Military retirement pay calculator
Monthly retired pay under High-3 (2.5% a year) or the Blended Retirement System (2.0% a year).
- ๐บ๐ธ US federal & state rules
- 10 U.S.C. 1409
- See sources
Monthly retired pay (High-3)
$3,750.00
50% of your $7,500.00 High-3, $45,000.00 a year before taxes and SBP.
- Multiplier
- 50%
- Yearly
- $45,000.00
- Under BRS
- $3,000.00 a month
- Creditable years
- 20
This is an example. Enter your numbers above and press the button to see your own result.
Retired pay by years of service
| 20 years | $3,750.00 (50%) |
|---|---|
| 22 years | $4,125.00 (55%) |
| 24 years | $4,500.00 (60%) |
| 26 years | $4,875.00 (65%) |
| 28 years | $5,250.00 (70%) |
| 30 years | $5,625.00 (75%) |
- An estimate for active duty retirement. DFAS computes the official amount. Reserve retirement uses retirement points instead of years.
- High-3 is the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay. It does not include BAH, BAS or special pays.
- BRS applies to members who entered on or after January 1, 2018, or who opted in during 2018. BRS also adds Thrift Savings Plan matching, not shown here. The optional BRS lump sum is not included.
- REDUX, for members who took the Career Status Bonus, uses a lower multiplier before 62 and is not modeled.
Show the math
| Years of service | 20 years 0 months = 20 years |
|---|---|
| Multiplier | 2.5% ร 20 = 50% |
| Monthly retired pay | $7,500.00 ร 50% = $3,750.00 |
What to do next
How it works
Retired pay is your High-3 average times a multiplier. The multiplier is 2.5% (High-3) or 2.0% (BRS) times your years of creditable service, with each full month counting as 1/12 of a year.
High-3 is the total of your 36 highest months of basic pay divided by 36, under 10 U.S.C. 1407. Housing and food allowances are not part of it.
Things to keep in mind
The Survivor Benefit Plan premium, if you elect it, and federal income tax come out of retired pay. State tax rules on military retired pay vary.
If you also receive VA disability compensation, the concurrent receipt rules (CRDP and CRSC) decide how much of both you keep. DFAS can tell you which applies.
Sources
Rules applied as of 2026-10-19. See the sources below for details.
- 10 U.S.C. 1409, Retired pay multiplier (Cornell LII)Checked 2026-10-19
- 10 U.S.C. 1407, Retired pay base, high-three average (Cornell LII)Checked 2026-10-19
Frequently asked questions
How is military retirement pay calculated?
Under High-3, multiply your High-3 monthly basic pay by 2.5% for each year of service. At 20 years that is 50%, so a $7,500 High-3 pays $3,750 a month.
How is BRS retirement different?
The multiplier is 2.0% per year instead of 2.5%. At 20 years BRS pays 40% of High-3, or $3,000 on a $7,500 High-3, and the TSP match makes up part of the difference.
What is the maximum military retirement percentage?
75% at 30 years under High-3 and 60% under BRS. Under 10 U.S.C. 1409(b)(3), years past 30 can add another 2.5% each (2.0% under BRS), but only for service under conditions the Secretary of Defense has authorized. Ask DFAS whether your extra years qualify.
Do partial years count?
Yes. Each full month adds 1/12 of a year. 22 years and 6 months under High-3 is 56.25%.