🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 115 (from laksa029)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa115.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, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits","crawl_time":1776749373,"first_indexed_time":1625838476,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,ramseysolutions!www,\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits s443","src_root_hash":"16517152821695752315","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026? - Ramsey","meta_descriptions":["How much money are you allowed to put into your 401(k) this year? Here’s what you need to know."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"The 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is $24,500. That’s the most you can invest in your employer-sponsored retirement plan this year.\nThe catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and older is $8,000. There’s also a higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 for those age 60–63.\n1\nThe employer contribution limit for 2026 is up to 100% of your salary or $72,000, whichever is less. Total employer-employee contributions can’t exceed $72,000.\nThe 401(k) compensation limit caps how much of your income can be used to calculate your employer match. For 2026, the compensation limit is $360,000.\n2\nWhat if you had access to the same type of investing account millionaires use to build their wealth? You’d jump on the chance, right? Well, there’s good news—because believe it or not, millionaires don’t roll the dice on flashy investment trends. Nope! More than anything else, they invest money in their humble, not-so-flashy \n401(k) plan\n at work. Which means you can do it too.\nAccording to Ramsey Solutions’ \nThe National Study of Millionaires\n, 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan. They put money into their accounts month after month, year after year, until one day they looked up and their net worth was seven figures.\nMarket chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff.\nOkay, great—but how do you actually get there? And how much can you contribute to your 401(k) these days?\n401(k) Contribution Limits, 2025–2026\n2025\n2026\nEmployee Contributions\n$23,500\n$24,500\nEmployer-Employee Combined Contributions\n$70,000\n$72,000\nCompensation Limits\n$350,000\n3\n$360,000\n4\nWhat Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?\nYou can invest up to $24,500 in your 401(k) retirement plan in 2026, and that limit also applies if you’re saving with a \n403(b)\n, \n457 plan\n or \nThrift Savings Plan\n (TSP). In most cases, all your contributions to a 401(k) are due by the end of the calendar year.\nIf you have access to multiple employer-sponsored retirement plans, that’s awesome! But your total contributions across all your retirement plans can’t exceed the annual limit.\nYou should also know, these contribution limits apply to both \ntraditional and Roth 401(k)s\n. Both plans are employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts, but they’re taxed differently.\nThe money you put into a traditional 401(k) is taxed \nlater\n, when you make withdrawals from your account. That means you’ll pay taxes on the money when you take it out of the account in retirement.\nBut with a Roth 401(k), it’s the other way around—you pay taxes on the money \nbefore \nyou sock it away (so you don’t have to pay taxes later). That means saving for retirement with a Roth account gives you tax-free growth \nand \ntax-free withdrawals in retirement. If your company offers a Roth 401(k) option, take advantage of it! Because it just doesn’t get any better than (say it with us) \ntax-free growth.\n \nCatch-Up Contribution Limits\nWhen’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When’s the second-best time? Today. The takeaway: If you’re getting a late start on saving for retirement, the most important thing is to \nactually get started\n.\nMaybe you’ve fallen behind because life threw you a curveball (or two). Or maybe you woke up at 50 years old and noticed there’s more silver on your head than in your nest egg. Either way, it’s not too late for you to save for retirement.\nIf you’re 50 or older, you can save an extra $8,000 as a catch-up contribution (on top of the $24,500 you’re already allowed, for a total annual limit of $32,500).\n \nAnd anyone age 60–63 gets an additional catch-up provision that allows them to save an extra $11,250 for retirement in 2026 (for a total annual limit of $35,750).\n5\n \nNice!\n401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Limits\n2025\n2026\n401(k) Catch-Up Contribution (Age 50 and Older)\n$7,500\n$8,000\n401(k) Higher Catch-Up Contribution (Age 60–63)\n$11,250\n$11,250\n6\nWhat Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?\nIf there’s anything better than tax-free growth, it’s free money. One of the best things about a 401(k) is that most workplaces offer some kind of employer match on your contributions.\nUnfortunately, there’s a limit to how much your employer can contribute to your account (thanks a lot, IRS!). In 2026, your employer can legally contribute up to 100% of your salary or $72,000, whichever amount is less.\nWhy $72,000? Because the total combined contributions from both employee and employer can’t exceed $72,000. And since the contribution limit for employees is $24,500 (not including catch-up contributions), that means your employer can only put in $47,500 if you maxed out your contributions—and not a dollar more.\nListen, we don’t know if you’ll ever find a workplace that’ll be willing to help you invest in your future like that. But if you do, never\n ever\n quit that job.\nIs There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?\nThe short answer is no. If you have access to a 401(k) plan at work, you can put money into it no matter how high or low your salary is.\nBut listen up, high-income earners. Generally, the IRS has a compensation limit that puts a cap on how much of your salary and compensation is eligible for a 401(k) match. For 2026, that limit is $360,000.\n7\nLet’s look at an example to help it all make sense: \nSay you make $500,000 in 2025.\nYour company offers a 4% match on your 401(k) contributions.\nYou max out \nyour\n annual contributions at $24,500.\nInstead of giving you the “full” match (4% of $500,000 is $20,000), your employer only contributes $14,400.\nWhy didn’t they pay in the full $20,000? Because they’re only allowed to apply the match on up to $360,000 of your compensation—and 4% of $360,000 is $14,400.\nWe get it—IRS math doesn’t make sense in the real world. If it helps, the thinking behind this extra rule is to make things fairer for those with less to invest. Hey, we’re just the messengers here.\nJust don’t let anything stop you from using every tool you have to build wealth—and leave a positive legacy for your family. When broke is normal, passing on wealth to your kids and grandkids (and changing your family tree in the process) is weird. Be weird!\nMake an Investment Plan With a Pro\nSmartVestor shows you up to five investing professionals in your area for free. No commitments, no hidden fees.\nFind Your Pros\nHow Much Should You Save for Retirement?\nOnce you’re \nout of debt\n and have a \nfully funded emergency fund\n in place, you’re ready to start putting your money to work for the future. But exactly how much should\n \nyou invest for retirement? Answer: \nInvest 15% of your gross income\n for retirement in accounts like your Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA.\nFor example, if you have an annual salary of $100,000 and want to hit that 15% target, your goal is to save $15,000 each year for retirement. Let’s use those numbers as an example and walk through it step by step.\n1. Take the 401(k) match.\nLet’s say your employer offers a traditional 401(k) with an employer match. That’s the perfect place to start saving for retirement. Your first step? Take full advantage of your employer match. It’s free money!\nIf you make $100,000 a year and your employer matches 5% of your contributions, invest 5% ($5,000) into your 401(k) so you can get that match. And listen, you don’t count your\n employer\n match as part of \nyour\n 15%. Think of the match as the icing, not the cake.\nOkay, now you’ve got $5,000 dedicated toward your 15% goal of $15,000. So, what about that remaining 10% (or $10,000)?\nSince you’ve invested up to your match, you can explore tax-advantaged options \noutside\n of your employer plan. And that’s where the Roth IRA comes in.\n2. Contribute to a Roth IRA.\nThe \nRoth IRA\n (Individual Retirement Account) is the peanut butter to the 401(k)’s jelly—they go better together. The beautiful thing about the Roth IRA is that it lets you enjoy tax-free growth—and withdrawals—in retirement. (Don’t you just love the sound of that?)\nIn 2026, you can save up to $7,500 in a Roth IRA—and make an extra $1,100 catch-up contribution if you’re age 50 or older.\n8\nSticking with our example from above, if you maxed out your Roth IRA by investing $7,500, your total retirement savings would then sit at a nice, fat $12,500 ($5,000 + $7,500). That’s $2,500 short of your 15% annual goal of $15,000.\n3. Invest the rest in your 401(k).\nAll right, so you invested up to the match in your 401(k) and maxed out your Roth IRA. You still haven’t hit 15% and have $2,500 left to invest. Don’t worry. In this example, since you’re well below IRS limits for contributions, you can go back and invest that $2,500 in your 401(k). And ding, you’re at 15%! Now you can sit back and watch your retirement savings grow.\nBut what if you went all out and tried \nmaxing out your 401(k)\n? That might be a stretch, but let’s just run some numbers real quick.\nIf you maxed out your contributions in 2026 and didn’t invest \nanything else \nfor 40 years, you could end up with around $2 million in your account—and that’s not even including a company match. Now that’s something to think about!\nStill curious about what maxing out your 401(k) contributions would look like and when it makes sense? Our article \nShould You Max Out Your 401(k)?\n covers all that and more.\nIf you want to do a deep dive on 401(k)s and other investments, check out \nRamsey’s Complete Guide to Investing\n.\nReady to invest? Check out our \nSmartVestor\n program and get connected with an investment pro who can answer all your questions and help you get started.\nThis article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. To discuss a plan for your situation, connect with a SmartVestor\n Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros. \nGet Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox\nDid you find this article helpful? Share it!\nAbout the author\nRamsey Solutions\nRamsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.\nLearn More.","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to Main Content](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#main)\n\n[![Ramsey Solutions](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/media\/rscom\/logos\/flat-blue-50-ramsey-logo.svg) ![Ramsey Solutions](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/media\/rscom\/logos\/flat-blue-50-ramsey-logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/sign-in)  [Sign In](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/sign-in)\n\n- Money\n  Money\n  \n  - - **Get a Plan for Your Money**\n    - [The 7 Baby Steps](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/dave-ramsey-7-baby-steps)\n    - [EveryDollar Budget App](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/money\/everydollar)\n    - [Financial Peace University](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/money\/financial-peace)\n    - [Talk to a Coach](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/money\/everydollar\/features#coaching)\n    - **Getting Started**\n    - [Get Started Assessment](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/get-started)\n    - [Get Out of Debt](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/debt\/debt-101)\n    \n    - **Articles & Guides**\n    - [Debt Articles](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/debt)\n    - [Savings Articles](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/saving)\n    - [Budgeting Articles](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/budgeting)\n    - [See All Money Resources](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/money)\n    - **Tools**\n    - [Debt Snowball Calculator](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/debt\/debt-calculator)\n    - [Budget Calculator](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/budgeting\/budget-calculator)\n    \n    - **Events**\n    - [The Ramsey Show LIVE](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/events\/the-ramsey-show-live)\n    - [Live Like No One Else Cruise](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/events\/live-like-no-one-else-cruise)\n    - [Free Live Budgeting Training](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/money\/everydollar\/intro-to-everydollar)\n    - [See All Events](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/events)\n    - **For Students**\n    - [Ramsey Education Curriculum](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/education)\n    - [College Savings Calculator](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/saving\/college-savings-calculator)\n    \n    - **Taxes**\n    - [Tax Services](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/taxes)\n    - [Tax Guide](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/taxes\/tax-guide)\n    - [Tax Pro or Self-File? 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Please try again.\n***\n- [What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_0)\n- [What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_1)\n- [Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_2)\n- [How Much Should You Save for Retirement?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_3)\n\n[Investing & Retirement](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement#feed-content)\n\n[Retirement](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement?category=retirement#feed-content)\n# What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?\n8 MIN READ \\| JAN 16, 2026\n\n![Ramsey Solutions](https:\/\/cdn2.ramseysolutions.net\/dynamic\/media\/landing-pages\/blog\/author-bio-ramsey-large.jpg\/48w.jpg) By  [Ramsey Solutions](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#authorbio)\n\n![What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/media\/blog\/retirement\/investing\/401k-limits.jpg)\n\nSave\n\nShare\n\nLink copied\\!\n\nUnable to copy link. Please try again.\n***\n### In This Article\n- [What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_0)\n- [What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_1)\n- [Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_2)\n- [How Much Should You Save for Retirement?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-contribution-limits#heading_3)\n\n### Key Takeaways\n- The 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is \\$24,500. That’s the most you can invest in your employer-sponsored retirement plan this year.\n- The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and older is \\$8,000. There’s also a higher catch-up contribution limit of \\$11,250 for those age 60–63.[1](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500)\n- The employer contribution limit for 2026 is up to 100% of your salary or \\$72,000, whichever is less. Total employer-employee contributions can’t exceed \\$72,000.\n- The 401(k) compensation limit caps how much of your income can be used to calculate your employer match. For 2026, the compensation limit is \\$360,000.[2](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-drop\/n-25-67.pdf)\n\nWhat if you had access to the same type of investing account millionaires use to build their wealth? You’d jump on the chance, right? Well, there’s good news—because believe it or not, millionaires don’t roll the dice on flashy investment trends. Nope! More than anything else, they invest money in their humble, not-so-flashy [401(k) plan](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/what-is-a-401k) at work. Which means you can do it too.\n\nAccording to Ramsey Solutions’ [*The National Study of Millionaires*](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/the-national-study-of-millionaires-research), 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan. They put money into their accounts month after month, year after year, until one day they looked up and their net worth was seven figures.\n\n[![money bag](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/media\/landing-pages\/blog\/inline-icons\/money-bag.png) Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff.](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor)\n\nOkay, great—but how do you actually get there? And how much can you contribute to your 401(k) these days?\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **401(k) Contribution Limits, 2025–2026** |   |   |\n|   | **2025** | **2026** |\n| Employee Contributions | \\$23,500 | \\$24,500 |\n| Employer-Employee Combined Contributions | \\$70,000 | \\$72,000 |\n| Compensation Limits | \\$350,000[3](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-23500-for-2025-ira-limit-remains-7000) | \\$360,000[4](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-drop\/n-25-67.pdf) |\n## What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?\nYou can invest up to \\$24,500 in your 401(k) retirement plan in 2026, and that limit also applies if you’re saving with a [403(b)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/how-does-a-403b-plan-work), [457 plan](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/what-is-a-deferred-compensation-plan) or [Thrift Savings Plan](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/what-is-the-thrift-savings-plan) (TSP). In most cases, all your contributions to a 401(k) are due by the end of the calendar year.\n\nIf you have access to multiple employer-sponsored retirement plans, that’s awesome! But your total contributions across all your retirement plans can’t exceed the annual limit.\n\nYou should also know, these contribution limits apply to both [traditional and Roth 401(k)s](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/traditional-401k-vs-roth-401k). Both plans are employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts, but they’re taxed differently.\n\nThe money you put into a traditional 401(k) is taxed *later*, when you make withdrawals from your account. That means you’ll pay taxes on the money when you take it out of the account in retirement.\n\nBut with a Roth 401(k), it’s the other way around—you pay taxes on the money *before* you sock it away (so you don’t have to pay taxes later). That means saving for retirement with a Roth account gives you tax-free growth *and* tax-free withdrawals in retirement. If your company offers a Roth 401(k) option, take advantage of it! Because it just doesn’t get any better than (say it with us) *tax-free growth.*\n\n### Catch-Up Contribution Limits\nWhen’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When’s the second-best time? Today. The takeaway: If you’re getting a late start on saving for retirement, the most important thing is to *actually get started*.\n\nMaybe you’ve fallen behind because life threw you a curveball (or two). Or maybe you woke up at 50 years old and noticed there’s more silver on your head than in your nest egg. Either way, it’s not too late for you to save for retirement.\n\nIf you’re 50 or older, you can save an extra \\$8,000 as a catch-up contribution (on top of the \\$24,500 you’re already allowed, for a total annual limit of \\$32,500). And anyone age 60–63 gets an additional catch-up provision that allows them to save an extra \\$11,250 for retirement in 2026 (for a total annual limit of \\$35,750).[5](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) Nice\\!\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Limits** |   |   |\n|   | **2025** | **2026** |\n| 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution (Age 50 and Older) | \\$7,500 | \\$8,000 |\n| 401(k) Higher Catch-Up Contribution (Age 60–63) | \\$11,250 | \\$11,250[6](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) |\n## What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?