Nurse Retirement Calculator

Nursing spans a $70K bedside RN to $350K independent CRNA income range. Your retirement savings capacity depends enormously on which part of that range you're in — and whether you're W-2 or 1099. This calculator models contribution limits, projected nest egg, and monthly retirement income for each scenario.

Why contribution capacity differs so much by role

The IRS limits aren't the same story for every nurse. Your employment structure determines how much tax-advantaged space you have.

W-2 Bedside RN and Nurse Practitioner

Most W-2 nurses can access a 403(b) or 401(k) at their hospital. The 2026 employee deferral limit is $24,500 (1), plus a typical 4-5% employer match on top. If income is under ~$153K single, you can also fund a Roth IRA directly for another $7,500 (2). Total tax-advantaged capacity: roughly $35,000–$42,000/year for most W-2 nurses.

W-2 Hospital CRNA

At a large health system, a W-2 CRNA often gets access to both a 403(b) and a 457(b) — two separate $24,500 buckets. This roughly doubles the tax-deferred space compared to a typical RN. Income above $168K disqualifies direct Roth IRA contributions, but a backdoor Roth ($7,500 non-deductible IRA → convert) works at any income level. Total capacity at a hospital with both plans: $55,000–$60,000/year.

1099 Independent CRNA (S-corp)

The highest retirement savings capacity in nursing. A Solo 401(k) allows both the employee deferral ($24,500) and an employer profit-sharing contribution up to 25% of your W-2 compensation from the S-corp. For a CRNA paying themselves $150,000 in W-2 comp: $24,500 employee + $37,500 employer = $62,000 going in annually, well within the $72,000 total 2026 cap (1). Plus backdoor Roth. Most independent CRNAs can shelter $70,000+ annually — more than most physicians.

The 4% rule — is it right for nurses?

The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually and have high confidence it lasts 30 years. For a nurse retiring at 62 with a potential 30–35 year horizon, this is a reasonable planning baseline — though some planners use 3.5% for very early retirees.

Social Security will layer on top of your portfolio income. A nurse with 35 years of covered earnings can expect $2,000–$3,500/month in Social Security at full retirement age (67 for those born after 1960), depending on lifetime earnings history. This calculator does not include Social Security — treat it as a buffer rather than a planning assumption.

Catch-up contributions: the CRNA sweet spot

CRNAs often graduate at 28–32 after CRNA school, which means they start serious retirement saving later than peers who didn't do advanced practice. The good news: the catch-up and super-catch-up contribution windows arrive right when CRNA income is at its peak and debt is mostly paid off. A 61-year-old 1099 CRNA can legally put $83,250 into retirement accounts in a single year ($35,750 employee + rest from employer profit-sharing up to $83,250 total cap). (1)

One number to remember

Save 15–20% of gross income starting in your 30s, or 20–25% if you started late or have significant student debt. A CRNA who hits 20% savings rate on $240K gross ($48,000/year) into a solo 401(k) from age 33 to 62 will project a $5–6M nest egg at 7% returns, generating $200K+ in annual sustainable withdrawals. The math works, but it requires actually choosing the right accounts and not letting an insurance agent redirect that capacity into whole life.

1. IRS IR-2025-244: 401(k) limit $24,500, Solo 401(k) total $72,000, catch-up $8,000 / super-catch-up $11,250 for 2026
2. IRS Notice 2025-67: 2026 Roth IRA limit $7,500 / $8,600 (50+), phaseout single $153,000–$168,000

Contribution limits verified April 2026 against IRS IR-2025-244 and Notice 2025-67.