary with no increases investing over 40 years. Rates of return may vary. This illustration does not include any charges, expenses or fees that may be associated with your program.
Read more:
Â
What percentage should I contribute to my 401(k)?
401(k) vesting schedules
It’s important to understand the matching rules for your 401(k) plan, but it’s also important to understand the vesting schedule for employer contributions. Vesting refers to how much of employer contributions actually belong to you — it is based on how long you’ve worked at the company.
What this means is that you may forfeit your employer match if you leave or are terminated before a certain number of years pass. A typical vesting period for employer 401(k) contributions is five years. So, if you were to leave your employer or be terminated before the vesting period is over, you might lose some or all the employer contribution.
Remember, your contributions are earmarked for retirement. In most cases, you’ll owe a 10% penalty and income taxes if you pull the money out before age 59½. But if you make it to that finish line, you could have money that has grown tax deferred.
Matching Roth 401(k) contributions
Some employers offer what is referred to as a Roth 401(k) in addition to a traditional 401(k). Contributions to a Roth 401(k) are made with after-tax money, or in other words, money that you’ve already paid taxes on. Traditional 401(k) contributions are made with pre-tax money, or money that you haven’t paid taxes on yet.
What this means from a practical standpoint is that you can withdraw money from a Roth 401(k) tax-free after you retire if you meet certain requirements. With a traditional 401(k), you’ll have to pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement. However, traditional 401(k) contributions (or deferrals) reduce your current taxable income, which could potentially reduce your current tax rate — Roth 401(k) contributions don’t do this.
The contribution limits for Roth 401(k)s are the same as for traditional 401k(s): up to $23,500 in 2025, plus an additional $7,500 if 50 years of age or over. Additionally, people age 60 to 63 can contribute The contribution limits for Roth 401(k)s are the same as for traditional 401k(s): up to $23,500 in 2025, plus an additional $7,500 if 50 years of age or over. Additionally, people age 60 to 63 can contributeÂ
$11,250 more
. Unlike Roth IRAs, there is not an income limit for participating in a Roth 401(k). Note that employer matches to Roth 401(k) accounts are made on a pre-tax basis.
Read more:
Â
Should you choose Roth or traditional 401(k) contributions?
Next steps
If you are not able to max out your 401(k) contributions, then a good strategy may be to contribute the minimum amount required to take advantage of your employer’s matching contributions.
Here are a few steps you can take now to help you manage and evaluate your 401(k).
Analyze your retirement readiness.
Empower offers a free tool called the
Retirement Planner
, which estimates how likely a current portfolio and retirement plan are to be successful. The tool maps out different scenarios to see how different expenses or timelines may impact a retirement plan.
Use a guide.
This
pre-retirement checklist
offers actionable steps to help stay on track toward retirement.
Review plan fees.
Empower’s free
Fee Analyzer
tool will help review plan fees.
Frequently asked questions
Here are a few commonly asked questions about 401(k) matching.
What is considered a good 401(k) match?
A generous 401(k) match would be a 100% match up to the allowable limits. But any match is considered beneficial since it provides extra money to invest for retirement.
What does a 6% 401(k) match mean?
This means that the employer is matching up to a total of 6% of an employee’s salary to his or her 401(k) account on top of what the employee is contributing. So, if an employee is earning $50,000 per year, the employer’s match would not exceed $3,000.
Is a 401(k) worth it with matching?
Every employee must decide if participating in a 401(k) plan is worthwhile given that person’s financial situation. However, an employer match usually makes participating and contributing at least enough money to receive the full employer match more attractive.
What is an example of 401(k) matching?
Suppose an employee earns $50,000 annually and decides to contribute 10% of his pay to his 401(k) account, or $5,000 per year. Now suppose his employer matches 100% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. The employer would make a matching contribution of $3,000. If the employer made a 50% match, the match amount would be $2,500.
To see an example of 401(k) matching and potential growth over time, check out thisÂ
401(k) matching infographic.
How do Roth 401(k) matching contributions work?
When employers make matching contributions on Roth 401(k) contributions, the money goes into a separate pre-tax matching contribution account within the 401(k) plan, not into the Roth account. This is due to the tax treatment of Roth funds. |
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3. What is 401(k) matching and how does it work?
