There's no hard and fast rule for how much of your salary you should put into your 401(k). But, in general, you should always consider contributing as much as possible, depending on your specific financial circumstances. A combination of factors will dictate how much you should personally save, including: How much of your take-home pay you can afford to set aside. Your age. Whether you think your retirement savings are on track to meet your goals. How close are you to retirement. Contribution limits - for 2021, the IRS permits a maximum pre-tax or Roth employee contribution of $19,500, with an additional $6,500 catch-up contribution for individuals age 50 or older at any time during the year.