403(b) Calculator
Project the future value of your 403(b) retirement plan from your salary, contribution rate, employer match, and expected return.
How to use this tool
- Enter your annual salary.
- Set the percentage of salary you contribute and your employer's match rate.
- Choose an expected annual return and the years until you retire.
- Read your projected balance, monthly contribution, and total contributed.
See how your 403(b) can grow. Enter your salary, contribution rate, employer match, and an expected return to project your retirement balance.
Formula
Monthly contribution = (Salary × your rate + Salary × match rate) ÷ 12.
Future value uses the future-value-of-an-annuity formula with monthly compounding:
FV = M × [(1 + r)n − 1] ÷ r, where M is the monthly contribution, r is the monthly return (annual ÷ 12) and n is the number of months. When r = 0 the balance is just M × n.
How it works
A 403(b) is the tax-advantaged retirement plan offered to employees of public schools, churches, and many nonprofits — the nonprofit-sector cousin of the 401(k). Contributions come out of your paycheck pre-tax (or Roth, after-tax), grow tax deferred, and are often matched in part by your employer.
This calculator combines your contribution and any employer match into a single monthly deposit, then grows it with the future-value-of-an-annuity formula using monthly compounding. Because contributions are spread evenly through each year and compound monthly, the result captures the snowball effect that makes early, consistent saving so powerful — most of the ending balance is growth, not principal.
The model assumes a constant salary, contribution rate, and return, and a level monthly deposit. It does not apply IRS contribution limits, salary growth, fees, or taxes on withdrawal. Real returns vary year to year, so treat the projection as a planning baseline rather than a promise. Reviewed by the AbraCalc Retirement Desk against the future-value-of-an-annuity formula. This calculator provides general information, not financial advice; consult a qualified professional for decisions about your own situation.
Worked example
$60,000 salary, 10% contribution + 3% match, 7% return, 30 years
- Annual contributions = $60,000 × (10% + 3%) = $7,800.
- Monthly contribution = $7,800 ÷ 12 = $650.
- Monthly rate r = 7% ÷ 12 = 0.00583333; months n = 360.
- Growth factor = [(1.00583333)360 − 1] ÷ 0.00583333 = 1,220.0.
- Future value = $650 × 1,220.0 = $792,981.15.
- Total contributed = $650 × 360 = $234,000.
Projected balance at retirement: $792,981.15 — from $650/month and $234,000 contributed.
403(b) balance from $650/month by years and return
| Years | 5% | 7% | 9% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $100,933 | $112,505 | $125,784 |
| 20 | $267,172 | $338,602 | $434,126 |
| 30 | $540,968 | $792,981 | $1,189,983 |
| 35 | $738,460 | $1,170,685 | $1,912,160 |
Key terms
- 403(b) plan
- A tax-advantaged retirement plan for employees of public schools, churches, and tax-exempt organizations, similar to a 401(k).
- Employer match
- Money your employer contributes to your plan based on your own contributions — effectively free retirement money.
- Tax-deferred growth
- Investment gains that are not taxed until you withdraw them, allowing the full balance to compound.
- Future value of an annuity
- The total a stream of regular contributions grows to once compounded at a given rate over time.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a 403(b) plan?
- A 403(b) is a tax-advantaged retirement plan for employees of public schools, churches, and nonprofits. It works much like a 401(k): pre-tax or Roth contributions grow tax-deferred until retirement.
- Does the employer match count toward my contribution limit?
- No. Employer matching contributions are separate from your own elective deferral limit, though combined contributions are subject to a higher overall IRS cap.
- How much should I contribute to a 403(b)?
- At minimum, enough to capture the full employer match — that is an immediate return on your money. Many savers aim for 10–15% of salary including the match.
- Is the projection guaranteed?
- No. It assumes a constant return and contributions. Actual markets fluctuate, so the real balance will differ. Use the figure as a planning baseline.