How Much You Can Contribute — and the Catch-Up Rules That Matter Most at 50+

Last Updated: July 30, 2026

The IRS gives older workers a significant advantage when it comes to 403(b) contributions — and a law called SECURE 2.0, signed in 2022, added an even higher limit for a specific age window that took effect in 2025.

The 2026 Contribution Limits

For 2026, the standard limit on how much you can contribute from your salary to a 403(b) is $24,500. That is the baseline for every eligible employee, regardless of age.¹

But if you are 50 or older, you are not limited to that number.

The Age 50+ Catch-Up: $8,000 More

If you are 50 or older by December 31 of this year, you can contribute an additional $8,000 on top of the standard limit. That brings your total potential contribution to $32,500 in 2026. This is the standard catch-up contribution, and it exists because the IRS recognizes that the years just before retirement are often when people can contribute the most. Every additional dollar contributed now still has time to make a difference.¹

The Age 60–63 Super Catch-Up: $11,250 More

If you turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2026, you qualify for an even higher catch-up contribution of $11,250 — instead of the $8,000 standard catch-up. That brings your potential total to $35,750 in 2026. This enhanced limit was added by a law called SECURE 2.0, signed in 2022, and took effect in 2025.¹

These four years are one of the most powerful savings windows available to you. If you are in this range and not yet contributing at the maximum, it is worth talking to your plan administrator about increasing your deferral to take full advantage of it.

One thing to be aware of: once you turn 64, you return to the standard $8,000 catch-up. The higher $11,250 limit applies only during those four specific years.

The 15-Year Service Catch-Up

There is one more catch-up provision that is unique to 403(b) plans and especially relevant for longtime public school teachers, hospital employees, and church workers. If you have worked for the same qualifying organization for 15 or more years, you may be eligible to contribute up to an additional $3,000 per year, for a lifetime maximum of $15,000 under this rule.¹

If both catch-ups apply to you, the IRS requires the 15-year catch-up to be used first, and the age-based catch-up fills in after. Your plan administrator can walk you through how this works in your specific situation.

The Overall Cap: $72,000

There is also a combined limit on everything going into your account from all sources. In 2026, the total of your contributions plus any employer contributions cannot exceed $72,000 (or 100% of your compensation, whichever is less). 

If You Also Have a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA

One important rule to know: if you are contributing to both a 403(b) and a 401(k) — for example, if you work a second job that offers a 401(k) — those contributions count toward the same $24,500 annual deferral limit. The limits are combined, not separate.

A 457(b) is different. It is a separate type of retirement plan offered by some state and local government employers and certain nonprofits. If your employer offers both a 403(b) and a 457(b), you can contribute the full limit to each plan independently — they do not count against each other. That means a public school teacher or government hospital employee who has access to both could potentially contribute $24,500 to each plan in the same year, effectively doubling their tax-deferred savings opportunity.¹

If you are 50 or older and not yet maximizing your catch-up contributions, now is a good time to look at what your budget allows and consider increasing your deferral before you retire.

SOURCES

1. "Retirement Topics — 403(b) Contribution Limits." Internal Revenue Service. irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-403b-contribution-limits. Accessed July 2026.