\nIf there’s anything better than tax-free growth, it’s free money. One of the best things about a 401(k) is that most workplaces offer some kind of employer match on your contributions.\n\nUnfortunately, there’s a limit to how much your employer can contribute to your account (thanks a lot, IRS!). In 2026, your employer can legally contribute up to 100% of your salary or \\$72,000, whichever amount is less.\n\nWhy \\$72,000? Because the total combined contributions from both employee and employer can’t exceed \\$72,000. And since the contribution limit for employees is \\$24,500 (not including catch-up contributions), that means your employer can only put in \\$47,500 if you maxed out your contributions—and not a dollar more.\n\nListen, we don’t know if you’ll ever find a workplace that’ll be willing to help you invest in your future like that. But if you do, never *ever* quit that job.\n\n## Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?\nThe short answer is no. If you have access to a 401(k) plan at work, you can put money into it no matter how high or low your salary is.\n\nBut listen up, high-income earners. Generally, the IRS has a compensation limit that puts a cap on how much of your salary and compensation is eligible for a 401(k) match. For 2026, that limit is \\$360,000.[7](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-drop\/n-25-67.pdf)\n\nLet’s look at an example to help it all make sense:\n\n- Say you make \\$500,000 in 2025.\n- Your company offers a 4% match on your 401(k) contributions.\n- You max out *your* annual contributions at \\$24,500.\n- Instead of giving you the “full” match (4% of \\$500,000 is \\$20,000), your employer only contributes \\$14,400.\n\nWhy didn’t they pay in the full \\$20,000? Because they’re only allowed to apply the match on up to \\$360,000 of your compensation—and 4% of \\$360,000 is \\$14,400.\n\nWe get it—IRS math doesn’t make sense in the real world. If it helps, the thinking behind this extra rule is to make things fairer for those with less to invest. Hey, we’re just the messengers here.\n\nJust don’t let anything stop you from using every tool you have to build wealth—and leave a positive legacy for your family. When broke is normal, passing on wealth to your kids and grandkids (and changing your family tree in the process) is weird. Be weird\\!\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/cms\/sites\/daveramsey-com\/smartvestor\/visual-cta-image.png)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor)\n\n### Make an Investment Plan With a Pro\nSmartVestor shows you up to five investing professionals in your area for free. No commitments, no hidden fees.\n\n[Find Your Pros](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor)\n\n## How Much Should You Save for Retirement?\nOnce you’re [out of debt](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/debt\/get-out-of-debt-with-the-debt-snowball-plan) and have a [fully funded emergency fund](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/saving\/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund) in place, you’re ready to start putting your money to work for the future. But exactly how much shouldyou invest for retirement? Answer: [Invest 15% of your gross income](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/how-to-start-investing) for retirement in accounts like your Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA.\n\nFor example, if you have an annual salary of \\$100,000 and want to hit that 15% target, your goal is to save \\$15,000 each year for retirement. Let’s use those numbers as an example and walk through it step by step.\n\n### 1\\. Take the 401(k) match.\nLet’s say your employer offers a traditional 401(k) with an employer match. That’s the perfect place to start saving for retirement. Your first step? Take full advantage of your employer match. It’s free money\\!\n\nIf you make \\$100,000 a year and your employer matches 5% of your contributions, invest 5% (\\$5,000) into your 401(k) so you can get that match. And listen, you don’t count your *employer* match as part of *your* 15%. Think of the match as the icing, not the cake.\n\nOkay, now you’ve got \\$5,000 dedicated toward your 15% goal of \\$15,000. So, what about that remaining 10% (or \\$10,000)?\n\nSince you’ve invested up to your match, you can explore tax-advantaged options *outside* of your employer plan. And that’s where the Roth IRA comes in.\n\n### 2\\. Contribute to a Roth IRA.\nThe [Roth IRA](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-vs-roth-ira) (Individual Retirement Account) is the peanut butter to the 401(k)’s jelly—they go better together. The beautiful thing about the Roth IRA is that it lets you enjoy tax-free growth—and withdrawals—in retirement. (Don’t you just love the sound of that?)\n\nIn 2026, you can save up to \\$7,500 in a Roth IRA—and make an extra \\$1,100 catch-up contribution if you’re age 50 or older.[8](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500)\n\nSticking with our example from above, if you maxed out your Roth IRA by investing \\$7,500, your total retirement savings would then sit at a nice, fat \\$12,500 (\\$5,000 + \\$7,500). That’s \\$2,500 short of your 15% annual goal of \\$15,000.\n\n### 3\\. Invest the rest in your 401(k).\nAll right, so you invested up to the match in your 401(k) and maxed out your Roth IRA. You still haven’t hit 15% and have \\$2,500 left to invest. Don’t worry. In this example, since you’re well below IRS limits for contributions, you can go back and invest that \\$2,500 in your 401(k). And ding, you’re at 15%! Now you can sit back and watch your retirement savings grow.\n\nBut what if you went all out and tried [maxing out your 401(k)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/should-i-max-out-my-401k)? That might be a stretch, but let’s just run some numbers real quick.\n\nIf you maxed out your contributions in 2026 and didn’t invest *anything else* for 40 years, you could end up with around \\$2 million in your account—and that’s not even including a company match. Now that’s something to think about\\!\n\n### Next Steps\n- Still curious about what maxing out your 401(k) contributions would look like and when it makes sense? Our article [Should You Max Out Your 401(k)?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/should-i-max-out-my-401k) covers all that and more.\n- If you want to do a deep dive on 401(k)s and other investments, check out [Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Investing](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/ramsey-investing-guide).\n- Ready to invest? Check out our [SmartVestor](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor) program and get connected with an investment pro who can answer all your questions and help you get started.\n\n[Find Your Pro Today\\!](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/dave-ramsey-smartvestor)\n\n*This article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. To discuss a plan for your situation, connect with a SmartVestor* *Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros.*\n### Get Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox\n#### Did you find this article helpful? Share it\\!\n[![Ramsey Solutions](https:\/\/cdn2.ramseysolutions.net\/dynamic\/media\/landing-pages\/blog\/author-bio-ramsey-large.jpg\/120w.jpg)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/about)\n\nAbout the author\n\nRamsey Solutions\n\nRamsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners.  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All rights reserved.","attrs_readable_markdown":"- The 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is \\$24,500. That’s the most you can invest in your employer-sponsored retirement plan this year.\n- The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and older is \\$8,000. There’s also a higher catch-up contribution limit of \\$11,250 for those age 60–63.[1](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500)\n- The employer contribution limit for 2026 is up to 100% of your salary or \\$72,000, whichever is less. Total employer-employee contributions can’t exceed \\$72,000.\n- The 401(k) compensation limit caps how much of your income can be used to calculate your employer match. For 2026, the compensation limit is \\$360,000.[2](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-drop\/n-25-67.pdf)\n\nWhat if you had access to the same type of investing account millionaires use to build their wealth? You’d jump on the chance, right? Well, there’s good news—because believe it or not, millionaires don’t roll the dice on flashy investment trends. Nope! More than anything else, they invest money in their humble, not-so-flashy [401(k) plan](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/what-is-a-401k) at work. Which means you can do it too.\n\nAccording to Ramsey Solutions’ [*The National Study of Millionaires*](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/the-national-study-of-millionaires-research), 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan. They put money into their accounts month after month, year after year, until one day they looked up and their net worth was seven figures.\n\n[![money bag](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/media\/landing-pages\/blog\/inline-icons\/money-bag.png) Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff.](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor)\n\nOkay, great—but how do you actually get there? And how much can you contribute to your 401(k) these days?\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **401(k) Contribution Limits, 2025–2026** |   |   |\n|   | **2025** | **2026** |\n| Employee Contributions | \\$23,500 | \\$24,500 |\n| Employer-Employee Combined Contributions | \\$70,000 | \\$72,000 |\n| Compensation Limits | \\$350,000[3](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-23500-for-2025-ira-limit-remains-7000) | \\$360,000[4](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-drop\/n-25-67.pdf) |\n## What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?