# What is 401(k) matching and how does it work?
# What is 401(k) matching and how does it work? Setting aside enough of your own money to unlock an employer’s matching funds could accelerate potential retirement savings.

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#### By [Jesse Piburn](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/jesse-piburn)
09\.18.2025
## Key takeaways
- Matching 401(k) contributions are additional contributions made by employers, on top of the contributions made by employees.
- These matches are made on a percentage basis, such as 25%, 50%, or even 100% of the employee’s contribution amount, often up to a set dollar amount or a set percentage of the employee’s salary.
- Employer matching contributions can apply to 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) plans, depending on the employer.
*Saving enough max out an employer match can top up retirement funds, even if savers don’t max out the contribution limits.*
401(k) plans are one of the most common investment vehicles that Americans use to save for retirement, and a common perk of these plans is that they sometimes come with an employer match. However, according to [Empower research](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/empowering-americas-financial-journey-2023), 25% of workplace savers aren't contributing enough to maximize their employer match — meaning that they're leaving money on the table.
Below, we cover the types of matching, contribution limits, and other frequently asked questions.
## What is 401(k) matching?
For most employees, a defined contribution plan is one of the primary benefits offered by their employer, with a [401(k)](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/what-is-a-401k) plan being the standard employer-sponsored retirement plan used by for-profit businesses. Employer matching of your 401(k) contributionsmeans that your employer contributes a certain amount to your retirement savings plan based on the amount you contribute.
Similarly, some employers use 403(b) or 457(b) plans. While there are some minor differences between these plans, they are generally treated in a similar manner, and they usually have the same maximum contribution limits.
The type of plan is based on the type of entity:
**403(b) plans** are used by tax-exempt groups, such as schools or hospitals.
**457(b) plans** are for government workers, although there are some non-governmental organizations that also qualify to use these plans.
Whether you’re on your first job or are thinking about retirement, here are a few considerations to keep in mind when offered an employer match to your 401(k) contributions.
***Read more:*** [*401(k) vs 403(b): What’s the difference?*](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/difference-between-401k-and-403b)
## How much can you contribute?
You can [contribute up to](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/401k-contribution-limits) \$23,500 in 2025, plus an additional \$7,500 if you are age 50 or older. There’s an additional [\$11,250 catch-up contribution](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/401k-new-catch-up-contribution-news) available for those age 60 to 63. Note that employer matching contributions don’t count toward this limit, but there is a limit for employee and employer contributions combined: Either 100% of your salary or \$70,000 (\$77,500 if you’re over 50), whichever comes first.
When it comes to matching, specific terms of a 401(k) plan can vary widely. Your employer may use a very generous matching formula or choose not to match employee contributions at all. Additionally, not all employer contributions to an employee’s 401(k) plan are the result of matching. Employers may make regular profit-sharing type contributions to employee plans regardless of employee contributions, though this is not particularly common.
Make sure you check your employer’s plan documents for the details on exactly how your 401(k) works.
## Types of employee matching
If you’re able, contributing up to your full company match is generally a good idea. There’s a reason a 401(k) match is often referred to as “free money.” You don’t have to do anything to earn it other than contribute to your retirement plan; if you contribute to your 401(k), your employer also contributes funds. In some cases, matching contributions may be subject to vesting schedule based on your years of employment. Knowing how your match works is a key piece of understanding your 401(k) plan.
Employer matches are typically made each payroll period, but some employers may make them annually instead. Two common types of matching are:
### 1\. Partial matching
A partial match means that your employer will match part of the money you put into your 401(k), up to a certain amount. A common partial match provided by employers is 50% of what you contribute, up to 6% of your salary.
In practical terms, this means that if you earn \$80,000 per year, your contributions that will be eligible for matching are 6% of your salary, or \$4,800 in this case. But since your company only offers a 50% partial match, they will match half of the \$4,800, or \$2,400. To get the maximum amount of 401(k) match, you must put in 6%.
If you put in more, say 8%, your employer will still only match half of 6% of your salary, because that’s their max. The employer can determine the matching parameters.
