How is military retirement pay calculated?

Military retirement pay is calculated using the formula: Years of Service × 2.5% × High-3 Average (for High-3 system) or Years of Service × 2.0% × High-3 Average (for BRS). With 20 years of service under High-3, you receive 50% of your highest 36-month base pay average.

What civilian salary do I need after military retirement?

The civilian salary you need depends on your military retirement pay, VA disability (if any), state taxes, and desired lifestyle. Our calculator factors in all these elements to show you the exact civilian income needed to maintain your standard of living.

How does divorce affect my military retirement pay?

Under the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (USFSPA), a state court can divide your disposable retired pay, and DFAS pays a former spouse up to 50% of it directly. The share usually depends on the coverture fraction (months married during service divided by total months of service) and the court's percentage. For a divorce final after December 23, 2016 while you're still serving, the frozen benefit rule applies, and the share is figured from your High-3 and years of service on the date of the divorce rather than at retirement.

Military Retirement Calculator

Find the civilian salary you need after factoring in retirement pay, VA disability, and taxes

Military Retirement Pay Auto-Calculated

Retirement Type

Retirement Rank

Years of Service

Extra months count toward your multiplier. 24 yrs 3 mo pays 60.63% under High-3.

Retirement System

Joined before Jan 1, 2018? You're likely High-3.

Calculated Monthly Retirement Pay (Gross): $0

High-3 method: 50% × your High-3 average (highest 36 months, 2023 to 2026 tables)

Pay data: official DFAS tables effective January 1, 2026, verified July 2026. See the full 2026 military pay chart.

Pension math. A true High-3 average of your highest 36 months, built from the official 2023 to 2026 DFAS tables and assuming retirement in 2026 at your entered rank. Matches the DoD methodology within about 1 percent. Exact promotion and retirement dates shift the result slightly.

Divorce Impact on Retirement Pay Optional

I was divorced during military service

How is the former spouse's share determined?

Former Spouse's Percentage of Disposable Retired Pay

Enter the percentage from your divorce decree (max 50% of disposable retired pay per USFSPA)

Frozen Benefit Rule applies

Applies to divorces finalized after Dec 23, 2016, while still on active duty. The former spouse's share is based on the High-3 for your rank and years of service at the time of divorce, not at retirement.

Rank at Time of Divorce

Years of Service at Time of Divorce

High-3 in Your Divorce Order (optional)

Month and Year the Divorce Was Final

Orders under this rule have to state your High-3 and years of service at the divorce, or DFAS won't accept them. Enter the High-3 with the month and year the divorce was final and the calculator works it the way DFAS does. It treats the divorce as if you had retired that day and raises the figure by each retiree COLA up to your real retirement, the first one at the rate for someone retiring in that quarter.

Former Spouse's Monthly Share: $0

Based on USFSPA (10 U.S.C. § 1408)

Your Remaining Retirement Pay: $0

This share already leaves out any retired pay you waive for VA pay. Under a 50% rating you give up retired pay dollar for dollar to receive VA compensation, and the waived part cannot be divided (Mansell v. Mansell). So the share is of what DFAS still pays you. At 50% or higher with 20 years, CRDP pays your retired pay in full and all of it can be divided.

Read our complete USFSPA guide for detailed explanations of the coverture fraction, frozen benefit rule, and what's NOT divisible.

VA Disability Compensation

Disability Rating

Dependents (they raise VA pay at 30% and up and can change your state tax)

Spouse

My spouse needs Aid & Attendance Regular help with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating). Adds the VA's set amount for your rating.

Children (under 18)

School Children (18-23 in school)

Dependent Parents

VA Disability Compensation (Tax-Free): $0

2026 rates including all dependents

Monthly Expenses

Total Monthly Expenses (or enter details below)

Additional Household Income

Include Spouse's Salary

Tax Information

Filing Status

Retirement State Smart Tax Calculator

Expected Civilian Salary (optional)

Annual gross pay from a second career, before taxes. A salary fills the lower tax brackets first, so it changes what your pension itself is taxed at in states with graduated rates.

Add your ages (optional, for the age 65 tax rules)

Your age

Your age on December 31, 2026. At 65 or older the federal return and many states take off extra deductions, and some state exclusions change with age. Leave it blank and those rules are skipped. Your spouse's age only counts on a joint return.

☕

This calculator is free for all veterans. If it helps, consider supporting us!

Support

Your Target Civilian Salary

Gross annual salary needed

The Breakdown

Monthly Expenses $0

Military Retirement (after tax) $0

Gross retired pay $0

Federal tax $0

State tax $0

VA Disability (tax-free) $0

Total Military Income $0

Monthly Gap to Fill $0

Required Gross Civilian Salary (monthly) $0

Equivalent Hourly Rate $0

Based on 40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year

Your retirement, worked out

Your $0/mo pension is worth about $0 over 30 years.

Before tax. It rises with the COLA every year, figured here at 2.4%, the long-run inflation rate in the Social Security Trustees Report.

The Retirement Plan starts from the numbers you just entered and works through the decisions behind them. When to get out, whether your spouse keeps working, which state to settle in, and whether SBP is worth it. Every path runs year by year to age 90, bad first decade in the market included. $49 one time, and the full worksheet comes with it.

Build my plan, $49 → See a sample plan first

Just want these numbers on paper? The worksheet is $9.

Next Steps

✓ Use this number when negotiating job offers
✓ Consider cost of living differences by location
✓ Factor in employer benefits (health insurance, 401k match)
✓ Remember: VA disability is tax-free and doesn't count toward income

Know when your numbers change

Get notified when we update pay tables, COLA rates, or tax rules that affect your estimate.

Only when rates change. No spam.

Rates verified October 2026 against DFAS, VA.gov, IRS, and state revenue sources. How the numbers get checked

Recommended Resources

Trusted financial services for transitioning service members

USAA Insurance & Banking

Exclusive financial services for military members and families

Military-exclusive →

Navy Federal Credit Union

Banking, loans, and credit cards built for military families

Join now →

Veterans United Home Loans

#1 VA home loan lender - use your VA benefits

Get started →

SoFi Student Loan Refinancing

Lower your student loan payments and save thousands

Check rates →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we trust and that benefit transitioning service members.

Free 2026 Military Retirement Pay Chart (PDF)

A printable one-page chart with every rank and year of service. No signup required.