\nYou can invest up to \\$24,500 in your 401(k) retirement plan in 2026, and that limit also applies if you’re saving with a [403(b)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/how-does-a-403b-plan-work), [457 plan](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/what-is-a-deferred-compensation-plan) or [Thrift Savings Plan](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/what-is-the-thrift-savings-plan) (TSP). In most cases, all your contributions to a 401(k) are due by the end of the calendar year.\n\nIf you have access to multiple employer-sponsored retirement plans, that’s awesome! But your total contributions across all your retirement plans can’t exceed the annual limit.\n\nYou should also know, these contribution limits apply to both [traditional and Roth 401(k)s](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/traditional-401k-vs-roth-401k). Both plans are employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts, but they’re taxed differently.\n\nThe money you put into a traditional 401(k) is taxed *later*, when you make withdrawals from your account. That means you’ll pay taxes on the money when you take it out of the account in retirement.\n\nBut with a Roth 401(k), it’s the other way around—you pay taxes on the money *before* you sock it away (so you don’t have to pay taxes later). That means saving for retirement with a Roth account gives you tax-free growth *and* tax-free withdrawals in retirement. If your company offers a Roth 401(k) option, take advantage of it! Because it just doesn’t get any better than (say it with us) *tax-free growth.*\n\n### Catch-Up Contribution Limits\nWhen’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When’s the second-best time? Today. The takeaway: If you’re getting a late start on saving for retirement, the most important thing is to *actually get started*.\n\nMaybe you’ve fallen behind because life threw you a curveball (or two). Or maybe you woke up at 50 years old and noticed there’s more silver on your head than in your nest egg. Either way, it’s not too late for you to save for retirement.\n\nIf you’re 50 or older, you can save an extra \\$8,000 as a catch-up contribution (on top of the \\$24,500 you’re already allowed, for a total annual limit of \\$32,500). And anyone age 60–63 gets an additional catch-up provision that allows them to save an extra \\$11,250 for retirement in 2026 (for a total annual limit of \\$35,750).[5](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) Nice\\!\n\n|   |   |   |\n|---|---|---|\n| **401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Limits** |   |   |\n|   | **2025** | **2026** |\n| 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution (Age 50 and Older) | \\$7,500 | \\$8,000 |\n| 401(k) Higher Catch-Up Contribution (Age 60–63) | \\$11,250 | \\$11,250[6](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) |\n## What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?\nIf there’s anything better than tax-free growth, it’s free money. One of the best things about a 401(k) is that most workplaces offer some kind of employer match on your contributions.\n\nUnfortunately, there’s a limit to how much your employer can contribute to your account (thanks a lot, IRS!). In 2026, your employer can legally contribute up to 100% of your salary or \\$72,000, whichever amount is less.\n\nWhy \\$72,000? Because the total combined contributions from both employee and employer can’t exceed \\$72,000. And since the contribution limit for employees is \\$24,500 (not including catch-up contributions), that means your employer can only put in \\$47,500 if you maxed out your contributions—and not a dollar more.\n\nListen, we don’t know if you’ll ever find a workplace that’ll be willing to help you invest in your future like that. But if you do, never *ever* quit that job.\n\n## Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?\nThe short answer is no. If you have access to a 401(k) plan at work, you can put money into it no matter how high or low your salary is.\n\nBut listen up, high-income earners. Generally, the IRS has a compensation limit that puts a cap on how much of your salary and compensation is eligible for a 401(k) match. For 2026, that limit is \\$360,000.[7](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-drop\/n-25-67.pdf)\n\nLet’s look at an example to help it all make sense:\n\n- Say you make \\$500,000 in 2025.\n- Your company offers a 4% match on your 401(k) contributions.\n- You max out *your* annual contributions at \\$24,500.\n- Instead of giving you the “full” match (4% of \\$500,000 is \\$20,000), your employer only contributes \\$14,400.\n\nWhy didn’t they pay in the full \\$20,000? Because they’re only allowed to apply the match on up to \\$360,000 of your compensation—and 4% of \\$360,000 is \\$14,400.\n\nWe get it—IRS math doesn’t make sense in the real world. If it helps, the thinking behind this extra rule is to make things fairer for those with less to invest. Hey, we’re just the messengers here.\n\nJust don’t let anything stop you from using every tool you have to build wealth—and leave a positive legacy for your family. When broke is normal, passing on wealth to your kids and grandkids (and changing your family tree in the process) is weird. Be weird\\!\n\n[![](https:\/\/cdn.ramseysolutions.net\/cms\/sites\/daveramsey-com\/smartvestor\/visual-cta-image.png)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor)\n\n### Make an Investment Plan With a Pro\nSmartVestor shows you up to five investing professionals in your area for free. No commitments, no hidden fees.\n\n[Find Your Pros](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor)\n\n## How Much Should You Save for Retirement?\nOnce you’re [out of debt](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/debt\/get-out-of-debt-with-the-debt-snowball-plan) and have a [fully funded emergency fund](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/saving\/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund) in place, you’re ready to start putting your money to work for the future. But exactly how much shouldyou invest for retirement? Answer: [Invest 15% of your gross income](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/how-to-start-investing) for retirement in accounts like your Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA.\n\nFor example, if you have an annual salary of \\$100,000 and want to hit that 15% target, your goal is to save \\$15,000 each year for retirement. Let’s use those numbers as an example and walk through it step by step.\n\n### 1\\. Take the 401(k) match.\nLet’s say your employer offers a traditional 401(k) with an employer match. That’s the perfect place to start saving for retirement. Your first step? Take full advantage of your employer match. It’s free money\\!\n\nIf you make \\$100,000 a year and your employer matches 5% of your contributions, invest 5% (\\$5,000) into your 401(k) so you can get that match. And listen, you don’t count your *employer* match as part of *your* 15%. Think of the match as the icing, not the cake.\n\nOkay, now you’ve got \\$5,000 dedicated toward your 15% goal of \\$15,000. So, what about that remaining 10% (or \\$10,000)?\n\nSince you’ve invested up to your match, you can explore tax-advantaged options *outside* of your employer plan. And that’s where the Roth IRA comes in.\n\n### 2\\. Contribute to a Roth IRA.\nThe [Roth IRA](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/401k-vs-roth-ira) (Individual Retirement Account) is the peanut butter to the 401(k)’s jelly—they go better together. The beautiful thing about the Roth IRA is that it lets you enjoy tax-free growth—and withdrawals—in retirement. (Don’t you just love the sound of that?)\n\nIn 2026, you can save up to \\$7,500 in a Roth IRA—and make an extra \\$1,100 catch-up contribution if you’re age 50 or older.[8](https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/newsroom\/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500)\n\nSticking with our example from above, if you maxed out your Roth IRA by investing \\$7,500, your total retirement savings would then sit at a nice, fat \\$12,500 (\\$5,000 + \\$7,500). That’s \\$2,500 short of your 15% annual goal of \\$15,000.\n\n### 3\\. Invest the rest in your 401(k).\nAll right, so you invested up to the match in your 401(k) and maxed out your Roth IRA. You still haven’t hit 15% and have \\$2,500 left to invest. Don’t worry. In this example, since you’re well below IRS limits for contributions, you can go back and invest that \\$2,500 in your 401(k). And ding, you’re at 15%! Now you can sit back and watch your retirement savings grow.\n\nBut what if you went all out and tried [maxing out your 401(k)](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/should-i-max-out-my-401k)? That might be a stretch, but let’s just run some numbers real quick.\n\nIf you maxed out your contributions in 2026 and didn’t invest *anything else* for 40 years, you could end up with around \\$2 million in your account—and that’s not even including a company match. Now that’s something to think about\\!\n\n- Still curious about what maxing out your 401(k) contributions would look like and when it makes sense? Our article [Should You Max Out Your 401(k)?](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/should-i-max-out-my-401k) covers all that and more.\n- If you want to do a deep dive on 401(k)s and other investments, check out [Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Investing](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/ramsey-investing-guide).\n- Ready to invest? Check out our [SmartVestor](https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/retirement\/smartvestor) program and get connected with an investment pro who can answer all your questions and help you get started.\n\n*This article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. To discuss a plan for your situation, connect with a SmartVestor* *Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros.*\n### Get Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox\n#### Did you find this article helpful? 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What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026? - Ramsey

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How much money are you allowed to put into your 401(k) this year? Here’s what you need to know.

