401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026
- Employee limit: $24,500 of elective deferrals (IRS Notice 2025-67).
- Catch-up at 50 or older: $8,000 more, for $32,500.
- Per paycheck at the limit: $942.31 biweekly or $1,020.83 semi-monthly.
Employer matching contributions do not count toward the employee limit.
Traditional vs Roth 401(k) on Your Paycheck
A traditional 401(k) lowers income tax now and is taxed at withdrawal; a Roth 401(k) is taxed now and is tax-free at withdrawal. Neither lowers Social Security or Medicare tax.
| Contribution on $65,000 | Per paycheck | Take-home drop | Tax saved / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% traditional | $75 | $66 | $234 |
| 6% traditional | $150 | $132 | $468 |
| 10% traditional | $250 | $220 | $780 |
| 15% traditional | $375 | $330 | $1,170 |
Biweekly pay, single filer, no state income tax.
How Much to Put in a 401(k) per Paycheck
The first target is the full employer match: contributing less than the match leaves part of the pay unclaimed. A common employer formula matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary.
The Payroll Deduction Calculator shows the 401(k) next to health insurance and taxes on one pay stub.
401(k) per Paycheck by Pay Frequency
The 401(k) amount per paycheck is the yearly contribution divided by the number of paychecks. A 6% contribution on $65,000 is $3,900 a year on every schedule; only the slice changes.
| Pay schedule | 6% contribution | Take-home drop |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $75 | $66 |
| Biweekly | $150 | $132 |
| Semi-monthly | $162.50 | $143 |
| Monthly | $325 | $286 |
Traditional 401(k), single filer, no state income tax.
Roth 401(k) Paycheck Example
A Roth 401(k) contribution lowers take-home pay by the full amount, because it comes out after income tax.
On $65,000 paid biweekly, a 6% Roth contribution of $150 cuts take-home from $2,092.60 to $1,942.60. The same 6% as a traditional contribution leaves $1,960.60, because $18 of income tax is saved on each check.
The Roth trade comes later: qualified withdrawals, after age 59½ and at least 5 years after the first Roth contribution, are free of federal income tax, earnings included.
How the Employer 401(k) Match Works
An employer match adds money in proportion to what you put in, up to a cap. A 50% match up to 6% of salary pays 50 cents per dollar on the first 6% of your pay.
| You contribute, $65,000 | Your money / year | Employer match / year | Total / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2% | $1,300 | $650 | $1,950 |
| 4% | $2,600 | $1,300 | $3,900 |
| 6% | $3,900 | $1,950 | $5,850 |
| 8% | $5,200 | $1,950 | $7,150 |
| 10% | $6,500 | $1,950 | $8,450 |
Above 6%, the match stops growing. Your own contributions are always fully vested; employer money can vest over time, with federal law allowing up to a 3-year cliff or a 6-year graded schedule for matching contributions.
Maxing Out a 401(k) per Paycheck
Maxing out a 401(k) in 2026 means $24,500 of your own contributions, or $942.31 per biweekly paycheck.
| Pay schedule | Under 50 | Age 50 or older |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $471.15 | $625 |
| Biweekly | $942.31 | $1,250 |
| Semi-monthly | $1,020.83 | $1,354.17 |
| Monthly | $2,041.67 | $2,708.33 |
A $200,000 earner who picks 20% hits the cap: the calculator stops the contribution at $942.31 per biweekly paycheck, or $1,250 with the catch-up box checked. Reaching the limit early in the year can cost match money in plans that match each paycheck without a year-end true-up, so spreading the limit over all paychecks is safer.
401(k) Contributions and State Income Tax
In a state with an income tax, a traditional 401(k) contribution usually lowers state tax too, so take-home falls even less.
A 6% contribution on $65,000 lowers biweekly take-home by $124.58 in Illinois, against $132 in Texas. The yearly tax saved rises from $468 to $661.05.
Pennsylvania is an exception: it taxes employee 401(k) deferrals at the state level, so a Pennsylvania worker saves federal tax only. Choose Pennsylvania in the calculator and it keeps the 401(k) in state taxable pay.
How Much a 401(k) Pays per Month in Retirement
A 401(k) pays whatever you choose to withdraw from the balance; it has no fixed monthly benefit like a pension.
Withdrawals from a traditional 401(k) are taxed as ordinary income. Taking $2,000 a month, $24,000 a year, with no other income costs $790 of federal income tax for a single filer under 2026 rules. Before age 59½, most withdrawals also owe a 10% additional tax. Required minimum distributions start at age 73 for people born from 1951 through 1959.
The Pension Calculator works with a fixed monthly benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can you put in a 401(k) per paycheck?
You can put up to $942.31 per biweekly paycheck in 2026, which reaches the $24,500 limit after 26 paychecks.
How are 401(k) contributions calculated per paycheck?
401(k) contributions per paycheck are the gross pay of the paycheck times your contribution percentage. 6% of a $2,500 paycheck is $150.
Does a 401(k) lower Social Security tax?
No. Traditional and Roth 401(k) contributions are both subject to Social Security and Medicare tax.
How much of your check can you put in a 401(k)?
You can put in up to the percentage your plan allows, with a 2026 ceiling of $24,500, or $32,500 at age 50 or older. Some plans cap the percentage, and taxes and other deductions must still fit in the check.
How much should I put in a 401(k) per paycheck?
Put in at least enough to collect the full employer match. With a 50% match up to 6% on $65,000, that is $150 per biweekly paycheck, which brings in $1,950 of match a year.
How much is a 10% 401(k) contribution per paycheck?
On $65,000 paid biweekly, a 10% contribution is $250 per paycheck. Take-home falls by only $220 because of the income tax saved.
Does the employer match count toward the 401(k) limit?
No. The $24,500 limit covers only your own deferrals; employer matching contributions sit outside it, under a separate and much higher total limit.
How much will my 401(k) pay me per month?
It pays what you withdraw, so the monthly amount depends on the balance and how long it must last. A $300,000 balance taken at $1,250 a month lasts 20 years before any investment growth.