### 2\. Full matching (100% match)
With a dollar-for-dollar match, your employer will put in the same amount of money you do — up to a certain amount. An example of dollar-for-dollar is up to 4% of your salary. In this case, if you put in 4%, they put in 4%; if you put in 2%, they put in 2%. If you put in 6%, they still only put in 4%, because that’s their max.
## 401(k) matching example
So now that you understand how a 401(k) match generally works, and why it’s often referred to as “free money,” let’s look at how this could potentially affect your retirement savings over time.
This scenario assumes a salary of \$65,000 a year, along with a company match of 100% on up to 5% of salary.
| | | |
|---|---|---|
| **Employee contribution** | **Annual dollar amount** | **Total (after 40 years invested)** |
| 2% (not maximizing match) | Employee: \$1,300 Employer: \$1,300 | \$433,019 |
| 5% (maximizing match) | Employee: \$3,250 Employer: \$3,250 | \$1,082,547 |
| 10% (contributing above match) | Employee: \$6,500 Employer: \$3,250 | \$1,623,820 |
*FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. This is a hypothetical illustration to show the value of an increase in contributions; it is not intended as a projection or prediction of future investment results, nor is it intended as financial planning or investment advice. It assumes a 6% average annual rate of return and a \$65,000 starting salary with no increases investing over 40 years. Rates of return may vary. This illustration does not include any charges, expenses or fees that may be associated with your program.*
***Read more:*** [*What percentage should I contribute to my 401(k)?*](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/what-percentage-should-i-contribute-my-401k)
## 401(k) vesting schedules
It’s important to understand the matching rules for your 401(k) plan, but it’s also important to understand the vesting schedule for employer contributions. Vesting refers to how much of employer contributions actually belong to you — it is based on how long you’ve worked at the company.
What this means is that you may forfeit your employer match if you leave or are terminated before a certain number of years pass. A typical vesting period for employer 401(k) contributions is five years. So, if you were to leave your employer or be terminated before the vesting period is over, you might lose some or all the employer contribution.
Remember, your contributions are earmarked for retirement. In most cases, you’ll owe a 10% penalty and income taxes if you pull the money out before age 59½. But if you make it to that finish line, you could have money that has grown tax deferred.
## Matching Roth 401(k) contributions
Some employers offer what is referred to as a Roth 401(k) in addition to a traditional 401(k). Contributions to a Roth 401(k) are made with after-tax money, or in other words, money that you’ve already paid taxes on. Traditional 401(k) contributions are made with pre-tax money, or money that you haven’t paid taxes on yet.
What this means from a practical standpoint is that you can withdraw money from a Roth 401(k) tax-free after you retire if you meet certain requirements. With a traditional 401(k), you’ll have to pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement. However, traditional 401(k) contributions (or deferrals) reduce your current taxable income, which could potentially reduce your current tax rate — Roth 401(k) contributions don’t do this.
The contribution limits for Roth 401(k)s are the same as for traditional 401k(s): up to \$23,500 in 2025, plus an additional \$7,500 if 50 years of age or over. Additionally, people age 60 to 63 can contribute The contribution limits for Roth 401(k)s are the same as for traditional 401k(s): up to \$23,500 in 2025, plus an additional \$7,500 if 50 years of age or over. Additionally, people age 60 to 63 can contribute [\$11,250 more](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/401k-new-catch-up-contribution-news). Unlike Roth IRAs, there is not an income limit for participating in a Roth 401(k). Note that employer matches to Roth 401(k) accounts are made on a pre-tax basis.
***Read more:*** [*Should you choose Roth or traditional 401(k) contributions?*](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/should-you-choose-roth-or-traditional-401k-contributions)
## Next steps
If you are not able to max out your 401(k) contributions, then a good strategy may be to contribute the minimum amount required to take advantage of your employer’s matching contributions.
Here are a few steps you can take now to help you manage and evaluate your 401(k).
1. **Analyze your retirement readiness.** Empower offers a free tool called the [Retirement Planner](https://www.empower.com/personal-investors/retirement-planner), which estimates how likely a current portfolio and retirement plan are to be successful. The tool maps out different scenarios to see how different expenses or timelines may impact a retirement plan.
