457 Calculator
Project a 457 nest egg from today’s balance, your annual deferral, any employer contribution, years to grow, and an assumed return — a cousin to 403(b) and 401(k) growth tools. Click any i for detail.
457 growth inputs
Current balance ($)
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Current balance
What is in the 457 today before new deferrals. |
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Employee deferral ($/yr)
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Employee
Planned annual employee contribution. |
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Employer contribution ($/yr)
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Employer
Match or nonelective annual dollars, if any. |
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Years to grow
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Years
How long contributions and growth run. |
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Assumed return (%/yr)
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Return
Nominal annual return. Fees should be netted into this rate if you want. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter today’s 457 balance.
- Add planned annual employee deferral and any employer dollars.
- Set years and expected return.
- Read the projected nest egg and the contribution vs growth split.
Results explained
The headline is a future balance sketch: starting balance plus monthly-equivalent employee and employer contributions growing at your assumed return. It does not subtract taxes on withdrawal. Governmental 457(b) plans often allow penalty-free withdrawals after separation — still not modeled as a cash-flow plan.
Quick reference: 457 nest egg
Transparent planning assumptions.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monthly add | (Employee + employer annual) ÷ 12 |
| Growth | Balance compounds monthly from assumed annual return |
| Not modeled | IRS limits, 457(b) vs 457(f), special catch-up, loans, fees beyond your return |
| Vs 403(b) | Same growth math; distribution rules differ by plan type |
Compare workplace growth on the 403(b) calculator.
How the estimate is built
Each month: balance grows by the equivalent monthly rate from your return %, then employee+employer monthly add is applied. Repeat for years × 12 months.
Example scenario
$45,000 balance, $10,000 employee + $3,000 employer per year, 6% return for 20 years projects roughly mid-six-figures — change the return ±1% to see how sensitive the nest egg is.
FAQ
457 vs 401(k)?
Both are deferral plans. Governmental 457(b) plans often skip the 10% early-distribution extra tax after separation. 457(f) for some executives is different — not modeled.
Does this include the employer match?
Yes — enter an annual employer contribution separately from your employee deferral.
Are IRS limits modeled?
No. Elective deferral, catch-up, and annual addition limits change by year — confirm with your plan.
Roth 457?
This page sketches pre-tax-style nest-egg growth. For Roth vs traditional tax treatment, use the Roth vs traditional 401(k) calculator as a cousin tool.