401k with 4% Company match?

I would say it's not bad. My company matches 3% so there is my perspective.

$1 for $1? I would say that's average.

My company puts 3% in even if you don't enroll. If you enroll for 3%, they match 6% on top of the "free" 3%.

So I put 5% and get 9% match. I haven't heard of a better one in this area than that.

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Bad?

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It's free money, it's never bad

I've got 4% plus an additional 3% that is on top of it after 3 years. $1 for $1.

Previously is was $0.50 match on the first 5%....which is definitely sub par.

They match $ for $ up to 3% of my yearly earnings

3 to 5 is standard, in whatever combination.

Federal employees, for example, get 1% gratis, 3% is matched dollar for dollar, and an additional 2% is matched 50 cents on the dollar, so 5 gets you 10.

Some private plans have a similar structure to encourage saving - bottom line, don't leave money on the table - so if 4% buys you 8%, spend the 4% - I would avoid "overcontributing" because in most cases, you want to go ROTH unless you're at your peak income (typically last 5 to 8 working years), and fund it with post-tax dollars.

But, 4 gets you 8 isn't a bad deal at all.

A 3 match is the level that is a safe harbor, which means a plan doesn't have to undergo discrimination testing. A lot of plans use 3 (or 50 cents on the dollar till 6/3).

I would say a 4 would put you probably in the top quarter of companies. Maybe higher. 5 is really good, and it's rare to see more than 5.

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I put in 5 and get 10

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NVM - 10 isn't the net, that's the match.

So, 5 buys you 15 (or am I misunderstanding)?

5 buys me 15

Yes

Depends on industry and size (and what comparisons you have in market). Overall, 4% free money pretty good. Did not know the "safe harbor" thing above.

However, in O&G, it seems a bit higher. I can get up to 10% at 10 year service, former employer was 7%, and I know another matches 10% from beginning (in addition to pensions).

So compare against your competitors, not general public. Would a 4% match be better at a reduction of 5% of your salary than no match but higher salary?

I think the match encourages you to save. If you WILL do that anyway, it's just part of total compensation.

I'm not fully vested yet though