2. **Use a guide.** This [pre-retirement checklist](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/your-preretirement-checklist) offers actionable steps to help stay on track toward retirement.
3. **Review plan fees.** Empower’s free [Fee Analyzer](https://www.empower.com/personal-investors/investment-checkup) tool will help review plan fees.
## Frequently asked questions
Here are a few commonly asked questions about 401(k) matching.
### What is considered a good 401(k) match?
A generous 401(k) match would be a 100% match up to the allowable limits. But any match is considered beneficial since it provides extra money to invest for retirement.
### What does a 6% 401(k) match mean?
This means that the employer is matching up to a total of 6% of an employee’s salary to his or her 401(k) account on top of what the employee is contributing. So, if an employee is earning \$50,000 per year, the employer’s match would not exceed \$3,000.
### Is a 401(k) worth it with matching?
Every employee must decide if participating in a 401(k) plan is worthwhile given that person’s financial situation. However, an employer match usually makes participating and contributing at least enough money to receive the full employer match more attractive.
### What is an example of 401(k) matching?
Suppose an employee earns \$50,000 annually and decides to contribute 10% of his pay to his 401(k) account, or \$5,000 per year. Now suppose his employer matches 100% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. The employer would make a matching contribution of \$3,000. If the employer made a 50% match, the match amount would be \$2,500.
To see an example of 401(k) matching and potential growth over time, check out this [401(k) matching infographic.](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/401k-matching-example-potential-growth-over-time)
### How do Roth 401(k) matching contributions work?
When employers make matching contributions on Roth 401(k) contributions, the money goes into a separate pre-tax matching contribution account within the 401(k) plan, not into the Roth account. This is due to the tax treatment of Roth funds.
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### [Jesse Piburn](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/jesse-piburn)
#### Contributor
Jesse Piburn is the Senior Director, Advisory and Planning at Empower. With over a decade of industry experience, he leads a team of financial advisors helping clients to develop personalized strategies to meet their financial goals.
The content contained in this blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and is not meant to constitute legal, tax, accounting or investment advice. You should consult a qualified legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation. No part of this blog, nor the links contained therein is a solicitation or offer to sell securities. Compensation for freelance contributions not to exceed \$1,250. Third-party data is obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, Empower cannot guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or fitness of this data for any particular purpose. Third-party links are provided solely as a convenience and do not imply an affiliation, endorsement or approval by Empower of the contents on such third-party websites. This article is based on current events, research, and developments at the time of publication, which may change over time.
Certain sections of this blog may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our reasonable expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Past performance is not a guarantee of future return, nor is it indicative of future performance. Investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate and you may lose money.
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| Readable Markdown | ## Key takeaways
- Matching 401(k) contributions are additional contributions made by employers, on top of the contributions made by employees.
- These matches are made on a percentage basis, such as 25%, 50%, or even 100% of the employee’s contribution amount, often up to a set dollar amount or a set percentage of the employee’s salary.
- Employer matching contributions can apply to 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) plans, depending on the employer.
*Saving enough max out an employer match can top up retirement funds, even if savers don’t max out the contribution limits.*
401(k) plans are one of the most common investment vehicles that Americans use to save for retirement, and a common perk of these plans is that they sometimes come with an employer match. However, according to [Empower research](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/empowering-americas-financial-journey-2023), 25% of workplace savers aren't contributing enough to maximize their employer match — meaning that they're leaving money on the table.
Below, we cover the types of matching, contribution limits, and other frequently asked questions.
## What is 401(k) matching?
For most employees, a defined contribution plan is one of the primary benefits offered by their employer, with a [401(k)](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/what-is-a-401k) plan being the standard employer-sponsored retirement plan used by for-profit businesses. Employer matching of your 401(k) contributionsmeans that your employer contributes a certain amount to your retirement savings plan based on the amount you contribute.
Similarly, some employers use 403(b) or 457(b) plans. While there are some minor differences between these plans, they are generally treated in a similar manner, and they usually have the same maximum contribution limits.
