Standard FERS example
$90,000 x 22 x 1.0% = $19,800
A 58-year-old with 22 years of service and a $90,000 High-3 receives $19,800 per year, about $1,650 monthly.
Federal retirement planning
FERS Retirement Calculator
Know your federal pension before you decide.
Estimate your FERS annuity, compare retirement dates, and understand the rule behind every number. Free, private, and no sign-up required.
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Quick answer
The FERS basic annuity is High-3 × Years of Creditable Service × Multiplier . This calculator also includes unused sick leave, military buyback, special category rules, survivor benefits, FERS Supplement, and a comparison of retiring at MRA+10, 60, or 62.
Your FERS benefit
Free toolFERS basic annuity
A predictable pension based on your High-3 salary and creditable service.
FERS Supplement
A bridge payment for some retirees who start benefits before age 62.
Social Security + TSP
The other two legs of FERS. Plan them together, not in isolation.
The basic annuity formula: High-3 × Creditable Service × Multiplier.
FERS Retirement Calculator
Prepared: 2026-08-14. Independent educational estimate, not an official OPM benefit determination.
Free
No sign-up
Private
Federal pension estimator
Estimate your FERS pension in under 30 seconds.
Enter three numbers for a quick estimate, then open advanced options to include sick leave, military buyback, special provisions, and survivor benefits.
Quick estimate $27,500 per year / $2,292 per month
Example shown: $100,000 High-3, 25 years of service, age 62. Based on the OPM FERS formula .
Your inputs stay in this browser. This estimate is for education only and is not an official OPM benefit determination.
Compare retirement ages
Service is projected forward or backward from the age you entered. These are planning scenarios, not official determinations.
Estimate $27,500 / $2,292
Calculate
How it works
Three numbers give you a starting point.
The basic FERS formula is simple. The detail is in what counts as salary, service, and the right multiplier.
01
High-3 salary
The highest average basic pay from any 36 consecutive months of federal service.
02
Creditable service
FERS-covered years, unused sick leave, and military time after buyback.
03
Multiplier
1%, 1.1%, or special category rates depending on age, service, and position.
How the MRA+10 reduction works
Reduction = 5% x full years under age 62 + (5% / 12) x additional months
5% for each full year under age 62, prorated monthly.
FERS formula
One formula, three multipliers.
The basic FERS annuity is High-3 average salary x creditable service x the correct multiplier.
Annual Pension = High-3 x Service x Multiplier
Example: a $100,000 High-3 with 25 years of service at 1.1% gives $27,500 per year.
| Situation | Multiplier | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standard FERS | 1.0% | Most employees who retire before age 62, or at 62+ with less than 20 years. |
| Enhanced | 1.1% | Age 62 or later with at least 20 years of service. |
| Special category | 1.7% / 1.0% | First 20 years at 1.7%, then 1% for LEO, ATC, firefighters, and nuclear materials couriers. |
“1 percent of his average pay … is the annuity for each year of creditable service” — and, for an employee with at least 20 years of creditable service whose annuity commences at age 62 or later, “1.1 percent of his average pay is the annuity for each year of such service”.
MRA+10
Early retirement has a cost.
You can retire at MRA with 10 years of service, but beginning benefits before 62 can reduce your annuity by 5% per year, under 5 CFR Part 843.
No reduction when:
- You have at least 30 years of service.
- You have at least 20 years of service and begin at age 60.
| Birth year | Minimum Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1970 or later | 57 |
| 1969 | 56 years 10 months |
| 1965 to 1968 | 56 years 2 to 8 months |
| 1953 to 1964 | 56 |
| 1948 to 1952 | 55 years 2 to 10 months |
| Before 1948 | 55 |
FERS Supplement
A bridge before Social Security.
Eligible employees who retire before 62 may receive the FERS Special Retirement Supplement. It is not Social Security and ends at age 62.
Who may be eligible
Immediate retirement eligibility: 30 years of service, 20 years at age 60, or certain special category retirements.
Approximate method
Social Security at 62 x FERS Years / 40
Applies only when the scenario appears eligible; an earnings test before 62 can reduce or end the actual payment.
Worked examples
See the FERS formula in action, decision by decision.
Each example shows how service, age, special provisions, survivor benefits, and other income change the same basic formula.
| Retirement path | Typical eligibility | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate full retirement | 62+ with 5+ years; 60 with 20+; MRA with 30+ | No MRA+10 reduction. 1.1% multiplier applies at 62+ with 20+ years. |
| MRA+10 | MRA with 10 to 29 years of service | Immediate, but usually reduced before age 62 unless an exception applies. |
| Age 60 with 20+ years | Age 60 with at least 20 years | Immediate and no age reduction. |
| Special category | LEO, ATC, firefighter, or nuclear materials courier | 1.7% for the first 20 years, then 1.0%. |
| Deferred retirement | Left federal service before immediate eligibility | Collect later. FEHB generally does not continue. |
| Postponed retirement | Eligible for immediate retirement but delays benefit start | May reduce the MRA+10 age penalty and may allow FEHB to resume later. |
Enhanced 1.1% example
$110,000 x 24 x 1.1% = $29,040
At 62 or later with 20+ years of service, the 1.1% multiplier raises the pension permanently — a key part of the 60 vs 62 decision.
Special category example
$95,000 x 20 x 1.7% = $32,300
Eligible LEOs, firefighters, ATCs, and nuclear couriers earn 1.7% for the first 20 covered years, then 1.0%.
MRA+10 reduction example
$25,000 x (1 - 25%) = $18,750
A 57-year-old beginning benefits at MRA loses 5% per year under 62 — five years means a 25% reduction.
Survivor benefit example
$30,000 x 90% = $27,000
A full survivor benefit cuts your annuity by 10% but continues 50% to your spouse; partial cuts 5% for 25%.
FERS Supplement example
$2,000 x 30 / 40 = $1,500
With an estimated $2,000 Social Security benefit at 62 and 30 years of FERS service, the approximate monthly Supplement is $1,500.
Military buyback example
22 FERS years + 4 military years = 26 years
Military time counts only after the deposit is paid — otherwise the estimate overstates creditable service.
Unused sick leave example
1,043.5 hours / 2,087 = 0.5 years
Sick leave adds fractional service years to the calculation but never creates eligibility.
Combined monthly income example
$2,500 FERS + $1,800 Social Security + $900 TSP = $5,200 gross per month
Taxes, FEHB, FEGLI, and other deductions reduce the amount available for spending.
COLA
Inflation changes the purchasing power of your pension.
FERS cost-of-living adjustments differ from Social Security COLA rules and should not be treated as guaranteed future income.
FERS COLA
Eligibility and timing depend on retirement type; special category retirees may receive COLA earlier.
Planning implication
Small COLA differences compound over 20 to 30 years — use conservative assumptions when projecting income.
Retirement types
Deferred and postponed are not the same.
Both delay an annuity after leaving federal service, but they affect benefits differently — the difference can be worth thousands of dollars.
| Item | Deferred | Postponed |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Employees who leave before qualifying for an immediate annuity. | Employees who already qualify for an immediate annuity but choose to delay it. |
| Health insurance | FEHB generally does not continue. | FEHB may resume when the postponed annuity begins. |
| Typical use | Leaving government and waiting until a later age to collect. | Retiring at MRA+10 or 60+20 and delaying to reduce the age penalty. |
CSRS and CSRS-Offset
Your retirement system changes the formula.
This page is built around FERS; CSRS and CSRS-Offset use different formulas — verify your numbers with OPM or HR.
CSRS
Generally covers employees first hired before 1984 who did not elect FERS. It uses a different multiplier and treats Social Security differently.
CSRS-Offset
Combines CSRS-style benefits with Social Security coverage and is easy to confuse with FERS — take the calculator's system warning seriously.
Retirement type checker
Quick check: deferred, postponed, or direct retirement.
Choose the closest situation. This is educational guidance, not an official determination.
Special provisions
LEO, ATC, firefighters, and nuclear couriers use different rules.
Special category employees generally get a higher multiplier and may face mandatory retirement earlier.
| Category | Multiplier | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Law Enforcement Officer | 1.7% / 1.0% | First 20 years at 1.7%, then 1%. Verify covered LEO service with HR. |
| Air Traffic Controller | 1.7% / 1.0% | ATC employees may also have different age and service requirements. |
| Firefighter | 1.7% / 1.0% | Special provision eligibility depends on covered firefighter service. |
| Nuclear Materials Courier | 1.7% / 1.0% | Special retirement rules apply. Verify with OPM before relying on an estimate. |
Military buyback
Military time can count toward your pension.
Military service generally does not count toward FERS until you complete a military service deposit.
What to enter
Only military time for which a deposit has been paid or confirmed. Unpaid time should not be entered.
Why it matters
Buyback years increase creditable service, lift the annuity, and may affect eligibility and the Supplement.
Checklist
After the estimate, verify before you decide.
A calculator gives you a planning number. These checks turn it into a safer retirement decision.
01
Confirm your retirement system
FERS, CSRS, CSRS-Offset, or special category changes the formula.
02
Check service computation date
Ask HR for your SCD and confirm buyback and prior service.
03
Verify High-3 salary
Use your earnings record to confirm the highest 36 months of basic pay.
04
Review survivor benefit
Compare Full, Partial, and None with your spouse.
05
Plan FEHB and FEGLI
Confirm eligibility, premiums, and your retirement type's effect on insurance.
06
Get an official estimate
Request a formal annuity estimate from HR or OPM near retirement.
High-3 explained
What actually goes into your High-3
High-3 is the highest average basic pay you earn during any 36 consecutive months of federal service. It is not necessarily your final salary, and it is not your total compensation.
Generally included
- Base salary
- Locality pay
- Basic pay earned during the qualifying 36-month period
Generally excluded
- Overtime
- Bonuses
- Cash awards
- Travel reimbursements
- Most premium pay
How to think about the 36-month window
OPM looks at every possible consecutive 36-month period in your career and uses the highest average, so an earlier period can beat your final years if you moved to a lower-paying position. A promotion inside the highest window raises your pension for life.
Sick leave credit
Unused sick leave raises the pension, not eligibility.
Unused sick leave is converted to creditable service for annuity computation, but it cannot be used to meet minimum service requirements.
| Sick leave balance | Approximate service credit |
|---|---|
| 520 hours | About 3 months |
| 1,040 hours | About 6 months |
| 1,560 hours | About 9 months |
| 2,087 hours | About 1 year |
Survivor benefit
A pension choice with long-term consequences.
Electing a survivor benefit reduces your annuity but provides continuing income to your spouse.
| Choice | Your reduction | Spouse benefit |
|---|---|---|
| No survivor benefit | 0% | No spouse annuity |
| Partial survivor benefit | 5% | 25% of the unreduced annuity |
| Full survivor benefit | 10% | 50% of the unreduced annuity |
Application timeline
From estimate to first annuity payment
A general planning sequence — your agency and OPM set the official deadlines.
12 to 18 months
Start planning
Review service, High-3, leave, TSP, and goals.
6 to 12 months
Verify records
Ask HR to review SCD, system, deposits, and leave.
90 days
Prepare paperwork
Complete forms; review beneficiary, FEHB, FEGLI choices.
Retirement month
Final review
Confirm salary, leave, and estimate before processing.
Glossary
FERS terms explained
These definitions map directly to the calculator and the sections above.
High-3
Highest average basic pay from any 36 consecutive months.
Creditable service
Service used in the annuity formula, including eligible military time.
MRA
Minimum Retirement Age, based on year of birth.
FERS Supplement
Bridge payment for some eligible retirees before age 62.
TSP
The federal defined contribution savings plan.
SCD
Service Computation Date, used for service credit and eligibility.
Sources
Built from OPM guidance.
Every formula is cited to official sources: per OPM's FERS Computation guidance, the basic annuity is computed from your High-3 average salary and creditable service. Governing rules: 5 U.S.C. § 8417 and 5 CFR Part 843 . Verify the latest rules with OPM and your HR office.
- OPM FERS Computation - official FERS formula and multiplier rules.
- OPM Federal Ball Park Estimator - broader planning estimate.
- Social Security Administration - official Social Security retirement benefit information.
- Thrift Savings Plan - official TSP account and withdrawal information.
- 5 U.S.C. § 8417 - statute governing FERS basic annuity computation.
- 5 CFR Part 843 - OPM regulations computing FERS annuities.
Editorial standards
How this page is maintained.
We check the formulas against OPM's FERS Computation guidance. Last reviewed: 2026-08-14.
This tool is built and reviewed by the FERS Retirement Calculator editorial team. It is not affiliated with OPM.
How we verify the calculator
- We check formulas and multipliers against OPM's FERS Computation guidance.
- We use 2,087 hours for one year of unused sick leave.
- We hand-test MRA+10, age 60, and age 62 scenarios before publishing changes.
Privacy
This calculator runs entirely in your browser. It does not collect, store, or send the numbers you enter.
What this page does not calculate
- Deferred or postponed retirement amounts beyond the guidance shown.
- CSRS or CSRS-Offset amounts using their official formulas.
- Tax advice, FEHB/FEGLI decisions, disability retirement, or an official OPM determination.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The answers behind the calculator and the federal retirement rules that shape your estimate.
How is the FERS pension calculated? +
High-3 average salary x years of creditable service x multiplier: 1% per year, rising to 1.1% at 62 or later with 20+ years. Special category employees earn 1.7% for their first 20 years.
What is the High-3 Average Salary? +
High-3 is the highest average basic pay from any 36 consecutive months of service, usually your final three years. It includes basic pay and locality pay, and excludes overtime, bonuses, and most premium pay.
Does unused sick leave increase my FERS pension? +
Yes. Unused sick leave converts to creditable service at 2,087 hours per year and can increase the annuity amount, but it cannot by itself make you eligible to retire.
What is the FERS MRA+10 retirement? +
MRA+10 lets you retire at your Minimum Retirement Age with at least 10 years of service. Benefits that begin before 62 are reduced 5% per year, unless you have 30 years of service or begin at age 60 with 20 or more years.
What is the FERS Special Retirement Supplement? +
An extra payment for eligible retirees who start benefits before age 62, approximated as your estimated Social Security benefit at 62 multiplied by FERS service divided by 40. It ends at age 62.
How does the survivor benefit reduce my FERS annuity? +
A full survivor benefit reduces your annuity 10% and pays your spouse 50% of the unreduced amount. Partial: 5% for 25%. No election: unreduced annuity, no spouse benefit.
Does this calculator account for military service buyback? +
Yes, but only military time for which a deposit has been paid counts as creditable service. Do not enter unpaid military time.
What is the difference between deferred and postponed retirement? +
Deferred: you left federal service before immediate eligibility and collect later. Postponed: you are already eligible but delay the start, often to avoid the MRA+10 penalty or restore FEHB.
Can the FERS Supplement be reduced by earned income? +
Yes. The Supplement is subject to an earnings test before age 62 — income above the annual limit can reduce or eliminate it. This calculator does not apply the earnings test.
Does this calculator work for CSRS or CSRS-Offset employees? +
Not reliably. It uses FERS formulas; CSRS and CSRS-Offset use different multipliers. The system selector shows a warning — verify any estimate with OPM or HR.
Can I retire at age 60 with 20 years of FERS service? +
Yes. Age 60 with at least 20 years of creditable service is an immediate, unreduced FERS retirement. Retiring at 62 or later with 20 or more years also raises the multiplier from 1.0% to 1.1%.
Is this estimate my official FERS benefit? +
No. This is an educational estimate. Your official annuity is determined by OPM and your agency from your official personnel and pay records.
Disclaimer
Educational estimate, not an official determination.
This is an independent educational estimate, not an official OPM benefit determination. FERS rules and amounts can vary based on your official service record, agency, special provisions, and current law. Before making a retirement decision, verify your numbers with your HR office and OPM.
- Not a replacement for an official OPM annuity computation, and not legal, tax, or financial advice.
- Verify your retirement system, service computation date, leave balances, and survivor elections.
- Confirm with your HR office, OPM FERS Information, or the Social Security Administration.
Social Security and TSP
FERS is only part of your retirement income.
Most federal retirees combine FERS, Social Security, and TSP — the full retirement picture depends on all three.
FERS annuity
A predictable pension based on High-3, creditable service, and the correct multiplier.
Social Security
Generally begins at 62 or later; the FERS Supplement may bridge part of the gap for eligible early retirees. Rules per the Social Security Administration.
TSP
The flexible piece — withdrawals can be adjusted to market conditions and spending needs. See tsp.gov.
Other income
Part-time work, rentals, or taxable investments can also shape retirement cash flow.