Compare a Roth 401(k) to a Traditional 401(k)

Your retirement income can vary widely depending on what type of account holds your savings and what assumptions you make about return and tax rates during the accumulation and withdrawal periods. Use this calculator to help compare employee contributions to the after-tax Roth 401(k) and the current tax-deductible 401(k).

Savings

Your age today, used to figure out how many years your contributions have to grow.

$

The amount you plan to set aside each year, before any tax treatment is applied.

Distribution

The age at which you plan to stop contributing and begin drawing income.

%

Your expected marginal tax rate once you begin withdrawing income.

Table of Federal Income Brackets and Rates. Tax Rate For Single Filers For Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns For Heads of Households 10% $0 to $11,925 $0 to $23,850 $0 to $17,000 12% $11,925 to $48,475 $23,850 to $96,950 $17,000 to $64,850 22% $48,475 to $103,350 $96,950 to $206,700 $64,850 to $103,350 24% $103,350 to $197,300 $206,700 to $394,600 $103,350 to $197,300 32% $197,300 to $250,525 $394,600 to $501,050 $197,300 to $250,500 35% $250,525 to $626,350 $501,050 to $751,600 $250,500 to $626,350 37% $626,350 or more $751,600 or more $626,350 or more.

Advanced options 2

How long you expect to draw retirement income from these savings.

%

Assumed annual growth rate of the account after you start taking income.

Table of Historic Rates of Return. Inflation 2.9%, U.S. Treasury Bills 3.3%, Long-term Government Bonds 5.0%, U.S. Large-Company Stocks 10.4%, and U.S. Small-Company Stocks 11.8%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Source: Ibbotson SBBI 1926-2024

Accumulation
%

Your marginal income tax rate while you are still working and contributing.

Table of Federal Income Brackets and Rates. Tax Rate For Single Filers For Married Individuals Filing Joint Returns For Heads of Households 10% $0 to $11,925 $0 to $23,850 $0 to $17,000 12% $11,925 to $48,475 $23,850 to $96,950 $17,000 to $64,850 22% $48,475 to $103,350 $96,950 to $206,700 $64,850 to $103,350 24% $103,350 to $197,300 $206,700 to $394,600 $103,350 to $197,300 32% $197,300 to $250,525 $394,600 to $501,050 $197,300 to $250,500 35% $250,525 to $626,350 $501,050 to $751,600 $250,500 to $626,350 37% $626,350 or more $751,600 or more $626,350 or more.

How the comparison treats the tax difference between account types when contributions are made. Taxation of contribution options 1) Traditional 401(k) deductible account fully funded, contributions to Roth 401(k) non-deductible account are reduced 2) Full contribution made to Roth 401(k) non-deductible account, Traditional 401(k) account given a 'side-account' to reflect tax savings

Advanced options 1
%

Assumed annual growth rate of the account before retirement.

Table of Historic Rates of Return. Inflation 2.9%, U.S. Treasury Bills 3.3%, Long-term Government Bonds 5.0%, U.S. Large-Company Stocks 10.4%, and U.S. Small-Company Stocks 11.8%. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Source: Ibbotson SBBI 1926-2024