Active Duty Retirement Pay Estimator
Estimate your monthly retired pay under BRS, High-3, or Final Pay — including SBP, VA compensation, CRDP/CRSC scenarios, and state tax.
How this is calculated
Your gross retired pay comes from multiplying your years of service by a per-year multiplier and applying that to your High-36 average base pay (the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay). High-3 and Final Pay use a 2.5% multiplier per year of service; BRS uses a 2.0% multiplier since the tradeoff is government TSP matching during your career rather than a larger pension.
From that gross figure, the calculator subtracts an SBP premium if you elect Survivor Benefit Plan coverage — 6.5% of either your gross retired pay (Full SBP) or a base amount you choose (Reduced SBP). It then adds any VA compensation and projected civilian income you enter, applies a rough 15% federal tax estimate plus a state tax estimate based on whether your state fully, partially, or does not exempt military retirement pay, and subtracts your monthly expenses to show a surplus or deficit. If you enter a VA rating, it also surfaces a CRDP-related note where relevant, since retirees with 20+ years and a combined rating of 50% or higher may be eligible to receive both full retired pay and VA compensation concurrently.
For the full breakdown of High-3, BRS, and CSB/REDUX rules, SBP election details, and CRDP/CRSC eligibility, read the Military Retirement Pay guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which retirement system applies to me?
It depends on when you entered service. Members who entered before January 1, 2018 are under High-3 (or, rarely, CSB/REDUX if they took the Career Status Bonus). Members who entered on or after January 1, 2018 — or who opted in by the end of 2018 — are under the Blended Retirement System (BRS).
Why does my estimate change when I add a VA rating?
Adding a VA compensation estimate adds that tax-free amount to your total monthly income. At a combined VA rating of 50% or higher with 20+ years of service, you may also qualify for CRDP, which lets you keep both your full retired pay and your VA compensation instead of one offsetting the other — the calculator flags this scenario for you to verify with DFAS.
Is the federal and state tax estimate exact?
No. Federal tax is approximated with a flat 15% effective rate, and state tax depends on the exemption level you select for your state. Your actual tax liability depends on your full income picture, filing status, and deductions — use this as a planning estimate, not a tax filing figure.