Free 403(b) calculator for 2025. Project tax-sheltered annuity growth for teachers, healthcare workers, and nonprofit employees. Includes the 15-year service catch-up rule.
The 403(b) Calculator projects the growth of your tax-sheltered annuity retirement account used by public schools, hospitals, churches, and nonprofit organizations. 403(b) plans share the same contribution limits as 401(k) plans but include a unique 15-year service catch-up provision.
For 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 (plus $7,500 catch-up at 50+, or $11,250 super catch-up at 60-63). Employees with 15+ years of service at the same qualifying organization may contribute an additional $3,000/year, up to a $15,000 lifetime maximum.
This calculator models your balance growth with contributions, employer contributions, investment returns, and all catch-up provisions to help you plan for a secure retirement. Unlike many generic retirement calculators, it accounts for the 403(b)-specific 15-year service catch-up and the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up for ages 60-63, allowing you to see the full impact of every available savings strategy on your projected balance. Even modest increases in annual contributions can compound dramatically over a 20–30 year career in education or nonprofit work.
Many 403(b) participants underutilize their plan, especially the rarely-discussed 15-year service catch-up. Teachers and healthcare workers often have lower starting salaries, making it critical to maximize contributions during peak earning years. This calculator shows how catch-up provisions and consistent saving can build substantial wealth. Running projections at different contribution levels makes it easy to see the long-term impact of each incremental increase.
FV = ∑ [(Balance + Contribution + Employer) × (1 + r)] each year Max Contribution (2025): $23,500 + catch-up 15-Year Rule: Additional $3,000/year if 15+ years of service (lifetime max $15,000)
Result: Projected balance: ~$1,079,000
Starting with $50,000 and contributing $15,000/year with $3,000 employer match at 7% return over 20 years produces approximately $1,079,000. Adding catch-up contributions at 50 can push this above $1.2 million.
Teachers, professors, school administrators, healthcare workers, clergy, and employees of 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible for 403(b) plans. These plans are particularly important for public employees who may not have access to 401(k) plans. In many school districts, the 403(b) is the primary voluntary retirement savings vehicle.
The 15-year service catch-up is one of the most overlooked retirement savings opportunities. A teacher with 20 years of service can contribute an extra $3,000/year for 5 years ($15,000 total) on top of regular and age-50 catch-up limits. This can add $50,000+ to their retirement balance with compounding.
Older 403(b) plans were limited to annuity contracts, which often carried high fees (1-3% annually). Modern 403(b) plans increasingly offer low-cost mutual fund options. If your plan has high-fee annuity options, advocate for adding low-cost index funds — even a 1% fee reduction can save tens of thousands over a career.
A 403(b), also called a tax-sheltered annuity (TSA), is a retirement savings plan for employees of public schools, tax-exempt organizations, and certain ministers. It works similarly to a 401(k) with pre-tax or Roth contributions, employer matches, and tax-deferred growth.
The standard employee deferral is $23,500. Age 50+ catch-up adds $7,500 (or $11,250 for ages 60-63 under SECURE 2.0). The 15-year service catch-up adds up to $3,000/year ($15,000 lifetime). In theory, an eligible 62-year-old could contribute $37,750/year.
Employees with 15+ years of service at the same qualifying employer can contribute an additional $3,000 per year, up to a $15,000 lifetime maximum. This provision is unique to 403(b) plans and is not available in 401(k) plans. It's stackable with the age-50 catch-up.
Contribution limits are identical. Key differences: 403(b) is available to nonprofits and schools only; 403(b) has the 15-year catch-up; some 403(b) plans offer annuity contracts in addition to mutual funds; 403(b) plans may have shorter vesting schedules. Both offer pre-tax and Roth options.
Some do, but it's less common than with 401(k) plans. Many school districts contribute a fixed percentage to an employer-funded 403(b) or a separate 401(a) plan. Always check your plan documents to see what's available.
Yes. 403(b) plans can be rolled over to a Traditional IRA, Roth IRA (with tax consequences), 401(k), or another 403(b) when you leave the employer. Rollovers to an IRA typically offer more investment choices and lower fees.