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The 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is $24,500. That’s the most you can invest in your employer-sponsored retirement plan this year. The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and older is $8,000. There’s also a higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 for those age 60–63. 1 The employer contribution limit for 2026 is up to 100% of your salary or $72,000, whichever is less. Total employer-employee contributions can’t exceed $72,000. The 401(k) compensation limit caps how much of your income can be used to calculate your employer match. For 2026, the compensation limit is $360,000. 2 What if you had access to the same type of investing account millionaires use to build their wealth? You’d jump on the chance, right? Well, there’s good news—because believe it or not, millionaires don’t roll the dice on flashy investment trends. Nope! More than anything else, they invest money in their humble, not-so-flashy 401(k) plan at work. Which means you can do it too. According to Ramsey Solutions’ The National Study of Millionaires , 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan. They put money into their accounts month after month, year after year, until one day they looked up and their net worth was seven figures. Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff. Okay, great—but how do you actually get there? And how much can you contribute to your 401(k) these days? 401(k) Contribution Limits, 2025–2026 2025 2026 Employee Contributions $23,500 $24,500 Employer-Employee Combined Contributions $70,000 $72,000 Compensation Limits $350,000 3 $360,000 4 What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026? You can invest up to $24,500 in your 401(k) retirement plan in 2026, and that limit also applies if you’re saving with a 403(b) , 457 plan or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). In most cases, all your contributions to a 401(k) are due by the end of the calendar year. If you have access to multiple employer-sponsored retirement plans, that’s awesome! But your total contributions across all your retirement plans can’t exceed the annual limit. You should also know, these contribution limits apply to both traditional and Roth 401(k)s . Both plans are employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts, but they’re taxed differently. The money you put into a traditional 401(k) is taxed later , when you make withdrawals from your account. That means you’ll pay taxes on the money when you take it out of the account in retirement. But with a Roth 401(k), it’s the other way around—you pay taxes on the money before you sock it away (so you don’t have to pay taxes later). That means saving for retirement with a Roth account gives you tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. If your company offers a Roth 401(k) option, take advantage of it! Because it just doesn’t get any better than (say it with us) tax-free growth. Catch-Up Contribution Limits When’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When’s the second-best time? Today. The takeaway: If you’re getting a late start on saving for retirement, the most important thing is to actually get started . Maybe you’ve fallen behind because life threw you a curveball (or two). Or maybe you woke up at 50 years old and noticed there’s more silver on your head than in your nest egg. Either way, it’s not too late for you to save for retirement. If you’re 50 or older, you can save an extra $8,000 as a catch-up contribution (on top of the $24,500 you’re already allowed, for a total annual limit of $32,500). And anyone age 60–63 gets an additional catch-up provision that allows them to save an extra $11,250 for retirement in 2026 (for a total annual limit of $35,750). 5 Nice! 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Limits 2025 2026 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution (Age 50 and Older) $7,500 $8,000 401(k) Higher Catch-Up Contribution (Age 60–63) $11,250 $11,250 6 What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026? If there’s anything better than tax-free growth, it’s free money. One of the best things about a 401(k) is that most workplaces offer some kind of employer match on your contributions. Unfortunately, there’s a limit to how much your employer can contribute to your account (thanks a lot, IRS!). In 2026, your employer can legally contribute up to 100% of your salary or $72,000, whichever amount is less. Why $72,000? Because the total combined contributions from both employee and employer can’t exceed $72,000. And since the contribution limit for employees is $24,500 (not including catch-up contributions), that means your employer can only put in $47,500 if you maxed out your contributions—and not a dollar more. Listen, we don’t know if you’ll ever find a workplace that’ll be willing to help you invest in your future like that. But if you do, never ever quit that job. Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions? The short answer is no. If you have access to a 401(k) plan at work, you can put money into it no matter how high or low your salary is. But listen up, high-income earners. Generally, the IRS has a compensation limit that puts a cap on how much of your salary and compensation is eligible for a 401(k) match. For 2026, that limit is $360,000. 7 Let’s look at an example to help it all make sense: Say you make $500,000 in 2025. Your company offers a 4% match on your 401(k) contributions. You max out your annual contributions at $24,500. Instead of giving you the “full” match (4% of $500,000 is $20,000), your employer only contributes $14,400. Why didn’t they pay in the full $20,000? Because they’re only allowed to apply the match on up to $360,000 of your compensation—and 4% of $360,000 is $14,400. We get it—IRS math doesn’t make sense in the real world. If it helps, the thinking behind this extra rule is to make things fairer for those with less to invest. Hey, we’re just the messengers here. Just don’t let anything stop you from using every tool you have to build wealth—and leave a positive legacy for your family. When broke is normal, passing on wealth to your kids and grandkids (and changing your family tree in the process) is weird. Be weird! Make an Investment Plan With a Pro SmartVestor shows you up to five investing professionals in your area for free. No commitments, no hidden fees. Find Your Pros How Much Should You Save for Retirement? Once you’re out of debt and have a fully funded emergency fund in place, you’re ready to start putting your money to work for the future. But exactly how much should you invest for retirement? Answer: Invest 15% of your gross income for retirement in accounts like your Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA. For example, if you have an annual salary of $100,000 and want to hit that 15% target, your goal is to save $15,000 each year for retirement. Let’s use those numbers as an example and walk through it step by step. 1. Take the 401(k) match. Let’s say your employer offers a traditional 401(k) with an employer match. That’s the perfect place to start saving for retirement. Your first step? Take full advantage of your employer match. It’s free money! If you make $100,000 a year and your employer matches 5% of your contributions, invest 5% ($5,000) into your 401(k) so you can get that match. And listen, you don’t count your employer match as part of your 15%. Think of the match as the icing, not the cake. Okay, now you’ve got $5,000 dedicated toward your 15% goal of $15,000. So, what about that remaining 10% (or $10,000)? Since you’ve invested up to your match, you can explore tax-advantaged options outside of your employer plan. And that’s where the Roth IRA comes in. 2. Contribute to a Roth IRA. The Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is the peanut butter to the 401(k)’s jelly—they go better together. The beautiful thing about the Roth IRA is that it lets you enjoy tax-free growth—and withdrawals—in retirement. (Don’t you just love the sound of that?) In 2026, you can save up to $7,500 in a Roth IRA—and make an extra $1,100 catch-up contribution if you’re age 50 or older. 8 Sticking with our example from above, if you maxed out your Roth IRA by investing $7,500, your total retirement savings would then sit at a nice, fat $12,500 ($5,000 + $7,500). That’s $2,500 short of your 15% annual goal of $15,000. 3. Invest the rest in your 401(k). All right, so you invested up to the match in your 401(k) and maxed out your Roth IRA. You still haven’t hit 15% and have $2,500 left to invest. Don’t worry. In this example, since you’re well below IRS limits for contributions, you can go back and invest that $2,500 in your 401(k). And ding, you’re at 15%! Now you can sit back and watch your retirement savings grow. But what if you went all out and tried maxing out your 401(k) ? That might be a stretch, but let’s just run some numbers real quick. If you maxed out your contributions in 2026 and didn’t invest anything else for 40 years, you could end up with around $2 million in your account—and that’s not even including a company match. Now that’s something to think about! Still curious about what maxing out your 401(k) contributions would look like and when it makes sense? Our article Should You Max Out Your 401(k)? covers all that and more. If you want to do a deep dive on 401(k)s and other investments, check out Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Investing . Ready to invest? Check out our SmartVestor program and get connected with an investment pro who can answer all your questions and help you get started. This article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. To discuss a plan for your situation, connect with a SmartVestor Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros. Get Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox Did you find this article helpful? Share it! About the author Ramsey Solutions Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. Learn More.

