Free Federal Retirement Calculator
Know what your federal job is really worth.
Federal employees who leave without understanding their full package make expensive career mistakes. Find out where you stand in 60 seconds.
Free Account Features
Scenario Manager
Save two scenarios to automatically compare them side by side.
TSP Match You'd Leave Behind
Future government match money you'd miss if you left federal service.
Pension Value Growth
How much pension value you'd leave on the table if you walk away, year-by-year.
Premium Features
Take-Home Pay: Working vs Retirement
See how your actual take-home pay compares — working vs retired.
Retirement Income Projection
See your projected retirement income timeline.
TSP Withdrawal Strategy
Plan how your TSP savings supplement your pension income in retirement.
FEHB Health Insurance Value
See what keeping federal health insurance in retirement is really worth.
Breakeven Analysis
Find your breakeven salary and see how long it takes to recover the gap.
Scenario Export
Download a detailed PDF report of your analysis.
Understanding FERS retirement
The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) is a three-legged stool: a defined-benefit annuity from your federal service, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to a 5% government match, and Social Security. Each leg matters. Most online calculators only handle the annuity piece — this one models all three together so you can see what your federal job is actually worth in retirement.
The annuity formula
For most federal employees, the FERS pension is calculated as 1% × years of service × high-3 average salary. If you retire at age 62 or later with at least 20 years of service, the multiplier increases to 1.1%. Special Category Employees (federal law enforcement, firefighters, air traffic controllers, and certain others) use a richer formula: 1.7% per year for the first 20 years, then 1.0% per year after. Your "high-3" is the average of your three highest consecutive years of basic pay — usually your final three years before retirement.
When you can retire
Standard FERS employees have several immediate-retirement paths:
- MRA + 30: Minimum Retirement Age (56-57 depending on birth year) with 30+ years of service.
- Age 60 + 20: Age 60 with at least 20 years.
- Age 62 + 5: Age 62 with at least 5 years.
- MRA + 10: Reduced annuity, permanent 5% reduction for every year you are under 62 (deferred until 62 to avoid reduction).
SCE positions can retire at age 50 with 20 years of SCE service, or at any age with 25 years. See all four eligibility paths →
Beyond the annuity
A complete picture of federal retirement value also includes the TSP government match you would forfeit by leaving early, the Retiree Annuity Supplement that bridges retirement and age 62, FEHB health insurance you can carry into retirement at the same government-subsidized rate (typically a six-figure lifetime value), the cost-of-living adjustment that compounds across your retirement years, and the present value of all that income compared in today's dollars to an outside offer. The calculator above quantifies each.
What this calculator does
You enter four things — current age, federal salary, years of service, and planned retirement date — and the calculator returns a present-value estimate of your remaining federal compensation alongside an apples-to-apples comparison against any outside offer you punch in. Free-tier features include scenarios you can save and compare, TSP match projections, and COLA modeling. Account-holders also get year-by-year retirement income projections, FEHB lifetime value, breakeven salary calculations, and a downloadable PDF report.
What this calculator is not: a replacement for an official OPM benefit estimate, a personalized financial plan, or tax advice. It models the standard FERS rules and does not yet handle CSRS, CSRS Offset, FERS-RAE, or FERS-FRAE special variants. For irrevocable retirement decisions, get an official benefit statement from your HR and consider talking to a federal-benefits-aware financial planner.
FERS Retirement Calculator FAQ
Common questions about federal employee retirement benefits
How does the FERS retirement calculator work?
Our calculator estimates your FERS pension value by factoring in your years of service, high-3 salary, retirement age, and special provisions like the FERS Supplement (RAS). It then calculates the present value of your future pension payments to show what your retirement benefits are worth in today's dollars.
What is the FERS pension formula?
The basic FERS pension formula is: Years of Service × High-3 Average Salary × 1% (or 1.1% if you retire at 62 or older with 20+ years). For SCE employees (law enforcement, firefighters), the formula is 1.7% for the first 20 years and 1% thereafter.
What is the FERS Supplement (Special Retirement Supplement)?
The FERS Supplement, also called the Special Retirement Supplement or RAS, is a bridge payment you receive from your retirement date until age 62. It approximates what your Social Security benefit would be for your federal service years. Not everyone qualifies—you need an immediate, unreduced retirement.
How much is the FERS pension worth compared to private sector jobs?
A FERS pension can be worth $500,000 to over $1 million in present value depending on your years of service and salary. Many federal employees underestimate this when comparing to private sector offers that may pay more upfront but lack a defined benefit pension.
When can I retire under FERS?
FERS has several retirement paths: MRA+30 (Minimum Retirement Age with 30 years of service), 60+20 (age 60 with 20 years), or 62+5 (age 62 with 5 years). SCE employees can retire at 50 with 20 years or any age with 25 years. MRA ranges from 55-57 depending on your birth year.
What is the High-3 salary in FERS?
Your High-3 is the average of your highest 3 consecutive years of basic pay. For most employees, this is their final 3 years before retirement. Your FERS pension is calculated as a percentage of this High-3 average.
How do annual federal pay raises affect my retirement?
Annual pay raises directly increase your High-3 salary, which increases your lifetime pension. The 2026 federal pay raise was 1.7%. Each raise in your final years can add thousands to your pension over retirement. See our Federal Pay Raise page for historical data and 2027 projections.
Does this calculator include TSP and Social Security?
This calculator focuses on your FERS pension and supplement. TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) and Social Security are separate components of the FERS "three-legged stool." We show TSP match forfeiture if you leave early, and estimate Social Security in the premium features.
What happens to my FERS pension if I leave federal service early?
If you leave before retirement eligibility, you may qualify for a deferred pension starting at age 62 (with 5+ years of service) or MRA (with 10+ years). You'll lose the FERS Supplement and potentially forfeit TSP matching contributions that haven't vested.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement advice. Consult with a qualified financial advisor and your agency's HR office before making retirement decisions. Results may not reflect your exact situation.