FERS Retirement Calculator
Estimate your annual and monthly Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension using your high-3 salary and service time.
How the FERS pension formula works
FERS uses a straightforward defined-benefit formula based on your high-3 average salary, years of creditable service, and a pension multiplier. In most cases, the basic annuity uses a 1.0% multiplier. If you retire at age 62 or later with at least 20 years of service, the multiplier usually increases to 1.1%.
The core formula looks like this:
Annual FERS Pension = High-3 Salary × Multiplier × Creditable Service
What is “high-3” salary?
Your high-3 is the highest average basic pay you earned over any consecutive 36 months of federal service. It typically comes from your final years, but it can be any 3-year period if pay was higher earlier.
What service time counts?
- Years and months of creditable civilian federal service
- Certain military time if deposits were made (when required)
- Unused sick leave for annuity computation (not for general eligibility)
What this calculator includes
- 1.0% vs 1.1% FERS multiplier rule
- Conversion of extra months and sick leave months into fractional years
- Optional reduction for survivor annuity election (5% or 10%)
- Optional estimate of FERS Special Retirement Supplement before age 62
- Estimated annual and monthly gross pension amounts
Important limitations
This is an educational estimate, not an official OPM calculation. Your final annuity may differ due to deposits/redeposits, part-time service proration, FEHB/FEGLI costs, taxes, court orders, retirement type (early, disability, deferred), and agency-specific rules.
Ways to improve your FERS retirement income
1) Increase your high-3 average salary
Promotions and step increases in your final working years can have a meaningful impact on your pension base.
2) Add more creditable service
Additional service years increase your annuity directly. Even one extra year can materially boost lifetime income.
3) Understand survivor election trade-offs
Survivor coverage reduces your immediate pension but can protect your spouse’s income and preserve access to certain benefits.
4) Coordinate FERS with TSP and Social Security
Your retirement plan should combine your pension, Thrift Savings Plan withdrawals, and Social Security timing to support sustainable cash flow.
Quick example
Suppose your high-3 salary is $100,000, you retire at 62 with 25 years of creditable service, and you choose no survivor reduction:
- Multiplier = 1.1%
- Annual pension = 100,000 × 0.011 × 25 = $27,500
- Monthly pension ≈ $2,291.67 before taxes and deductions
Frequently asked questions
Does unused sick leave always raise my pension?
In many cases yes, for annuity computation. However, it generally does not make you eligible to retire earlier.
Is this estimate taxable?
Federal pensions are generally taxable at the federal level, with partial after-tax basis treatment if applicable. State taxation depends on your state of residence.
Should I rely on this for retirement paperwork?
Use it for planning only. Before final retirement decisions, compare with your agency retirement specialist and OPM estimates.