The type of plan is based on the type of entity:
**403(b) plans** are used by tax-exempt groups, such as schools or hospitals.
**457(b) plans** are for government workers, although there are some non-governmental organizations that also qualify to use these plans.
Whether you’re on your first job or are thinking about retirement, here are a few considerations to keep in mind when offered an employer match to your 401(k) contributions.
***Read more:*** [*401(k) vs 403(b): What’s the difference?*](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/difference-between-401k-and-403b)
## How much can you contribute?
You can [contribute up to](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/401k-contribution-limits) \$23,500 in 2025, plus an additional \$7,500 if you are age 50 or older. There’s an additional [\$11,250 catch-up contribution](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/401k-new-catch-up-contribution-news) available for those age 60 to 63. Note that employer matching contributions don’t count toward this limit, but there is a limit for employee and employer contributions combined: Either 100% of your salary or \$70,000 (\$77,500 if you’re over 50), whichever comes first.
When it comes to matching, specific terms of a 401(k) plan can vary widely. Your employer may use a very generous matching formula or choose not to match employee contributions at all. Additionally, not all employer contributions to an employee’s 401(k) plan are the result of matching. Employers may make regular profit-sharing type contributions to employee plans regardless of employee contributions, though this is not particularly common.
Make sure you check your employer’s plan documents for the details on exactly how your 401(k) works.
## Types of employee matching
If you’re able, contributing up to your full company match is generally a good idea. There’s a reason a 401(k) match is often referred to as “free money.” You don’t have to do anything to earn it other than contribute to your retirement plan; if you contribute to your 401(k), your employer also contributes funds. In some cases, matching contributions may be subject to vesting schedule based on your years of employment. Knowing how your match works is a key piece of understanding your 401(k) plan.
Employer matches are typically made each payroll period, but some employers may make them annually instead. Two common types of matching are:
### 1\. Partial matching
A partial match means that your employer will match part of the money you put into your 401(k), up to a certain amount. A common partial match provided by employers is 50% of what you contribute, up to 6% of your salary.
In practical terms, this means that if you earn \$80,000 per year, your contributions that will be eligible for matching are 6% of your salary, or \$4,800 in this case. But since your company only offers a 50% partial match, they will match half of the \$4,800, or \$2,400. To get the maximum amount of 401(k) match, you must put in 6%.
If you put in more, say 8%, your employer will still only match half of 6% of your salary, because that’s their max. The employer can determine the matching parameters.
### 2\. Full matching (100% match)
With a dollar-for-dollar match, your employer will put in the same amount of money you do — up to a certain amount. An example of dollar-for-dollar is up to 4% of your salary. In this case, if you put in 4%, they put in 4%; if you put in 2%, they put in 2%. If you put in 6%, they still only put in 4%, because that’s their max.
## 401(k) matching example
So now that you understand how a 401(k) match generally works, and why it’s often referred to as “free money,” let’s look at how this could potentially affect your retirement savings over time.
This scenario assumes a salary of \$65,000 a year, along with a company match of 100% on up to 5% of salary.
| | | |
|---|---|---|
| **Employee contribution** | **Annual dollar amount** | **Total (after 40 years invested)** |
| 2% (not maximizing match) | Employee: \$1,300 Employer: \$1,300 | \$433,019 |
| 5% (maximizing match) | Employee: \$3,250 Employer: \$3,250 | \$1,082,547 |
| 10% (contributing above match) | Employee: \$6,500 Employer: \$3,250 | \$1,623,820 |
*FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. This is a hypothetical illustration to show the value of an increase in contributions; it is not intended as a projection or prediction of future investment results, nor is it intended as financial planning or investment advice. It assumes a 6% average annual rate of return and a \$65,000 starting salary with no increases investing over 40 years. Rates of return may vary. This illustration does not include any charges, expenses or fees that may be associated with your program.*
***Read more:*** [*What percentage should I contribute to my 401(k)?*](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/what-percentage-should-i-contribute-my-401k)
## 401(k) vesting schedules
It’s important to understand the matching rules for your 401(k) plan, but it’s also important to understand the vesting schedule for employer contributions. Vesting refers to how much of employer contributions actually belong to you — it is based on how long you’ve worked at the company.
