FERS Retirement Calculator
Estimate your Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension using official formulas. Model different retirement scenarios, survivor benefits, and service credits.
Reviewed by Jonathan D., 20-year federal employee · Formulas verified against OPM.gov ·
At age 62 with 30 years of service, your estimated FERS annuity is $31,350/year ($2,612/month) — 33% of your High-3, using the 1.1% multiplier.
Get an agency-ready professional headshot before you update your LinkedIn or resume.
How the FERS pension works
Your FERS basic annuity rests on three numbers: your High-3 (the average of your highest 36 consecutive months of basic pay), your years of creditable service, and a multiplier. Multiply them together and you have your unreduced annual pension.
This calculator uses the official formula: High-3 × Years × Multiplier. The multiplier is almost always 1.0% — but it jumps to 1.1% if you retire at age 62 or later with at least 20 years of service. On a 30-year career that single tenth of a percent is worth thousands a year for life, which is why timing matters so much.
The calculator automatically determines your eligibility for immediate, MRA+10, postponed, or deferred retirement, and calculates any early retirement penalties. If eligible, it also estimates your FERS Supplement — the temporary bridge payment until age 62 that approximates your Social Security benefit.
Two careers, two pensions
Real numbers showing what federal employees at different career stages can expect.
What counts as creditable service
Your total creditable service determines both your pension amount and retirement eligibility. A few common categories surprise people.
Military Buyback: Pay 3% of your military basic pay (plus interest if separated more than 3 years ago) to get credit. This is almost always worth it — the return on investment is excellent. Contact your HR office to start the deposit process.
When you can retire
The age-and-service combinations that unlock an immediate FERS annuity.
| Your age | Years needed | Annuity |
|---|---|---|
| MRA (55–57) | 30 | Full + FERS Supplement |
| MRA (55–57) | 10–29 | 5%/yr penalty (or postpone) |
| 60 | 20 | Full, no supplement |
| 62 | 5 | Full, 1.1% if 20+ yrs |
Postponed vs. deferred
These two retirement types are often confused, but the distinction is critical — especially for health insurance.
For MRA+10 retirees who delay collecting to reduce or erase the age penalty. You separate at MRA with 10+ years but “postpone” receiving your pension until age 62. The key advantage: you can keep FEHB by reinstating it when your annuity begins.
For employees who leave federal service before retirement age (but with 5+ years) and claim the pension later at age 62. Simpler to elect, but you permanently lose FEHB coverage during the deferral period.
The FERS Supplement
If you retire before 62 with an immediate, unreduced annuity, the Special Retirement Supplement approximates the Social Security you've earned from federal service — and bridges the gap until you can claim it.
Earnings limit: the supplement is reduced if your post-retirement earnings exceed the annual limit ($24,480 in 2026) — reduced $1 for every $2 over — and it stops entirely at 62.
Five costly FERS mistakes
Federal employees often make these errors when estimating their pension. Avoid these pitfalls:
FERS retirement calculator — frequently asked questions
The questions federal employees ask most about the FERS pension formula, eligibility, the supplement, and what actually counts toward your annuity.
How is my FERS pension calculated?
The FERS pension formula is: High-3 Salary × Years of Service × Multiplier. The multiplier is 1% for most retirees, or 1.1% if you retire at age 62 or older with at least 20 years of service. For example, a $100,000 High-3 with 30 years produces $30,000/year at the 1% rate, or $33,000/year at the 1.1% rate. Unused sick leave adds to your service years in the annuity calculation.
How much FERS retirement will I get?
A useful rule of thumb: your FERS pension replaces about 1% of your High-3 salary per year of service — so a 30-year career replaces roughly 30% of your pre-retirement salary. A $90,000 High-3 with 25 years produces $22,500 per year, or $1,875 per month, before survivor benefit and tax deductions. Your total retirement income is usually higher than the pension alone, because the FERS Supplement or Social Security plus TSP withdrawals stack on top. Enter your own numbers in the calculator above for a personalized estimate.
What is the FERS Supplement and when does it end?
The FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) is a bridge payment from retirement until age 62, approximating the Social Security benefit you earned through federal service. It equals (Years of FERS Service ÷ 40) × your estimated Social Security benefit at 62. It is available only for immediate, unreduced retirements (MRA+30, age 60+20, VERA, and special provisions). The supplement stops entirely at age 62 — it is not renewable and cannot be deferred.
Is it better to retire at MRA or wait until 62 for the higher multiplier?
Waiting until 62 with 20+ years earns the 1.1% multiplier instead of 1.0%, adding 10% to your pension permanently. On a $120,000 High-3 with 30 years, that is $3,600/year more for life. However, you also collect your pension for fewer years. Most employees break even around 10–12 years after the later retirement date, so the calculus depends on your health, savings, and whether TSP bridge income makes the wait viable.
What is the federal retirement age?
