401(k) in 2026: New $24,500 Limit, Employer Match Changes, and the Super Catch-Up That Most Workers Don't Know About

# 401(k) in 2026: New $24,500 Limit, Employer Match Changes, and the Super Catch-Up That Most Workers Don't Know About

> **Quick answer:** The 2026 401(k) employee contribution limit is $24,500 — a $1,000 increase from 2025. Workers 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution. But the biggest change most people are missing: workers aged 60 to 63 can contribute an additional $11,250 via a SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up," bringing their total to $35,750. And for the first time, employer matching contributions can now be directed into a Roth account.

The 401k contribution limit 2026 $24500 employer match changes that took effect this year represent the most significant restructuring of retirement account rules in more than a decade — and most workers have no idea the super catch-up even exists. Whether you are 35 and just getting started or 62 and racing to make up for lost time, the 2026 rules create both new opportunities and new obligations that are worth understanding in full.

## What the IRS Actually Changed for 2026: The Full Limits Breakdown

The IRS officially announced the 2026 figures in IR-2025-244, and the numbers moved in every category. Here is the complete picture:

| Contribution Type | 2025 Limit | 2026 Limit | Change | |---|---|---|---| | Standard employee elective deferrals | $23,500 | $24,500 | +$1,000 | | Catch-up contributions (age 50–59, 64+) | $7,500 | $8,000 | +$500 | | Super catch-up (age 60–63 only) | $11,250 | $11,250 | No change | | Max with standard catch-up (50+) | $31,000 | $32,500 | +$1,500 | | Max with super catch-up (60–63) | $34,750 | $35,750 | +$1,000 | | Combined employer + employee total | $70,000 | $72,000 | +$2,000 | | Compensation cap for plan purposes | $345,000 | $360,000 | +$15,000 |