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Please try again. *** - [What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_0) - [What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_1) - [Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_2) - [How Much Should You Save for Retirement?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_3) [Investing & Retirement](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement#feed-content) [Retirement](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement?category=retirement#feed-content) # What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026? 8 MIN READ \| JAN 16, 2026 ![Ramsey Solutions](https://cdn2.ramseysolutions.net/dynamic/media/landing-pages/blog/author-bio-ramsey-large.jpg/48w.jpg) By [Ramsey Solutions](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#authorbio) ![What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?](https://cdn.ramseysolutions.net/media/blog/retirement/investing/401k-limits.jpg) Save Share Link copied\! Unable to copy link. Please try again. *** ### In This Article - [What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_0) - [What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_1) - [Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_2) - [How Much Should You Save for Retirement?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-contribution-limits#heading_3) ### Key Takeaways - The 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is \$24,500. That’s the most you can invest in your employer-sponsored retirement plan this year. - The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and older is \$8,000. There’s also a higher catch-up contribution limit of \$11,250 for those age 60–63.[1](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) - The employer contribution limit for 2026 is up to 100% of your salary or \$72,000, whichever is less. Total employer-employee contributions can’t exceed \$72,000. - The 401(k) compensation limit caps how much of your income can be used to calculate your employer match. For 2026, the compensation limit is \$360,000.[2](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf) What if you had access to the same type of investing account millionaires use to build their wealth? You’d jump on the chance, right? Well, there’s good news—because believe it or not, millionaires don’t roll the dice on flashy investment trends. Nope! More than anything else, they invest money in their humble, not-so-flashy [401(k) plan](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-a-401k) at work. Which means you can do it too. According to Ramsey Solutions’ [*The National Study of Millionaires*](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/the-national-study-of-millionaires-research), 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan. They put money into their accounts month after month, year after year, until one day they looked up and their net worth was seven figures. [![money bag](https://cdn.ramseysolutions.net/media/landing-pages/blog/inline-icons/money-bag.png) Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff.](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) Okay, great—but how do you actually get there? And how much can you contribute to your 401(k) these days? | | | | |---|---|---| | **401(k) Contribution Limits, 2025–2026** | | | | | **2025** | **2026** | | Employee Contributions | \$23,500 | \$24,500 | | Employer-Employee Combined Contributions | \$70,000 | \$72,000 | | Compensation Limits | \$350,000[3](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-23500-for-2025-ira-limit-remains-7000) | \$360,000[4](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf) | ## What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026? You can invest up to \$24,500 in your 401(k) retirement plan in 2026, and that limit also applies if you’re saving with a [403(b)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-does-a-403b-plan-work), [457 plan](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-a-deferred-compensation-plan) or [Thrift Savings Plan](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-the-thrift-savings-plan) (TSP). In most cases, all your contributions to a 401(k) are due by the end of the calendar year. If you have access to multiple employer-sponsored retirement plans, that’s awesome! But your total contributions across all your retirement plans can’t exceed the annual limit. You should also know, these contribution limits apply to both [traditional and Roth 401(k)s](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/traditional-401k-vs-roth-401k). Both plans are employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts, but they’re taxed differently. The money you put into a traditional 401(k) is taxed *later*, when you make withdrawals from your account. That means you’ll pay taxes on the money when you take it out of the account in retirement. But with a Roth 401(k), it’s the other way around—you pay taxes on the money *before* you sock it away (so you don’t have to pay taxes later). That means saving for retirement with a Roth account gives you tax-free growth *and* tax-free withdrawals in retirement. If your company offers a Roth 401(k) option, take advantage of it! Because it just doesn’t get any better than (say it with us) *tax-free growth.* ### Catch-Up Contribution Limits When’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When’s the second-best time? Today. The takeaway: If you’re getting a late start on saving for retirement, the most important thing is to *actually get started*. Maybe you’ve fallen behind because life threw you a curveball (or two). Or maybe you woke up at 50 years old and noticed there’s more silver on your head than in your nest egg. Either way, it’s not too late for you to save for retirement. If you’re 50 or older, you can save an extra \$8,000 as a catch-up contribution (on top of the \$24,500 you’re already allowed, for a total annual limit of \$32,500). And anyone age 60–63 gets an additional catch-up provision that allows them to save an extra \$11,250 for retirement in 2026 (for a total annual limit of \$35,750).[5](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) Nice\! | | | | |---|---|---| | **401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Limits** | | | | | **2025** | **2026** | | 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution (Age 50 and Older) | \$7,500 | \$8,000 | | 401(k) Higher Catch-Up Contribution (Age 60–63) | \$11,250 | \$11,250[6](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) | ## What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026? If there’s anything better than tax-free growth, it’s free money. One of the best things about a 401(k) is that most workplaces offer some kind of employer match on your contributions. Unfortunately, there’s a limit to how much your employer can contribute to your account (thanks a lot, IRS!). In 2026, your employer can legally contribute up to 100% of your salary or \$72,000, whichever amount is less. Why \$72,000? Because the total combined contributions from both employee and employer can’t exceed \$72,000. And since the contribution limit for employees is \$24,500 (not including catch-up contributions), that means your employer can only put in \$47,500 if you maxed out your contributions—and not a dollar more. Listen, we don’t know if you’ll ever find a workplace that’ll be willing to help you invest in your future like that. But if you do, never *ever* quit that job. ## Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions? The short answer is no. If you have access to a 401(k) plan at work, you can put money into it no matter how high or low your salary is. But listen up, high-income earners. Generally, the IRS has a compensation limit that puts a cap on how much of your salary and compensation is eligible for a 401(k) match. For 2026, that limit is \$360,000.