Retirement math · Free calculator

Roth vs Traditional 401(k) — Colorado

A traditional 401(k) lowers today's taxes; a Roth costs more now but is tax-free later. See the exact paycheck difference in Colorado at your salary and contribution.

Short answer

Roth vs Traditional 401(k) — Colorado

-$3,966Extra take-home with traditional (per year)

Contributing $6,000 traditionally in Colorado cuts this year's tax bill by about -$3,966. The same Roth contribution leaves your paycheck -$3,966 smaller but grows and withdraws tax-free.

How it's calculated: Traditional saves -$3,966 of tax now (-$153 per paycheck); Roth pays that tax now for tax-free withdrawals later Adjust the inputs below to recalculate for your own numbers.

Disclaimer: Educational estimate — not tax advice. Federal uses 2026 IRS brackets and standard deduction; FICA uses the 2026 $176,100 Social Security wage base. State figures use 2025–2026 resident schedules; credits and nonresident rules are not modeled. The comparison shows today's paycheck impact only; future tax rates and investment growth determine which wins long-term. 2026 employee deferral limit: $24,500.

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Annual salary ($)$75,000

Filing status (0 = single, 1 = married jointly)0

Annual contribution ($, 2026 limit $24,500)$6,000

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Paycheck take-home calculator Federal income tax calculator

Formula used

The trade

If your tax rate in retirement will be lower than today, traditional usually wins; if higher, Roth usually wins.

Traditional: tax break now, taxed at withdrawal. Roth: taxed now, tax-free at withdrawal.

2026 contribution limit

$24,500

Catch-up (50+)

+$8,000

Traditional break at $75k

~22–24¢/$

Roth withdrawal tax

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The paycheck difference

Traditional contributions come out before taxes, so each dollar costs you less than a dollar of take-home — at a 22% marginal rate, a $100 contribution costs about $78 of paycheck. Roth contributions are full-price today but never taxed again.

A simple decision rule

Early career or low bracket? Roth is often better — lock in today's low rate. Peak earning years? Traditional's break is worth more. Unsure? Split the contribution.

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FAQ

Does a 401(k) lower my paycheck a lot?

Less than you think — pre-tax contributions reduce your taxable income, so a $230 per-check contribution might only shrink take-home by about $180.

Can I do both Roth and traditional?

Yes — the $24,500 limit (2026) is combined, but you can split it between the two in any proportion.

Which is better in a no-income-tax state?

The state tax break for traditional contributions is smaller, which tilts the math slightly toward Roth — but the federal break usually dominates the decision.

If you are working the Baby Steps, run the same numbers through the Dave Ramsey investment calculator to see where this lands at retirement.

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See our editorial policy and disclaimer. Results are estimates, not advice.

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