Paycheck investing calculator
Invest a percent of each paycheck, weekly, every two weeks or monthly, and see where it leads.
After 30 years
$231 from each paycheck to start, rising with your raises. You put in $285,452 in total.
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Put in so far | Growth so far | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6,000 | $196 | $6,196 |
| 2 | $12,180 | $846 | $13,026 |
| 3 | $18,545 | $1,996 | $20,542 |
| 4 | $25,102 | $3,696 | $28,798 |
| 5 | $31,855 | $5,998 | $37,853 |
| 6 | $38,810 | $8,962 | $47,773 |
| 7 | $45,975 | $12,650 | $58,625 |
| 8 | $53,354 | $17,130 | $70,484 |
| 9 | $60,955 | $22,474 | $83,428 |
| 10 | $68,783 | $28,761 | $97,544 |
| 11 | $76,847 | $36,076 | $112,923 |
| 12 | $85,152 | $44,511 | $129,663 |
| 13 | $93,707 | $54,164 | $147,871 |
| 14 | $102,518 | $65,142 | $167,660 |
| 15 | $111,593 | $77,559 | $189,153 |
| 16 | $120,941 | $91,539 | $212,480 |
| 17 | $130,570 | $107,214 | $237,784 |
| 18 | $140,487 | $124,728 | $265,215 |
| 19 | $150,701 | $144,235 | $294,936 |
| 20 | $161,222 | $165,900 | $327,122 |
| 21 | $172,059 | $189,902 | $361,961 |
| 22 | $183,221 | $216,433 | $399,654 |
| 23 | $194,717 | $245,700 | $440,418 |
| 24 | $206,559 | $277,926 | $484,484 |
| 25 | $218,756 | $313,348 | $532,104 |
| 26 | $231,318 | $352,225 | $583,543 |
| 27 | $244,258 | $394,833 | $639,090 |
| 28 | $257,586 | $441,468 | $699,054 |
| 29 | $271,313 | $492,452 | $763,765 |
| 30 | $285,452 | $548,127 | $833,580 |
How this calculator works
The calculator takes your chosen percent of each paycheck, raises it every year with your salary, and invests it monthly.
Investing a percentage, rather than a fixed amount, means your investing grows automatically as you earn more.
Common questions
What percent of my paycheck should I invest?
A common target is 10–15% for retirement, including any employer match. Starting with any amount builds the habit.
Gross or net pay?
This uses your salary before tax, which is how 401(k) contributions are usually set.
How do I automate it?
Use payroll deductions for a 401(k), or schedule a recurring transfer and buy right after payday.
FatDCA calculators are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter, and past returns do not predict future returns.
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