[7](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf) Let’s look at an example to help it all make sense: - Say you make \$500,000 in 2025. - Your company offers a 4% match on your 401(k) contributions. - You max out *your* annual contributions at \$24,500. - Instead of giving you the “full” match (4% of \$500,000 is \$20,000), your employer only contributes \$14,400. Why didn’t they pay in the full \$20,000? Because they’re only allowed to apply the match on up to \$360,000 of your compensation—and 4% of \$360,000 is \$14,400. We get it—IRS math doesn’t make sense in the real world. If it helps, the thinking behind this extra rule is to make things fairer for those with less to invest. Hey, we’re just the messengers here. Just don’t let anything stop you from using every tool you have to build wealth—and leave a positive legacy for your family. When broke is normal, passing on wealth to your kids and grandkids (and changing your family tree in the process) is weird. Be weird\! [![](https://cdn.ramseysolutions.net/cms/sites/daveramsey-com/smartvestor/visual-cta-image.png)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) ### Make an Investment Plan With a Pro SmartVestor shows you up to five investing professionals in your area for free. No commitments, no hidden fees. [Find Your Pros](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) ## How Much Should You Save for Retirement? Once you’re [out of debt](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/get-out-of-debt-with-the-debt-snowball-plan) and have a [fully funded emergency fund](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund) in place, you’re ready to start putting your money to work for the future. But exactly how much shouldyou invest for retirement? Answer: [Invest 15% of your gross income](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-to-start-investing) for retirement in accounts like your Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA. For example, if you have an annual salary of \$100,000 and want to hit that 15% target, your goal is to save \$15,000 each year for retirement. Let’s use those numbers as an example and walk through it step by step. ### 1\. Take the 401(k) match. Let’s say your employer offers a traditional 401(k) with an employer match. That’s the perfect place to start saving for retirement. Your first step? Take full advantage of your employer match. It’s free money\! If you make \$100,000 a year and your employer matches 5% of your contributions, invest 5% (\$5,000) into your 401(k) so you can get that match. And listen, you don’t count your *employer* match as part of *your* 15%. Think of the match as the icing, not the cake. Okay, now you’ve got \$5,000 dedicated toward your 15% goal of \$15,000. So, what about that remaining 10% (or \$10,000)? Since you’ve invested up to your match, you can explore tax-advantaged options *outside* of your employer plan. And that’s where the Roth IRA comes in. ### 2\. Contribute to a Roth IRA. The [Roth IRA](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-vs-roth-ira) (Individual Retirement Account) is the peanut butter to the 401(k)’s jelly—they go better together. The beautiful thing about the Roth IRA is that it lets you enjoy tax-free growth—and withdrawals—in retirement. (Don’t you just love the sound of that?) In 2026, you can save up to \$7,500 in a Roth IRA—and make an extra \$1,100 catch-up contribution if you’re age 50 or older.[8](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) Sticking with our example from above, if you maxed out your Roth IRA by investing \$7,500, your total retirement savings would then sit at a nice, fat \$12,500 (\$5,000 + \$7,500). That’s \$2,500 short of your 15% annual goal of \$15,000. ### 3\. Invest the rest in your 401(k). All right, so you invested up to the match in your 401(k) and maxed out your Roth IRA. You still haven’t hit 15% and have \$2,500 left to invest. Don’t worry. In this example, since you’re well below IRS limits for contributions, you can go back and invest that \$2,500 in your 401(k). And ding, you’re at 15%! Now you can sit back and watch your retirement savings grow. But what if you went all out and tried [maxing out your 401(k)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/should-i-max-out-my-401k)? That might be a stretch, but let’s just run some numbers real quick. If you maxed out your contributions in 2026 and didn’t invest *anything else* for 40 years, you could end up with around \$2 million in your account—and that’s not even including a company match. Now that’s something to think about\! ### Next Steps - Still curious about what maxing out your 401(k) contributions would look like and when it makes sense? Our article [Should You Max Out Your 401(k)?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/should-i-max-out-my-401k) covers all that and more. - If you want to do a deep dive on 401(k)s and other investments, check out [Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Investing](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/ramsey-investing-guide). - Ready to invest? Check out our [SmartVestor](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) program and get connected with an investment pro who can answer all your questions and help you get started. [Find Your Pro Today\!](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/dave-ramsey-smartvestor) *This article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. To discuss a plan for your situation, connect with a SmartVestor* *Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros.* ### Get Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox #### Did you find this article helpful? Share it\! [![Ramsey Solutions](https://cdn2.ramseysolutions.net/dynamic/media/landing-pages/blog/author-bio-ramsey-large.jpg/120w.jpg)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/about) About the author Ramsey Solutions Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. [Learn More.](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/about) [More Articles From Ramsey Solutions](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/articles) ![Ask Ramsey](https://cdn.ramseysolutions.net/media/blog/article-template/ask-ramsey-header.svg) Get proven Ramsey answers fast. **We're sorry but this site doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Please enable it to continue.** How do I start contributing to my 401(k)? What should I consider when choosing between traditional and Roth 401(k)? Can you explain how catch-up contributions work? By continuing on our site, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies as explained in our Privacy Policy, and agree to our Terms of Use. [Privacy Policy](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy#tracking-preferences) and [Terms of Use](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/terms-of-use). 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Readable Markdown

- The 401(k) contribution limit for 2026 is \$24,500. That’s the most you can invest in your employer-sponsored retirement plan this year. - The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and older is \$8,000. There’s also a higher catch-up contribution limit of \$11,250 for those age 60–63.[1](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) - The employer contribution limit for 2026 is up to 100% of your salary or \$72,000, whichever is less. Total employer-employee contributions can’t exceed \$72,000. - The 401(k) compensation limit caps how much of your income can be used to calculate your employer match. For 2026, the compensation limit is \$360,000.[2](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf) What if you had access to the same type of investing account millionaires use to build their wealth? You’d jump on the chance, right? Well, there’s good news—because believe it or not, millionaires don’t roll the dice on flashy investment trends. Nope! More than anything else, they invest money in their humble, not-so-flashy [401(k) plan](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-a-401k) at work. Which means you can do it too. According to Ramsey Solutions’ [*The National Study of Millionaires*](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/the-national-study-of-millionaires-research), 8 out of 10 millionaires invested in their company’s 401(k) plan. They put money into their accounts month after month, year after year, until one day they looked up and their net worth was seven figures. [![money bag](https://cdn.ramseysolutions.net/media/landing-pages/blog/inline-icons/money-bag.png) Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff.](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) Okay, great—but how do you actually get there? And how much can you contribute to your 401(k) these days? | | | | |---|---|---| | **401(k) Contribution Limits, 2025–2026** | | | | | **2025** | **2026** | | Employee Contributions | \$23,500 | \$24,500 | | Employer-Employee Combined Contributions | \$70,000 | \$72,000 | | Compensation Limits | \$350,000[3](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-23500-for-2025-ira-limit-remains-7000) | \$360,000[4](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf) | ## What Are the 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026? You can invest up to \$24,500 in your 401(k) retirement plan in 2026, and that limit also applies if you’re saving with a [403(b)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-does-a-403b-plan-work), [457 plan](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-a-deferred-compensation-plan) or [Thrift Savings Plan](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-the-thrift-savings-plan) (TSP). In most cases, all your contributions to a 401(k) are due by the end of the calendar year. If you have access to multiple employer-sponsored retirement plans, that’s awesome! But your total contributions across all your retirement plans can’t exceed the annual limit. You should also know, these contribution limits apply to both [traditional and Roth 401(k)s](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/traditional-401k-vs-roth-401k). Both plans are employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts, but they’re taxed differently. The money you put into a traditional 401(k) is taxed *later*, when you make withdrawals from your account. That means you’ll pay taxes on the money when you take it out of the account in retirement. But with a Roth 401(k), it’s the other way around—you pay taxes on the money *before* you sock it away (so you don’t have to pay taxes later). That means saving for retirement with a Roth account gives you tax-free growth *and* tax-free withdrawals in retirement. If your company offers a Roth 401(k) option, take advantage of it! Because it just doesn’t get any better than (say it with us) *tax-free growth.