Built on the 2027 raise as it stands. The President set 7% for E-1 to E-5, 6% for E-6 to O-3 and 5% for O-4 and above, starting January 1. The official 2027 tables publish in December.
Someone retiring in mid-2027 has only 6 of their 36 High-3 months at 2027 rates. So if Congress sets 3.6% for everyone instead, no figure here drops by more than $35 a month.
This is what a military pension pays if you retire in 2027. The charts below cover enlisted, officer and warrant ranks at the four most common retirement points, 20, 24, 26 and 30 years of service.
Every figure uses the High-3 system, 50% of your highest 36-month average basic pay at 20 years plus 2.5% for each year after. Under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) the multiplier is 2.0% a year, so multiply any figure here by 0.80. BRS members also choose at retirement between a lump sum and the full annuity, and the BRS lump sum vs annuity guide runs those numbers.
How these are figured. Each figure is a true High-3 pension for someone retiring on July 1, 2027 at the listed rank. It averages the 36 monthly basic pay rates before that date, each taken from the table in force that month (2024 through 2027) at the years of service you had then. I checked the method against last year's chart. Run on the 2023 to 2026 tables, it reproduces all 80 figures on the 2026 retirement pay chart to the dollar. Your own promotion and retirement dates move the result a little, so for your number use the free calculator.
Looking for active duty base pay instead? The 2027 military pay chart has every rank and year of service.
2027 Enlisted Retirement Pay Chart (High-3)
Monthly retirement pay before tax for E-5 through E-9, the ranks most people hold at 20 years or more.
| Rank | 20 Years (50%) | 24 Years (60%) | 26 Years (65%) | 30 Years (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 (SGT/PO2) | $2,180 | $2,617 | $2,835 | $3,271 |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1) | $2,582 | $3,112 | $3,371 | $3,890 |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO) | $3,013 | $3,782 | $4,198 | $5,219 |
| E-8 (MSG/SCPO) | $3,296 | $4,259 | $4,753 | $5,841 |
| E-9 (SGM/MCPO) | $3,769 | $4,916 | $5,537 | $6,845 |
E-7 is highlighted because it's the most common enlisted retirement rank. Retiring at 20 years in mid-2027, an E-7 gets $3,013 a month ($36,156 a year) before tax. At 30 years it's $5,219 a month, $26,472 a year more for the extra 10 years.
Found your rank? That's the pre-tax number.
The figure in the table is before federal tax, before your state takes its cut, and before your VA disability lands on top of it, tax-free. Those can move your real monthly income by hundreds of dollars either way. See your take-home for your rank, your state and your rating.
See what I keep →2027 Officer Retirement Pay Chart (High-3)
Monthly retirement pay before tax for O-1 through O-10. Most officers retire between O-4 and O-6.
| Rank | 20 Years (50%) | 24 Years (60%) | 26 Years (65%) | 30 Years (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 (2LT/ENS) | $2,571 | $3,085 | $3,342 | $3,857 |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG) | $3,258 | $3,910 | $4,236 | $4,887 |
| O-3 (CPT/LT) | $4,433 | $5,320 | $5,763 | $6,650 |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR) | $5,149 | $6,199 | $6,716 | $7,749 |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR) | $5,707 | $7,243 | $7,920 | $9,139 |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT) | $6,347 | $8,256 | $9,177 | $11,131 |
| O-7 (BG/RDML) | $8,096 | $9,920 | $10,746 | $12,464 |
| O-8 (MG/RADM) | $8,687 | $11,042 | $12,056 | $13,910 |
| O-9 (LTG/VADM) | $9,392 | $11,271 | $12,238 | $14,138 |
| O-10 (GEN/ADM) | $9,425 | $11,310 | $12,253 | $14,138 |
O-3 and O-5 are highlighted as the most common officer retirement ranks. An O-5 retiring at 20 years in mid-2027 gets $5,707 a month, or $68,484 a year. Basic pay for O-6 and above runs into the federal caps, so those rows grow mostly with the multiplier rather than with pay.
2027 Warrant Officer Retirement Pay Chart (High-3)
| Rank | 20 Years (50%) | 24 Years (60%) | 26 Years (65%) | 30 Years (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $3,299 | $4,142 | $4,487 | $5,177 |
| W-2 | $3,515 | $4,456 | $4,912 | $5,697 |
| W-3 | $3,937 | $5,087 | $5,641 | $6,767 |
| W-4 | $4,347 | $5,630 | $6,347 | $7,714 |
| W-5 | $5,007 | $6,216 | $7,007 | $8,490 |
What the 2027 Raise Adds to a 2027 Retirement
Someone retiring in mid-2027 has only 6 of their 36 High-3 months at the new 2027 rates. The rest of the gain comes from a year of newer pay replacing a year of older pay in the average. Here's the same rank at 20 years, retiring a year apart.
| Rank at 20 years | Retire mid-2026 | Retire mid-2027 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,080 | $2,180 | +$100 |
| E-6 | $2,467 | $2,582 | +$115 |
| E-7 | $2,880 | $3,013 | +$133 |
| E-8 | $3,150 | $3,296 | +$146 |
| E-9 | $3,602 | $3,769 | +$167 |
| O-3 | $4,237 | $4,433 | +$196 |
| O-4 | $4,929 | $5,149 | +$220 |
| O-5 | $5,463 | $5,707 | +$244 |
| O-6 | $6,076 | $6,347 | +$271 |
An E-7 retiring at 20 gets $133 a month more by going out in mid-2027 instead of mid-2026, for life. Staying past mid-2027 adds more, since each month at 2027 rates pushes an older month out of the average. If you're deciding when to go, retire before or after the raise works through it.
Already retired? This chart is for people retiring in 2027. If you already draw retired pay, your raise is the 3.6% COLA. It applies from December 1, 2026, and the first check at the new rate arrives December 31, 2026, since January 1 is a holiday. See what the 2027 COLA adds by rank →
BRS (Blended Retirement System) Pay Chart
If you joined on or after January 1, 2018, or opted in, you're under BRS. The pension multiplier is 2.0% a year instead of 2.5%, so 40% at 20 years instead of 50%. In exchange you get a government TSP match of up to 5% of basic pay.
| Rank | High-3 (20 yrs) | BRS (20 yrs) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,180 | $1,744 | -$436 |
| E-7 | $3,013 | $2,411 | -$602 |
| E-9 | $3,769 | $3,015 | -$754 |
| O-3 | $4,433 | $3,546 | -$887 |
| O-5 | $5,707 | $4,565 | -$1,142 |
The pension is 20% smaller for life. Whether the TSP match makes up for it depends on how much you put in and how the market treated it.
Retirement Pay Plus VA Disability
Most military retirees also receive VA disability compensation. Here is the total at 20 years with the 2027 VA rates (after the 3.6% COLA on December 1, 2026), for a veteran with no dependents. A spouse or children raise the VA amount, and the 2027 VA rates by dependents have the full table.
| Rank | Retirement (20 yrs) | + 50% VA | + 80% VA | + 100% VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,180 | $3,354 | $4,358 | $6,260 |
| E-7 | $3,013 | $4,187 | $5,191 | $7,093 |
| E-9 | $3,769 | $4,943 | $5,947 | $7,849 |
| O-3 | $4,433 | $5,607 | $6,611 | $8,513 |
| O-5 | $5,707 | $6,881 | $7,885 | $9,787 |
VA disability compensation is tax-free in every state. Whether your retirement pay is taxed depends on where you live, and the best states for military retirees compares them.
How to Use This Chart
- Find your rank in the enlisted, officer or warrant officer chart.
- Read across to your years of service at retirement.
- That's your monthly pension before tax under High-3. Under BRS, multiply by 0.80.
- Add your VA disability on top. It's tax-free.
Stop guessing at the number your family will live on
Transition is stressful enough without a fuzzy retirement number. Enter your rank, years, state and VA rating and see your real monthly take-home, plus the civilian salary you'd need to match your current lifestyle. It takes about a minute, and it's free.
See my real take-home →The chart shows every rank. The worksheet shows yours, with the 30-year value after COLA, federal tax through the real brackets, and what your next VA rating step is worth each month. One-time $9, or see a sample first.
2027 Military Retirement Pay FAQ
How much is military retirement pay in 2027?
An E-7 retiring at 20 years in mid-2027 gets about $3,013 a month before tax under High-3 (projected), and an O-5 at 20 years about $5,707. The charts cover E-5 to O-10 and W-1 to W-5 at 20, 24, 26 and 30 years of service.
How is military retirement pay calculated?
Under High-3 your pension is 2.5% of your highest 36-month average basic pay for each year of service, so 50% at 20 years and 75% at 30. Under BRS it is 2.0% a year, so 40% at 20 years.
How much does the 2027 raise add to my retirement pay?
Retiring mid-2027, only 6 of your 36 High-3 months are at 2027 rates. An E-7 retiring at 20 years in mid-2027 gets $3,013 a month, $133 more than the same E-7 retiring in mid-2026, because a year of higher pay replaces a year of lower pay in the average. Each extra month you serve into 2027 adds more.
What do current military retirees get in 2027?
Current retirees get the 3.6% cost of living adjustment instead. It applies to retired pay from December 1, 2026, and the first check at the new rate arrives December 31, 2026, since January 1 is a holiday.
How much less is a BRS pension?
BRS pays 2.0% a year instead of 2.5%, so the pension is 80% of the High-3 figure. An E-7 at 20 years gets $2,411 a month under BRS instead of $3,013, and the TSP match is meant to make up the difference.