# 403(b) Withdrawal Calculator > For teachers, nurses and nonprofit staff: see how long your 403(b) lasts with tax, growth and inflation, plus the safe monthly distribution. Source: https://savingslast.com/403b-calculator/ Markdown: https://savingslast.com/403b-calculator.md Site: SavingsLast, free retirement drawdown calculators. Educational estimates, not advice. For public-school, healthcare and nonprofit employees. A 403(b) is taxed like a 401(k) in retirement, and this calculator models the distributions — including the tax gross-up — so you can plan alongside a pension or Social Security. *Interactive calculator on the page: https://savingslast.com/403b-calculator/. The same engine is the MCP tool how_long_will_money_last at https://savingslast.com/mcp.* ## Why 403(b) planning is different Most 403(b) owners also have a defined-benefit pension — a teacher's pension, a hospital system plan, or a state retirement system. That changes the math: the 403(b) does not have to fund your whole retirement, only the gap between pension plus Social Security and your actual spending. Enter *that gap* as the monthly withdrawal, not your total expenses, or the result will look far worse than reality. Two cautions specific to 403(b)s. First, many are invested in annuity products with fees of 1.5–2.5% a year; that drag is equivalent to lowering your return, so use 3.5–4% rather than 5% if you have not checked the expense ratio. Second, some public-sector employees are affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which reduce Social Security — though the Social Security Fairness Act repealed both for benefits payable from January 2024. ## How the calculator works Each month the balance earns one month of return, then the withdrawal is taken out. The withdrawal itself rises a little every month, at the rate that compounds to your inflation figure over a full year, so your spending power stays level. If you enter a tax rate, each withdrawal is grossed up so the *after-tax* amount you keep matches the number you typed. The calculator stops when the balance hits zero, or after 100 years if it never does. The "to last 20 / 25 / 30 years" figures are solved by bisection: the largest starting withdrawal that still survives that horizon under the same return and inflation assumptions. ## 403(b) withdrawal rules - **Age 59½** for penalty-free distributions, with the same **Rule of 55** as 401(k)s if you separate from service in or after the year you turn 55. - **15-year service catch-up.** Long-tenured employees of qualifying employers could contribute extra while working; this only affects the balance you bring to retirement. - **RMDs** at age 73, with a special rule that pre-1987 contributions can be deferred to age 75. - **Rollovers** to an IRA are allowed and usually cut fees — the single most effective way to make a high-cost 403(b) last longer. ## Choosing realistic inputs - **Annual return.** 4–5% is a conservative planning number for a balanced portfolio; 6–7% is closer to long-run history for 60/40; cash and CDs are 3–5% today but fall when rates fall. - **Inflation.** The Federal Reserve targets 2%; the 30-year U.S. average is about 2.5%. Healthcare inflation runs higher, so retirees with large medical costs should test 3–3.5%. - **Withdrawal.** Enter what you actually spend. Put Social Security and any pension in their own boxes, and the calculator takes them off your spending. Social Security counts from the starting age you enter. With those boxes at 0, enter only the gap that savings must cover. ## Frequently asked questions **How long will a $300,000 403(b) last?** Withdrawing $2,000 a month after 15% tax, at 5% returns and 2.5% inflation, about 12 years. Drop the withdrawal to $1,500 and it lasts roughly 17 years — pairing it with a pension is what makes the plan work. **Is a 403(b) taxed the same as a 401(k)?** Yes. Traditional 403(b) distributions are ordinary income; Roth 403(b) qualified distributions are tax-free. The same 10% early-withdrawal penalty and RMD rules apply. **Should I roll my 403(b) into an IRA when I retire?** If the 403(b) holds high-fee annuity products, a rollover to a low-cost IRA can add 1–2% a year of return, which over 25 years is the difference between running out and not. Check surrender charges first. **Can I take money from my 403(b) at 55?** Yes, without the 10% penalty, if you leave that employer in or after the year you turn 55 and take the money directly from the plan rather than rolling it to an IRA first. ## Related calculators - [Retirement savings lifespan](https://savingslast.com/how-long-will-my-retirement-savings-last/) - [How long savings last](https://savingslast.com/how-long-will-my-savings-last/) - [Retirement withdrawal calculator](https://savingslast.com/retirement-withdrawal-calculator/) - [Retirement drawdown calculator](https://savingslast.com/retirement-drawdown-calculator/) - [Savings withdrawal calculator](https://savingslast.com/savings-withdrawal-calculator/) - [401(k) distribution calculator](https://savingslast.com/401k-distribution-calculator/) SavingsLast calculators are educational estimates. They assume a constant average return and steady inflation; real markets are volatile and sequence-of-returns risk can shorten how long money lasts. Nothing here is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions.