Military Retirement Calculator (High-3 vs BRS)

Pick the grade you expect to retire at and your years of service. The calculator averages your last 36 months of basic pay from the current DFAS table and shows the monthly pension under High-3 (2.5% per year) and BRS (2.0% per year).

Active duty retirement starts at 20 years.
Military Retirement Calculator (High-3 vs BRS)Estimate
High-3 pension per month$3,059.2550% of your High-3 average
BRS pension per month
$2,447.40
40% of your High-3 average
Difference per month
$611.85
BRS adds government TSP contributions to make up some or all of this
High-3 average (last 36 months)
$6,118.50
12 months at over 16 ($6,000.90), 24 months at over 18 ($6,177.30)
High-3 pension per year
$36,711.00
BRS pension per year
$29,368.80
Rates effectiveJan 1, 2026

Rates as of January 1, 2026 from DFAS basic pay tables. Independent estimate. Not affiliated with the Department of Defense. Your service's retirement office gives the official figure. How we check our rates.

Plan for retirement

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How it works

Both plans start with the same number: the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay, which for most people is the last three years.

High-3 pays 2.5% of that average for each year of service. BRS pays 2.0% per year. At 20 years that's 50% versus 40%.

This estimate uses today's pay table for all 36 months and assumes you hold the same grade the whole time. Real pay rises each January, so your actual average will be a little lower in today's dollars.

Anyone who first joined on or after January 1, 2018 is under BRS. Members who joined earlier are under High-3 unless they opted in to BRS during 2018.

BRS also adds an automatic 1% TSP contribution plus matching up to 5% of basic pay, continuation pay, and an optional lump sum at retirement. This calculator covers the monthly pension only.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a BRS pension at 20 years?

40% of your High-3 average basic pay. Under High-3, 20 years pays 50%.

Can I still switch from High-3 to BRS?

No. The opt-in window closed at the end of 2018.

Why aren't generals and admirals included?

Retired pay for O-7 and above depends on pay caps that this estimate doesn't model. Use your service's retirement calculator for those grades.

Does the pension go up after I retire?

Yes. Military retired pay gets the yearly cost-of-living adjustment that Social Security uses. This calculator shows the starting amount in today's dollars.

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