What will your military pension be?
Estimate for planning. Uses current 2026 basic pay as a stand-in for your High-3 (your real High-3 averages your top 36 months and may differ), and doesn't model REDUX, disability retirement, Reserve/Guard point-based retirement, or SBP deductions. Confirm with your finance office.
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Common questions
How is military retirement pay calculated?
Your monthly pension = your "High-3" (the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay) × a multiplier × your years of service. The multiplier is 2.5% per year under the legacy High-3 system (so 50% of your High-3 at 20 years) or 2.0% per year under the Blended Retirement System (40% at 20 years). It's adjusted for inflation (COLA) every year after you retire.
What's the difference between High-3 and BRS retirement?
Legacy High-3 (for those who joined before 2018 and did not opt in) uses a 2.5% multiplier and has no TSP match. The Blended Retirement System (2018+) uses a 2.0% multiplier — a smaller pension — but adds the government TSP match while you serve, plus a mid-career continuation pay bonus. BRS trades a bit of pension for portable retirement savings.
Is military retirement pay taxable?
Yes, military retirement pay is subject to federal income tax. Many states exempt it partly or fully, though — where you retire matters. (VA disability compensation, separately, is tax-free.)