How Much Can I Contribute to My 403b? $24,500 Limit Explained
A 403(b) is a retirement plan offered by public schools and certain nonprofit employers. It lets you contribute part of your paycheck toward retirement, often with tax advantages and potential employer contributions.
Each year, the IRS sets limits on how much you can contribute. These limits can vary based on age and catch-up rules.
Historical IRS 401(k) / 403(b) Limits (2017–2026)
403(b) Contribution Limits
The basic 403(b) elective deferral limit has increased to $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025.
| Category | Limit |
|---|---|
| Basic elective deferral | $24,500 |
| Age 50+ catch-up | +$8,000 |
| Age 60–63 catch-up | +$11,250 (replaces $8,000) |
| 15-year service catch-up | Up to +$3,000/year (max $15,000 lifetime) |
| Total (employee + employer) | $72,000 |
| Compensation cap | $360,000 |
| Max (age 50+) | $32,500 |
| Max (age 60–63) | $35,750 |
If you’re age 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $8,000 in catch-up contributions (up from $7,500). So in total, that brings you to $32,500 if you qualify.
| Age Group | Base Limit | Catch-Up | Total Max Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | — | $24,500 |
| 50–59 | $24,500 | +$8,000 | $32,500 |
| 60–63 | $24,500 | +$11,250 | $35,750 |
| 64+ | $24,500 | +$8,000 | $32,500 |
Definitions
- Base limit: The standard maximum amount you can contribute from your salary to a 403(b) plan in a year ($24,500 for 2026)
- Catch-up: Additional contributions allowed beyond the base limit for eligible individuals (e.g., age 50+ or special age 60–63 rule)
- Total max contribution: The combined amount of base limit plus applicable catch-up contributions (your personal maximum salary deferral for the year)
If you’re between ages 60 and 63, there’s a higher “super” catch-up of $11,250. That replaces the $8,000 catch-up; it doesn’t stack on top of it.
So for someone in that window, total contributions can reach $35,750 for the year.
Overall Limit
The total combined limit for employee + employer contributions is $72,000, or 100% of your compensation, whichever is lower.
A few things to keep in mind here:
- Catch-up contributions (age 50+ or 60–63) do not count toward this $72,000 limit
- Employer contributions (match or nonelective) do count
- Compensation used for calculations is capped at $360,000
So even if your employer is contributing heavily, everything (except catch-ups) has to stay under that $72k ceiling.
How 403(b) Interacts With Other Plans
If you have both a 403(b) and a 401(k), you cannot contribute $24,500 to each. The limit is shared across both plans.
So the total elective deferrals between them combined cannot exceed $24,500.
On the other hand, 457(b) plans are treated differently.
If you also have access to a 457(b), you can contribute another $24,500 to that plan separately. That’s one of the few scenarios where you can really stack contributions.
And then there are IRAs.
For 2026:
- IRA contribution limit is $7,500
- Catch-up (age 50+) is $1,100
These are completely separate from your 403(b), with their own rules and income phaseouts.
The Roth Catch-Up Rule (SECURE 2.0)
This is one of the newer changes.
Under SECURE 2.0, if your wages exceed $150,000 (based on prior-year W-2 income), any age-50+ catch-up contributions must be made as Roth (after-tax) contributions.
No choice there.
If you’re below that threshold, you can still choose between pre-tax and Roth for your catch-ups.
What Happens if You Go Over the Limit?
If you accidentally contribute more than allowed, you need to fix it by April 15 of the following year.
So yeah, this is not something you want to ignore.
Most payroll systems catch this, but if you’re contributing to multiple plans, it’s on you to keep track.
So, How Do You Actually Max this Out?
Remember, the “right” amount is personal.
A common rule of thumb is to save at least 15% of income (including employer match) for retirement, adjusting higher if you start late or have aggressive goals.
But contribute at least enough to capture full matching funds; no employer wants to leave that on the table.
Then, work up toward the $24,500 (plus catch-ups) max as your budget allows. If in doubt, consulting a financial planner can tailor a savings rate to your situation.
