How Long Will a Maxed-Out 401(k) Last in Retirement in Every State?

December 25, 2024

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The 401(k) plan is the most popular retirement investment vehicle in America. The employer-sponsored plan allows future retirees to invest their savings and, ideally, have them grow tax free over time.

Enrollees are generally encouraged by financial experts to contribute aggressively to their 401(k) plans and, when possible, to max them out so they are well situated for a comfortable retirement.

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But how long will a maxed-out 401(k) plan last you?

GOBankingRates analyzed the 401(k) contributions to find the value of a 401(k) after maximum contributions throughout a 30-year career, factoring in an inflation rate of 2.53%. Assuming that you retire at 66 and that you have a maxed-out 401(k) balance of $5,746,382, here’s how long a maxed-out 401(k) will comfortably last you in every state,

Hawaii

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $218,621
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 26.28
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $3,279,322
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $4,372,430
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $6,558,644

California

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $173,553
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 33.11
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $2,603,291
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $3,471,054
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $5,206,581

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Massachusetts

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $150,069
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 38.29
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,125,515
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $3,001,372
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $4,502,059

Washington

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $136,816
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 42
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,026,120
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,736,320
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $4,104,480

New Jersey

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $127,203
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 45.17
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,908,041
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,544,054
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,816,081

Oregon

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $121,811
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 47.17
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $913,580
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,436,214
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,654,321

Colorado

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $121,575
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 47.27
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,823,628
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,431,504
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,647,256

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New York

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $119,119
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 48.24
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,786,786
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,382,381
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,573,572

Utah

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $118,637
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 48.44
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,779,548
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,372,730
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,559,095

New Hampshire

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $116,860
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 49.17
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,752,894
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,337,192
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,505,787

Rhode Island

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $111,586
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 51.50
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,673,790
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,231,721
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,347,581

Arizona

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $109,353
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 52.55
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,640,290
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,187,053
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,280,580

Maryland

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $109,346
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 52.55
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,640,196
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,186,928
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,280,391

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Nevada

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $109,067
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 52.69
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,636,011
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,181,347
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,272,021

Idaho

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $108,750
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 52.84
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $815,624
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,174,996
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,262,494

Montana

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $108,112
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 53.15
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,621,677
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,162,236
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,243,353

Connecticut

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $107,583
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 53.41
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $806,873
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,151,660
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,227,490

Alaska

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $107,540
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 53.43
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,613,107
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,150,809
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,226,214

Maine

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $105,972
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 54.23
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,589,582
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,119,442
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,179,163

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Vermont

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $104,724
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 54.87
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,570,859
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,094,479
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,141,718

Florida

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $102,687
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 55.96
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,540,304
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $2,053,738
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $3,080,607

Virginia

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $99,717
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 57.63
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,495,757
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,994,343
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,991,514

Delaware

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $97,435
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 58.98
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,461,523
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,948,697
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,923,045

Wyoming

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $89,118
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 64.48
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,336,767
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,782,357
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,673,535

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Minnesota

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $88,968
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 64.59
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,334,526
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,779,368
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,669,052

North Carolina

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $88,689
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 64.79
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,330,333
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,773,777
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,660,665

Georgia

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $86,125
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 66.72
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,291,873
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,722,497
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,583,745

Wisconsin

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $84,885
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 67.70
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $106,107
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,697,708
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,546,561

South Dakota

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $84,073
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 68.35
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,261,102
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,681,469
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,522,204

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Tennessee

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $84,056
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 68.36
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,260,843
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,681,124
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,521,686

New Mexico

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $83,282
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 69
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,249,232
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,665,643
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,498,465

South Carolina

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $82,141
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 69.96
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $102,676
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,642,811
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,464,216

Texas

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $81,578
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 70.44
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,223,673
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,631,564
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,447,345

Illinois

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $79,529
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 72.26
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,192,932
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,590,576
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,385,864

North Dakota

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $78,576
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 73.13
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,178,646
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,571,528
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,357,292

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Pennsylvania

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $77,987
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 73.68
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,169,807
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,559,743
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,339,614

Nebraska

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $77,987
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 73.68
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $96,868
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,549,896
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,324,844

Indiana

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $73,818
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 77.85
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,107,270
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,476,360
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,214,541

Missouri

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $73,286
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 78.41
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $91,607
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,465,714
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,198,572

Michigan

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $73,204
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 78.50
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,098,061
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,464,081
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,196,122

Ohio

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $73,164
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 78.54
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,097,462
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,463,283
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,194,924

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Iowa

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $70,706
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 81.27
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,060,588
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,414,117
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,121,176

Kentucky

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $70,659
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 81.33
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,059,884
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,413,179
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,119,768

Kansas

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $70,599
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 81.39
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,058,981
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,411,975
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,117,962

Louisiana

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $68,734
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 83.60
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,031,017
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,374,690
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,062,035

Alabama

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $68,573
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 83.80
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,028,600
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,371,466
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,057,199

Arkansas

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $66,709
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 86.14
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $1,000,642
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,334,189
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $2,001,283

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Oklahoma

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $66,422
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 86.51
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $996,331
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,328,442
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $1,992,663

Mississippi

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $64,074
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 89.68
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $961,104
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,281,472
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $1,922,208

West Virginia

Annual cost of living comfortably in retirement: $60,957
Years to draw down your 401(k) plan: 94.27
Total cost of living comfortably for 15 years in retirement: $914,362
Total cost of living comfortably for 20 years in retirement: $1,219,149
Total cost of living comfortably for 30 years in retirement: $1,828,724

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed 401(k) contributions to find the value of a 401(k) after maximum contributions throughout a 30-year career. First, GOBankingRates found the cost of living for each state as sourced from the Missouri Economic Research Information Center. For each state, the average expenditures for residents aged 65 and over were calculated using the national average expenditure costs, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the average mortgage (sourced from the Federal Reserve) for the average home (sourced from Zillow) plus expenditure costs, the cost of living was calculated. Using the IRS’s 401(k) contribution limits and assuming the limits will be increased by the inflation rate (2.53% as sourced from USInflationCalculator.com), the annual rate of return will be 10.52% (as sourced from Vanguard’s How America Saves), there are no employer matches, and the employee invests the maximum amount for 30 years, the total value of a 401(k) was calculated. Using the final 401(k) value, the leftover savings after 15, 20 and 30 years were calculated. The exact amount of time needed to draw down the entire 401(k) was calculated using the annual cost of living and the total 401(k) value at the age of 66. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 16, 2024.

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