Calculator
Military retirement calculator
Monthly retired pay under High-3, BRS or REDUX, for active duty or reserve.
Estimated retired pay (2026 dollars)
$3,059.25
a month · $36,711 a year
- Years of service
- 20.00 yrs
- High-3 average basic pay
- $6,118.50
- Multiplier
- 50%
- Monthly retired pay
- $3,059.25
- Legacy High-3 (2.5%/yr)
- $3,059.25
- Blended Retirement System (2.0%/yr)
- $2,447.40
- Total to age 85
- $1,651,995
Retired pay rises each year with the cost-of-living adjustment (3.6% from December 1, 2026). It is taxable federal income.
Independent estimate tool. Not affiliated with DoD, DFAS or VA. Your LES, finance office or VA decision letter is the official amount.
How military retired pay is calculated
Retired pay = High-3 × years of service × multiplier[ret].
- High-3 is the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay, usually the last three years. The calculator builds it month by month from the 2026 pay table for your grade, so it includes the longevity raises in those years. Enter your own High-3 if you know it.
- Years of service include months: 20 years and 6 months is 20.5 years.
- Multiplier: 2.5% per year for members who entered before 2018 and did not opt in to BRS; 2.0% for BRS; REDUX pays 2.5% per year minus 1 point for every year short of 30 (40% at 20 years) and was paired with a $30,000 career status bonus.
Military retirement pay calculator results by grade
| Retiring as | High-3 | High-3 plan | BRS | High-3 plan, yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-6, 20 yrs | $5,243.00 | $2,621.50 | $2,097.20 | $31,458 |
| E-7, 20 yrs | $6,118.50 | $3,059.25 | $2,447.40 | $36,711 |
| E-8, 22 yrs | $6,934.00 | $3,813.70 | $3,050.96 | $45,764 |
| E-9, 26 yrs | $8,645.50 | $5,619.58 | $4,495.66 | $67,435 |
| W-4, 24 yrs | $9,522.70 | $5,713.62 | $4,570.90 | $68,563 |
| O-4, 20 yrs | $10,473.80 | $5,236.90 | $4,189.52 | $62,843 |
| O-5, 22 yrs | $11,926.40 | $6,559.52 | $5,247.62 | $78,714 |
| O-6, 26 yrs | $14,357.10 | $9,332.12 | $7,465.69 | $111,985 |
These are in 2026 dollars. Real retired pay is based on the pay table in force when you retire, so it will be higher after future raises; after retirement it rises with the cost-of-living adjustment, 3.6% from December 1, 2026[ssacola][usc1401a].
Reserve and National Guard retirement calculator: points instead of years
Guard and Reserve members earn retirement points: a year with at least 50 points is a “good year,” and 20 good years qualify for retired pay. The years used in the formula are total points divided by 360, so 2,500 points count as 6.94 years. Pay normally starts at age 60, earlier by 3 months for every 90 days of certain active service after January 28, 2008[usc12731]. Choose “Guard / Reserve” in the calculator and enter your points.
Common military retirement mistakes
- Using today’s pay but tomorrow’s years. High-3 uses basic pay only (no BAH or BAS).
- Forgetting taxes. Retired pay is taxable federal income; many states exempt it. It keeps flowing during a government shutdown because it comes from the Military Retirement Fund (see military pay during a shutdown).
- Ignoring the TSP. Under BRS the smaller pension is offset by the government TSP match; compare both with the BRS calculator.
- Leaving before 20. A regular non-disability retirement needs 20 years; separating earlier may qualify you for separation pay instead.
For current pay, use the military pay estimator; for VA compensation, see the VA disability calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is military retirement pay calculated?
High-3 average basic pay × years of service × 2.5% (legacy High-3) or × 2.0% (BRS). At 20 years that is 50% or 40% of your High-3.
How much is military retirement for an E-7 at 20 years?
About $3,059.25 a month under High-3 and $2,447.40 under BRS, using the 2026 pay table.
What is the military retirement COLA for 2027?
3.6%, effective December 1, 2026 and first paid January 1, 2027, the same as the Social Security COLA.
How does the reserve retirement calculator count years?
It divides your total retirement points by 360. Pay usually starts at age 60.
Sources
- Military Retirement
- Blended Retirement System
- Basic Pay – Enlisted, effective January 1, 2026
- Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027
- 10 U.S.C. § 1401a, Adjustment of retired pay and retainer pay to reflect changes in Consumer Price Index
- 10 U.S.C. § 12731, Age and service requirements (non-regular retirement)