There is no single federal retirement age. FERS employees can retire at age 62 with 5 years of service, age 60 with 20 years, or at their Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) with 30 years for full benefits. MRA ranges from 55 to 57 depending on birth year. You can also retire at MRA with 10+ years, but with a 5% penalty per year under age 62.
What is the high-3 salary?
Your high-3 salary is the average of your highest 36 consecutive months of basic pay. For most employees, this is their final three years of service, but it could be from an earlier period if you had higher earnings then.
When can I retire with full FERS benefits?
You can retire with full FERS benefits at: age 62 with 5 years of service, age 60 with 20 years of service, or at your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) with 30 years of service.
What is the early retirement penalty?
If you retire at your MRA with 10-29 years of service, your pension is reduced by 5% for each year you are under age 62. For example, retiring 4 years before age 62 results in a 20% reduction.
What is the difference between postponed and deferred retirement?
Postponed retirement: You leave at MRA+10 but delay receiving your pension until age 62 to avoid the 5% per year penalty. Deferred retirement: You leave before meeting any retirement eligibility (but with 5+ years), and your pension starts at age 62. Both eliminate early retirement penalties.
How much does the survivor benefit cost?
The full survivor benefit (50% to your spouse) costs 10% of your gross pension. A partial survivor benefit (25% to your spouse) costs 5% of your gross pension.
Does unused sick leave count toward my pension?
Yes! Unused sick leave is converted to additional service credit for your pension calculation. 2,087 hours equals one year of credit. It counts toward your pension amount but not toward eligibility requirements.
What pay is included in my High-3 average salary?
Your High-3 includes basic pay, locality pay, and certain special pay rates. It does NOT include overtime, bonuses, cash awards, holiday pay, night differential, or Sunday premium pay. Only your scheduled rate of pay counts.
How do breaks in federal service affect my pension?
Breaks in service do not reduce your service credit, all your federal civilian time adds up. However, you must have at least 5 years of creditable civilian service to qualify for a FERS pension. If you left and returned, your prior service still counts.
What are the most common FERS calculation mistakes?
The biggest mistakes are: (1) Using gross pay instead of basic pay for High-3, (2) Forgetting the 5% per year early retirement penalty for MRA+10, (3) Not accounting for the survivor benefit reduction, and (4) Assuming sick leave counts toward eligibility (it only adds to the pension amount, not years for eligibility).
Does military service count toward my FERS pension?
Military service can count if you complete a military deposit (buyback). You pay 3% of your military basic pay (plus interest if more than 3 years since separation) to get credit. Without the deposit, military time may not count, and your Social Security benefit could be reduced.
How is my FERS pension taxed?
Your FERS pension is subject to federal income tax. The taxable portion depends on your contributions: employee contributions were already taxed, so only the government's portion and interest are taxable. Typically, 95-98% of your pension is taxable. State tax treatment varies, some states fully exempt federal pensions.
Does my FERS pension increase with inflation?
Yes. FERS annuitants receive annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) based on the Consumer Price Index. If inflation is 2% or less, you get the full adjustment. If 2-3%, you get 2%. If over 3%, you get 1% less than the CPI increase. COLAs start the year after you turn 62 (or immediately for disability/survivor annuities).
What counts as creditable service for FERS?
Creditable service includes: all civilian federal employment, military service (if you pay the deposit), Peace Corps/AmeriCorps VISTA time, certain DC government employment, and periods of OWCP workers' compensation. It does NOT include: federal contractor time, NAF employment (unless converted within 3 days), or LWOP over 6 months per year.
How does federal law enforcement officer (LEO) retirement work?
Federal LEOs with "6(c)" special provisions coverage can retire at age 50 with 20 years of covered service, or at any age with 25 years of covered service. The pension formula is more generous: 1.7% of High-3 for the first 20 years, then 1% thereafter. LEOs also receive the FERS Supplement without earnings limits. Premium pay and availability pay count toward High-3. There is mandatory retirement at age 57 (extendable to 60). Note: Not all federal law enforcement positions qualify, only those designated as 6(c) covered positions.
Can I use this calculator for USPS postal retirement?
Yes. USPS career employees follow the same FERS retirement rules as other federal employees. If you were hired after 1983, you are under FERS with the standard eligibility: MRA+30 for full benefits, age 60+20, age 62+5, or MRA+10 with the 5% per year penalty. If hired before 1984, you may be under CSRS with different rules (age 55+30, 60+20, or 62+5). The main difference is that postal pay is set by union contracts rather than the GS schedule, and USPS pays for its own retirement costs rather than receiving appropriations.
See your eligibility timeline and find your optimal retirement date. Enter your birth date and service computation date to get started.
Enter your birth year and federal hire date to see when each retirement pathway unlocks.
Quick tools that feed the estimate above
Convert sick leave to service credit, find your retirement age, and double-check your inputs.
Related guides & resources
Deep dives on the topics that matter most to FERS employees.