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BRS calculator
TSP growth with the government match, BRS vs legacy pension, and continuation pay.
BRS at a glance
$171,951
TSP balance after 20 years (today's dollars, 4% real return)
- Your contributions (5% of basic pay)
- $62,237
- Government automatic 1% + matching
- $58,462
- BRS pension at retirement
- $2,447.40 /mo
- Legacy High-3 pension (same High-3)
- $3,059.25 /mo
- Pension difference
- $611.85 /mo
- Continuation pay (2.5× basic pay)
- $13,979.25
Contributing at least 5% captures the full 4% match (5% total from the government). Matching runs from 2 to 26 years of service.
Independent estimate tool. Not affiliated with DoD, DFAS or VA. Your LES, finance office or VA decision letter is the official amount.
The four parts of BRS
Everyone who joined on or after January 1, 2018 is in BRS. It has four parts[brs]:
- Pension: 2.0% × years × High-3 after 20 years, instead of 2.5%.
- TSP contributions: the service adds 1% of basic pay automatically and matches your own contributions up to another 4%.
- Continuation pay: a one-time cash payment between 8 and 12 years of service for agreeing to serve more years.
- Lump sum option: at retirement you may take 25% or 50% of the discounted value of your pension until full Social Security age, in exchange for a smaller monthly check until then.
TSP matching under BRS
| You contribute | Automatic | Matching | Government total | Total going in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
| 3% | 1% | 3% | 4% | 7% |
| 4% | 1% | 3.5% | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| 5% | 1% | 4% | 5% | 10% |
| 10% | 1% | 4% | 5% | 15% |
Matching starts after 2 full years of service and stops after 26. Contributing less than 5% leaves free money on the table; the military pay estimator shows the dollar amount for your pay.
BRS vs High-3: which pays more?
For a 20-year career, the BRS pension is 20% smaller (40% vs 50% of High-3). The TSP match is meant to make up for it. With the defaults above, the pension difference for an E-7 is $611.85 a month, while the TSP holds about $171,951, of which $58,462 came from the government. Members who leave before 20 years get nothing from the legacy pension but keep their whole TSP, which is why BRS favors shorter careers.
| Your contribution | Your money | Government money | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $12,447 | $17,975 |
| 3% | $37,342 | $46,958 | $119,975 |
| 5% | $62,237 | $58,462 | $171,951 |
| 10% | $124,473 | $58,462 | $261,826 |
The projection assumes the E-7 pay table for every year of service (a simplification; junior years usually come at lower grades) and a constant real return. It is an illustration, not investment advice.
Continuation pay calculator
Continuation pay is a multiple of your regular monthly basic pay: at least 2.5× (up to 13×) for the active component and 0.5× (up to 6×) for the reserve component. Each service sets the multiple and timing; the most recent DoD table shows 2.5× at 12 years of service with a 4-year commitment for most services[cp]. Enter your multiple in the calculator: for an E-7 at 12 years, 2.5× is $13,979.25 before tax. Monthly basic pay for every grade is on the military pay chart 2026.
See retired pay in detail with the military retirement calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How does the BRS calculator work?
It adds your TSP contributions and the government’s 1% automatic plus matching contributions year by year, grows them at the return you choose, and compares the 2.0% BRS pension with the 2.5% legacy pension on the same High-3.
How much does the military match in the TSP?
Up to 4% of basic pay on top of the automatic 1%, for a 5% total when you contribute at least 5%.
What is continuation pay?
A one-time BRS bonus of 2.5 to 13 times monthly basic pay (0.5 to 6 for reserves) paid between 8 and 12 years of service in exchange for additional obligated service.