2027 401(k) Per Paycheck Calculator
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Final paycheck adjusted to $981.00 so the year totals exact $25,500.00 (never over the limit).
2027 401(k) Max-Out Per Paycheck Reference Table
Full-year regular paycheck amounts rounded down to the cent where marked with * so the annual total never exceeds the IRS limit (the final paycheck makes up the remaining cents).
| Pay Frequency | Under 50 ($25,500) | 50–59 & 64+ ($34,000) | Ages 60–63 ($37,250) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly (52 paychecks) | $490.38 | $653.84* | $716.34* |
| Weekly (53 paychecks — Jan 1 start) | $481.13* | $641.50* | $702.83 |
| Biweekly (26 paychecks) | $980.76* | $1,307.69 | $1,432.69 |
| Biweekly (27 paychecks — Jan 1 start) | $944.44 | $1,259.25* | $1,379.62* |
| Semi-monthly (24 paychecks) | $1,062.50 | $1,416.66* | $1,552.08 |
| Monthly (12 paychecks) | $2,125.00 | $2,833.33 | $3,104.16* |
How It’s Calculated
All dollar math runs in integer cents so rounding never pushes you over the IRS limit. When your remaining room does not divide evenly across remaining paychecks (for example, $25,500 ÷ 26 = $980.769…), the regular paycheck rounds down to $980.76 and the final paycheck adds the remaining $0.24 ($981.00) so your year-end total is exact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2027 401(k) contribution limit?
Per IRS Notice 2026-66 (published November 12, 2026), the 2027 employee elective deferral limit is $25,500, up from $24,500 in 2026. Including catch-up contributions, employees age 50–59 or 64+ can contribute up to $34,000, and employees age 60–63 can contribute up to $37,250.
Full 2027 401(k) limits breakdown →How much should I contribute per paycheck to max out in 2027?
On a standard 26-paycheck biweekly schedule, maxing out $25,500 requires $980.76 per paycheck for the first 25 paychecks and $981.00 on the final paycheck. Using $980.77 for all 26 paychecks would total $25,500.02, exceeding the limit by $0.02.
See all pay frequency max-out schedules →How does the ages 60–63 super catch-up work in 2027?
If you attain age 60, 61, 62, or 63 by December 31, 2027, your catch-up limit is $11,750 instead of the standard $8,500 catch-up—bringing your employee limit to $37,250. The super catch-up replaces the standard catch-up rather than stacking on top of it, and at age 64 it drops back to $8,500.
Read the ages 60–63 super catch-up rules →Who must make Roth catch-up contributions in 2027?
Under SECURE 2.0 Section 603 (effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026), participants whose prior-year FICA wages (W-2 Box 3) from the plan sponsor exceeded $155,000 in 2026 must make catch-up contributions as Roth. If you had no FICA wages with that employer, the rule does not apply.
Learn about the $155,000 Roth catch-up rule →Why might I have 27 biweekly or 53 weekly paychecks in 2027?
January 1, 2027 falls on a Friday, so biweekly or weekly schedules whose first 2027 payday lands on January 1 will have 27 biweekly or 53 weekly paydays in 2027. Because January 1 is a federal holiday, some employers shift that payday to December 31, 2026—which counts as 2026 income under constructive receipt (26 CFR 1.451-2).
Check your 2027 payday count →Do 401(k) contributions at a prior job count toward my 2027 limit?
Yes. The $25,500 elective deferral limit (and applicable catch-up limit) is per person across all employers in 2027, not per plan. Always subtract what you already contributed at a prior employer this year before setting your new paycheck amount.
How to handle 401(k) limits when changing jobs →Do pre-tax 401(k) contributions reduce Social Security or Medicare taxes?
No. Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals reduce federal and most state income tax withholding, but they are still subject to 6.2% Social Security (up to the $192,300 2027 wage base) and 1.45% Medicare taxes.
See how 401(k) contributions affect take-home pay →Related 2027 401(k) Guides
Official IRS Notice 2026-66 limits: $25,500 base, $34,000 at 50+, $37,250 at 60–63, and $75,000 total 415(c).
Exact per-paycheck amounts for weekly, biweekly (26 and 27), semi-monthly, and monthly schedules.
How the $8,500 catch-up works, the Dec 31 age rule, and why 64+ returns to $8,500.
How SECURE 2.0 replaces the $8,500 catch-up with $11,750 for ages 60–63 ($37,250 total).
SECURE 2.0 Section 603: why 2026 FICA wages over $155,000 require Roth catch-up contributions in 2027.
Why Jan 1, 2027 (Friday) creates 27 biweekly or 53 weekly paydays—and how constructive receipt applies.
The $25,500 elective deferral limit is per person across all employers, not per plan.
How front-loading can forfeit per-paycheck employer match if your plan lacks a year-end true-up.
Why pre-tax deferrals reduce federal/state income tax withholding—but never Social Security or Medicare.