* ### Catch-Up Contribution Limits When’s the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When’s the second-best time? Today. The takeaway: If you’re getting a late start on saving for retirement, the most important thing is to *actually get started*. Maybe you’ve fallen behind because life threw you a curveball (or two). Or maybe you woke up at 50 years old and noticed there’s more silver on your head than in your nest egg. Either way, it’s not too late for you to save for retirement. If you’re 50 or older, you can save an extra \$8,000 as a catch-up contribution (on top of the \$24,500 you’re already allowed, for a total annual limit of \$32,500). And anyone age 60–63 gets an additional catch-up provision that allows them to save an extra \$11,250 for retirement in 2026 (for a total annual limit of \$35,750).[5](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) Nice\! | | | | |---|---|---| | **401(k) Catch-Up Contribution Limits** | | | | | **2025** | **2026** | | 401(k) Catch-Up Contribution (Age 50 and Older) | \$7,500 | \$8,000 | | 401(k) Higher Catch-Up Contribution (Age 60–63) | \$11,250 | \$11,250[6](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) | ## What Is the Maximum an Employer Can Contribute to Your 401(k) in 2026? If there’s anything better than tax-free growth, it’s free money. One of the best things about a 401(k) is that most workplaces offer some kind of employer match on your contributions. Unfortunately, there’s a limit to how much your employer can contribute to your account (thanks a lot, IRS!). In 2026, your employer can legally contribute up to 100% of your salary or \$72,000, whichever amount is less. Why \$72,000? Because the total combined contributions from both employee and employer can’t exceed \$72,000. And since the contribution limit for employees is \$24,500 (not including catch-up contributions), that means your employer can only put in \$47,500 if you maxed out your contributions—and not a dollar more. Listen, we don’t know if you’ll ever find a workplace that’ll be willing to help you invest in your future like that. But if you do, never *ever* quit that job. ## Is There an Income Limit for 401(k) Contributions? The short answer is no. If you have access to a 401(k) plan at work, you can put money into it no matter how high or low your salary is. But listen up, high-income earners. Generally, the IRS has a compensation limit that puts a cap on how much of your salary and compensation is eligible for a 401(k) match. For 2026, that limit is \$360,000.[7](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-25-67.pdf) Let’s look at an example to help it all make sense: - Say you make \$500,000 in 2025. - Your company offers a 4% match on your 401(k) contributions. - You max out *your* annual contributions at \$24,500. - Instead of giving you the “full” match (4% of \$500,000 is \$20,000), your employer only contributes \$14,400. Why didn’t they pay in the full \$20,000? Because they’re only allowed to apply the match on up to \$360,000 of your compensation—and 4% of \$360,000 is \$14,400. We get it—IRS math doesn’t make sense in the real world. If it helps, the thinking behind this extra rule is to make things fairer for those with less to invest. Hey, we’re just the messengers here. Just don’t let anything stop you from using every tool you have to build wealth—and leave a positive legacy for your family. When broke is normal, passing on wealth to your kids and grandkids (and changing your family tree in the process) is weird. Be weird\! [![](https://cdn.ramseysolutions.net/cms/sites/daveramsey-com/smartvestor/visual-cta-image.png)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) ### Make an Investment Plan With a Pro SmartVestor shows you up to five investing professionals in your area for free. No commitments, no hidden fees. [Find Your Pros](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) ## How Much Should You Save for Retirement? Once you’re [out of debt](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/get-out-of-debt-with-the-debt-snowball-plan) and have a [fully funded emergency fund](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund) in place, you’re ready to start putting your money to work for the future. But exactly how much shouldyou invest for retirement? Answer: [Invest 15% of your gross income](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/how-to-start-investing) for retirement in accounts like your Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA. For example, if you have an annual salary of \$100,000 and want to hit that 15% target, your goal is to save \$15,000 each year for retirement. Let’s use those numbers as an example and walk through it step by step. ### 1\. Take the 401(k) match. Let’s say your employer offers a traditional 401(k) with an employer match. That’s the perfect place to start saving for retirement. Your first step? Take full advantage of your employer match. It’s free money\! If you make \$100,000 a year and your employer matches 5% of your contributions, invest 5% (\$5,000) into your 401(k) so you can get that match. And listen, you don’t count your *employer* match as part of *your* 15%. Think of the match as the icing, not the cake. Okay, now you’ve got \$5,000 dedicated toward your 15% goal of \$15,000. So, what about that remaining 10% (or \$10,000)? Since you’ve invested up to your match, you can explore tax-advantaged options *outside* of your employer plan. And that’s where the Roth IRA comes in. ### 2\. Contribute to a Roth IRA. The [Roth IRA](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/401k-vs-roth-ira) (Individual Retirement Account) is the peanut butter to the 401(k)’s jelly—they go better together. The beautiful thing about the Roth IRA is that it lets you enjoy tax-free growth—and withdrawals—in retirement. (Don’t you just love the sound of that?) In 2026, you can save up to \$7,500 in a Roth IRA—and make an extra \$1,100 catch-up contribution if you’re age 50 or older.[8](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500) Sticking with our example from above, if you maxed out your Roth IRA by investing \$7,500, your total retirement savings would then sit at a nice, fat \$12,500 (\$5,000 + \$7,500). That’s \$2,500 short of your 15% annual goal of \$15,000. ### 3\. Invest the rest in your 401(k). All right, so you invested up to the match in your 401(k) and maxed out your Roth IRA. You still haven’t hit 15% and have \$2,500 left to invest. Don’t worry. In this example, since you’re well below IRS limits for contributions, you can go back and invest that \$2,500 in your 401(k). And ding, you’re at 15%! Now you can sit back and watch your retirement savings grow. But what if you went all out and tried [maxing out your 401(k)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/should-i-max-out-my-401k)? That might be a stretch, but let’s just run some numbers real quick. If you maxed out your contributions in 2026 and didn’t invest *anything else* for 40 years, you could end up with around \$2 million in your account—and that’s not even including a company match. Now that’s something to think about\! - Still curious about what maxing out your 401(k) contributions would look like and when it makes sense? Our article [Should You Max Out Your 401(k)?](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/should-i-max-out-my-401k) covers all that and more. - If you want to do a deep dive on 401(k)s and other investments, check out [Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Investing](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/ramsey-investing-guide). - Ready to invest? Check out our [SmartVestor](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/smartvestor) program and get connected with an investment pro who can answer all your questions and help you get started. *This article provides general guidelines about investing topics. Your situation may be unique. To discuss a plan for your situation, connect with a SmartVestor* *Pro. Ramsey Solutions is a paid, non-client promoter of participating Pros.* ### Get Weekly Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox #### Did you find this article helpful? Share it\! [![Ramsey Solutions](https://cdn2.ramseysolutions.net/dynamic/media/landing-pages/blog/author-bio-ramsey-large.jpg/120w.jpg)](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/about) About the author Ramsey Solutions Ramsey Solutions has been committed to helping people regain control of their money, build wealth, grow their leadership skills, and enhance their lives through personal development since 1992. Millions of people have used our financial advice through 22 books (including 12 national bestsellers) published by Ramsey Press, as well as two syndicated radio shows and 10 podcasts, which have over 17 million weekly listeners. [Learn More.](https://www.ramseysolutions.com/about)

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