Military Retirement CalculatorHigh-3 & BRS Pension Estimator With 2026 Pay, COLA and SBP
Military retired pay is 2.5% (High-3) or 2.0% (BRS) × years of service × the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay, paid for life with a yearly COLA. Choose your system, grade and years to see your monthly pension, the deposit after SBP and tax, what BRS versus High-3 costs you and the lifetime value to any age.
Built on the DoD retirement formulas and the DFAS 2026 basic pay tables.
Lifetime value
How military retirement pay is calculated
Military retired pay = multiplier × years of service × your High-3 (the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay). The multiplier is 2.5% per year under the legacy High-3 system and 2.0% per year under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), so 20 years pays 50% or 40% of High-3 for life, with a cost-of-living adjustment every year.
Members who entered on or after January 1, 2018 are in BRS; most who entered earlier stayed in High-3 unless they opted in. The retired pay COLA for 2026 was 2.8%, effective December 1, 2025.
The formula
Partial years count by month. Beyond 30 years the multiplier keeps growing, to 100% at 40 years under High-3. Retired pay is taxable federal income; many states exempt it.
2026 military retirement pay examples (monthly)
| Retiring as | High-3 (approx.) | High-3 pension 2.5% | BRS pension 2.0% |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-7, 20 yrs | $6,118.50 | $3,059.25 | $2,447.40 |
| E-8, 22 yrs | $6,934.00 | $3,813.70 | $3,050.96 |
| E-9, 26 yrs | $8,645.50 | $5,619.58 | $4,495.66 |
| W-3, 20 yrs | $7,988.90 | $3,994.45 | $3,195.56 |
| O-4, 20 yrs | $10,473.80 | $5,236.90 | $4,189.52 |
| O-5, 24 yrs | $12,274.10 | $7,364.46 | $5,891.57 |
| O-6, 30 yrs | $15,188.70 | $11,391.53 | $9,113.22 |
High-3 is the average of the last 36 months of 2026 DFAS basic pay in that grade. Your actual High-36 depends on when you were promoted.
Ways the real check differs
Spouse coverage costs 6.5% of the base amount you elect and is deducted before tax.
With a VA rating under 50%, retired pay is reduced dollar for dollar by VA compensation, but the VA part is tax-free. At 50% or more, CRDP restores it.
A court can divide retired pay as marital property under the USFSPA; DFAS pays the former spouse directly in many cases.
BRS retirees can take 25% or 50% of their pension up to age 67 as a discounted lump sum in exchange for a smaller check.
How to use this military retirement calculator
- Pick your retirement systemHigh-3 (2.5%) or BRS (2.0%).
- Enter grade and years at retirementThe calculator averages your last 36 months of 2026 basic pay. Override High-3 if you know it.
- Add ages and COLAYour age at retirement, how long to plan for and the yearly COLA you expect.
- Set SBP and taxSee the monthly deposit and the lifetime value.
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Military retirement FAQ
Multiply your years of service by 2.5% (High-3) or 2.0% (BRS), then multiply by your High-3, the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay.
On the 2026 table an E-7 retiring at exactly 20 years has a High-3 of about $6,118.50, so High-3 pays about $3,059 a month before taxes and SBP and BRS about $2,447.
High-3 pays 2.5% per year of service. BRS pays 2.0% but adds up to 5% TSP matching, continuation pay at about 12 years and a lump-sum option.
Yes, it is federal taxable income. Many states exempt it fully or partly. VA disability compensation is tax-free.
Yes, every December, tied to the CPI. The 2026 increase was 2.8%, effective December 1, 2025.
Not with an active-duty pension, except through medical retirement or temporary early retirement programs. Under BRS you keep your TSP even if you leave earlier.
Under High-3, 2.5% per year up to 40 years, which is 100% of High-3. Under BRS, 2.0% per year up to 80%.
6.5% of the base amount you elect for spouse coverage. Full coverage pays your spouse 55% of the base amount for life.
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Manzoor Ahmad
Calculator developer & web designer · 13+ years in web development and SEO
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026I am a pharmacist turned tech geek, and I design, code and test every calculator on DexoCalc myself. I have not served in the military, so this tool does not run on opinion: the multipliers come from DoD’s published retirement rules, the High-3 uses the complete DFAS 2026 basic pay tables, and the examples table is generated by the same code.
Spot a result that does not match an official source? Tell me and I will re-check it.
Sources
- Military Compensation: Retirement
- DFAS: Military pay tables 2026
- DFAS: Retiree cost-of-living adjustment
Disclaimer: DexoCalc is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Defense (Department of War), the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. Results are educational estimates; official records and your chain of command decide.
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