What is the 403(b) contribution limit for 2026?

$24,500 in employee deferrals. People aged 50 or older can add an $8,000 catch-up, or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63 if the plan allows. Employee plus employer contributions are capped at $72,000, or 100% of pay if less, not counting age-50 catch-ups.

What is the 403(b) 15-year rule?

Employees with at least 15 years of service at a qualifying school, hospital, church or charity may contribute up to $3,000 more per year, with a $15,000 lifetime limit, if the plan allows it.

Do catch-up contributions have to be Roth in 2026?

Yes, if your FICA wages from the employer were over $150,000 in 2025. Catch-up contributions must then go in as Roth (after-tax) contributions. The 15-year catch-up is not subject to this rule.

403(b) Calculator 2026 – How Much Will My 403(b) Be Worth?

Q: How much will my 403(b) be worth?

It depends on your contributions, employer contributions, investment return and years until retirement. For example, a 35-year-old earning $60,000 who saves 10% with a 5% employer contribution, 3% annual raises and a 6% return would have about $1.2 million ($1,197,887) at 67.

Project your 403(b)

Estimated 403(b) at retirement

–

–In today's dollars

–Monthly income at 4%

–Years of contributions

Your contributionsEmployerStarting balanceInvestment growth

This year (2026) check-up

Year-by-year projection

Age	Salary	You	Employer	Growth	End balance	Today's $

403(b) contribution limits for 2026

2026 IRS limits
Limit	2026	Who
Employee elective deferral	$24,500	Everyone (pre-tax + Roth combined)
Age 50+ catch-up	+$8,000	Age 50 or older by December 31 → $32,500 total
Age 60–63 “super” catch-up	+$11,250	Replaces the $8,000 catch-up at ages 60–63, if the plan allows → $35,750 total
15-year rule catch-up	+$3,000	15+ years with a qualifying employer; $15,000 lifetime
Total employee + employer (415(c))	$72,000	Or 100% of pay if less; age-50 catch-ups are on top
Roth catch-up wage threshold	$150,000	2025 FICA wages above this → catch-ups must be Roth

The calculator keeps these 2026 dollar limits flat in future years. The IRS usually raises them with inflation in $500 steps, so the “max out” projection is on the cautious side.

How the three catch-up contributions work

Age 50+: $8,000 extra from the year you turn 50.
Ages 60–63: SECURE 2.0 raised the catch-up to $11,250 in the years you turn 60, 61, 62 and 63. At 64 it drops back to $8,000. Your plan has to offer it; most large plans do.
15-year rule (403(b) only): employees of public schools, hospitals, home health agencies, health and welfare agencies and churches with at least 15 years of service may defer up to $3,000 more a year, $15,000 lifetime. The IRS applies it before the age-50 catch-up. The exact limit also depends on your past deferrals ($5,000 × years of service, minus prior deferrals). Confirm your amount with your plan administrator.

New in 2026: if your FICA wages from this employer were over $150,000 in 2025, age-based catch-ups must go in as Roth (after-tax) contributions. The 15-year catch-up is exempt from this rule.

How the calculator works

For each year until retirement:
salary = starting salary × (1 + raise)^years
your deferral = salary × your %, capped at $24,500 + catch-ups for that age
employer = match % × min(your %, match cap) × salary + fixed employer %
(employee base + employer capped at $72,000 or 100% of pay)
end balance = start × (1 + return) + contributions × (1 + return)^½

Contributions come out of each paycheck through the year, so on average they're invested for about half the year. That's why they grow by (1 + return)^½ in the year they're made. Monthly income uses your withdrawal rate: balance × 4% ÷ 12. “Today's dollars” divides by cumulative inflation.

What a 403(b) can grow to

All figures come from the calculator: $60,000 salary, 3% raises, 6% return, a 5% employer contribution, no starting balance, retirement at 67.

Balance at 67, by starting age and savings rate
Start at	You save 5%	You save 10%	You save 15%
Age 25	$1,667,138	$2,500,707	$3,334,276
Age 35	$798,592	$1,197,887	$1,597,183
Age 45	$347,464	$521,196	$694,928
Age 55	$120,754	$181,132	$241,509

Starting ten years earlier matters more than almost any change in contribution rate. That's compounding: early dollars have decades to grow.

403(b) vs 401(k)

What's the same

Same $24,500 limit and the same age-50 and 60–63 catch-ups.
Pre-tax or Roth contributions; RMDs start at 73.
10% penalty on withdrawals before 59½, with the usual exceptions.

What's different

403(b)s are for public schools, colleges, hospitals, churches and 501(c)(3) charities.
Only 403(b)s have the 15-year catch-up.
Many 403(b)s offer annuity contracts, which can have higher fees. Check your fund expense ratios, since fees lower the return you should enter.
If you also have a governmental 457(b), its limit is separate. You can defer the full amount to both.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I have in my 403(b) to retire?

A common target is savings that, at a 4% withdrawal rate, plus Social Security, replace about 70–80% of your pre-retirement income. For example, $40,000 a year from savings needs about $1 million. The monthly income figure above shows where you stand.

Am I getting the full employer match?

You get the full match when your contribution percentage is at least the match cap (6% in the default example). If you contribute less, the calculator flags it. The unmatched amount is free money you're leaving behind.

Should I choose Roth or pre-tax 403(b)?

Pre-tax lowers your taxes now; Roth gives tax-free withdrawals later. If you expect a higher tax rate in retirement, Roth usually wins. The balance is the same either way; only the taxes differ. Pre-tax withdrawals are taxed as income.

Does the calculator include taxes?

No. The balance is before income tax on withdrawals, which applies to pre-tax money. Roth balances that meet the 5-year and age 59½ rules come out tax-free.

Sources and method

Last reviewed: September 27, 2026.

IRS, “401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500” (applies to 403(b) plans). irs.gov
IRS, Retirement topics: 403(b) contribution limits. irs.gov
IRS, 403(b) plans: catch-up contributions (15-year rule and ordering). irs.gov
Treasury/IRS final regulations on Roth catch-up contributions (SECURE 2.0 §603), September 2025. irs.gov

The calculator assumes a steady return with no market swings, 2026 dollar limits held flat, and a plan that allows the options you select. Check your plan's Summary Plan Description for its match formula and vesting schedule; unvested employer money is lost if you leave early. This is an estimate for planning, not investment advice.

403(b) Calculator (2026)