What this means is that you may forfeit your employer match if you leave or are terminated before a certain number of years pass. A typical vesting period for employer 401(k) contributions is five years. So, if you were to leave your employer or be terminated before the vesting period is over, you might lose some or all the employer contribution.
Remember, your contributions are earmarked for retirement. In most cases, you’ll owe a 10% penalty and income taxes if you pull the money out before age 59½. But if you make it to that finish line, you could have money that has grown tax deferred.
## Matching Roth 401(k) contributions
Some employers offer what is referred to as a Roth 401(k) in addition to a traditional 401(k). Contributions to a Roth 401(k) are made with after-tax money, or in other words, money that you’ve already paid taxes on. Traditional 401(k) contributions are made with pre-tax money, or money that you haven’t paid taxes on yet.
What this means from a practical standpoint is that you can withdraw money from a Roth 401(k) tax-free after you retire if you meet certain requirements. With a traditional 401(k), you’ll have to pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement. However, traditional 401(k) contributions (or deferrals) reduce your current taxable income, which could potentially reduce your current tax rate — Roth 401(k) contributions don’t do this.
The contribution limits for Roth 401(k)s are the same as for traditional 401k(s): up to \$23,500 in 2025, plus an additional \$7,500 if 50 years of age or over. Additionally, people age 60 to 63 can contribute The contribution limits for Roth 401(k)s are the same as for traditional 401k(s): up to \$23,500 in 2025, plus an additional \$7,500 if 50 years of age or over. Additionally, people age 60 to 63 can contribute [\$11,250 more](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/401k-new-catch-up-contribution-news). Unlike Roth IRAs, there is not an income limit for participating in a Roth 401(k). Note that employer matches to Roth 401(k) accounts are made on a pre-tax basis.
***Read more:*** [*Should you choose Roth or traditional 401(k) contributions?*](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/should-you-choose-roth-or-traditional-401k-contributions)
## Next steps
If you are not able to max out your 401(k) contributions, then a good strategy may be to contribute the minimum amount required to take advantage of your employer’s matching contributions.
Here are a few steps you can take now to help you manage and evaluate your 401(k).
1. **Analyze your retirement readiness.** Empower offers a free tool called the [Retirement Planner](https://www.empower.com/personal-investors/retirement-planner), which estimates how likely a current portfolio and retirement plan are to be successful. The tool maps out different scenarios to see how different expenses or timelines may impact a retirement plan.
2. **Use a guide.** This [pre-retirement checklist](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/your-preretirement-checklist) offers actionable steps to help stay on track toward retirement.
3. **Review plan fees.** Empower’s free [Fee Analyzer](https://www.empower.com/personal-investors/investment-checkup) tool will help review plan fees.
## Frequently asked questions
Here are a few commonly asked questions about 401(k) matching.
### What is considered a good 401(k) match?
A generous 401(k) match would be a 100% match up to the allowable limits. But any match is considered beneficial since it provides extra money to invest for retirement.
### What does a 6% 401(k) match mean?
This means that the employer is matching up to a total of 6% of an employee’s salary to his or her 401(k) account on top of what the employee is contributing. So, if an employee is earning \$50,000 per year, the employer’s match would not exceed \$3,000.
### Is a 401(k) worth it with matching?
Every employee must decide if participating in a 401(k) plan is worthwhile given that person’s financial situation. However, an employer match usually makes participating and contributing at least enough money to receive the full employer match more attractive.
### What is an example of 401(k) matching?
Suppose an employee earns \$50,000 annually and decides to contribute 10% of his pay to his 401(k) account, or \$5,000 per year. Now suppose his employer matches 100% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. The employer would make a matching contribution of \$3,000. If the employer made a 50% match, the match amount would be \$2,500.
To see an example of 401(k) matching and potential growth over time, check out this [401(k) matching infographic.](https://www.empower.com/the-currency/work/401k-matching-example-potential-growth-over-time)
### How do Roth 401(k) matching contributions work?
When employers make matching contributions on Roth 401(k) contributions, the money goes into a separate pre-tax matching contribution account within the 401(k) plan, not into the Roth account. This is due to the tax treatment of Roth funds. |
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