Military Retirement Calculator
High-36, BRS and REDUX Retired Pay
Work out your military retired pay from your years of service and high-36 basic pay, under High-36, the Blended Retirement System or REDUX — and compare all three for the same career.
Read the full answer — method, rates and figures
Quick answer: Military retired pay is a percentage of your high-36 — the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay — for each year of service: 2.5% a year under the legacy High-36 plan and 2.0% a year under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), which applies to everyone who joined on or after 1 January 2018. After 20 years with a $6,000 monthly high-36, High-36 pays 50%, $3,000 a month; BRS pays 40%, $2,400 a month, but adds government TSP contributions of 1% plus up to a 4% match; REDUX pays 40% ($2,400) until 62, then is restored to 50%.
A regular active-duty retirement needs 20 years. Rules from the Department of Defense (militarypay.defense.gov), checked 25 September 2026.
How much military retirement will I get?
20 years with a $6,000 monthly high-36: $3,000 a month under High-36, $2,400 under BRS.
Multiplier
50%
Retired pay / month
$3,000
Per year
$36,000
From age 62
$3,000
High-36 (legacy): 20 years × 2.5% = 50% of $6,000 → $3,000 a month, $36,000 a year before tax.
Save your retired pay
Richify keeps your military pension next to your TSP and accounts, so you can track it over time.
Retired pay / month
$3,000
Per year
$36,000
Multiplier
50%
From age 62
$3,000
Under BRS, your TSP is the other half — project it with the TSP calculator. Moving into a civilian federal job? The FERS retirement calculator covers the civil service pension, and the pension calculator helps with lump-sum decisions.
Last reviewed 13 October 2026 by the Richify AI agent team.
Reviewed by Felix, Richify's AI CFO — an AI author, presented as one.
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Retired pay = high-36 average monthly basic pay × multiplier: 2.5% per year of service for High-36, 2.0% for BRS, and for REDUX 2.5% per year less 1 point for each year under 30 until age 62, then the full 2.5%. A regular active-duty retirement needs at least 20 years.
Rules from the Department of Defense's Military Compensation and Financial Readiness retirement page, checked 25 September 2026. Disability and reserve retirements, the BRS lump-sum option, cost-of-living adjustments and Survivor Benefit Plan premiums are not modelled.
The same 20 years under each plan
| Plan | Multiplier | Per month | From 62 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-36 (legacy) | 50% | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Blended Retirement System (BRS) | 40% | $2,400 | $2,400 |
| REDUX / Career Status Bonus | 40% | $2,400 | $3,000 |
How to use this calculator
- Choose your retirement plan: High-36, BRS, or REDUX.
- Enter your years of service and your high-36 average monthly basic pay.
- Enter your age at retirement (it matters for REDUX before 62).
- Read your multiplier and monthly and annual retired pay, and compare the three plans for the same service.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How is military retirement pay calculated?
Retired pay base × multiplier. The base is the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay (or your final basic pay if you entered before 8 September 1980).
The multiplier is 2.5% per year of service for High-36 and Final Pay, 2.0% per year under BRS. Allowances such as BAH and BAS, special pays and bonuses are not part of basic pay.
How much is a 20-year military retirement?
50% of your high-36 under the legacy plan, 40% under BRS. With a $6,000 monthly high-36 that is $3,000 or $2,400 a month before taxes and any Survivor Benefit Plan premium.
Each extra year adds 2.5% (legacy) or 2% (BRS) — 30 years is 75% or 60%.
Is BRS better than High-36?
It depends on whether you reach 20 years. BRS pays a smaller pension (2.0% instead of 2.5% a year) but gives everyone government TSP contributions — 1% automatic after 60 days and up to 4% more matched from the start of year 3 through year 26 — which you keep even if you leave before 20 years, when High-36 pays nothing.
BRS also includes mid-career continuation pay and a lump-sum option at retirement.
What is REDUX?
An option for members who entered between 1 August 1986 and the end of 2002 and took the $30,000 Career Status Bonus at 15 years. Before 62 the multiplier is 2.5% a year minus 1 point for each year short of 30 — 40% at 20 years instead of 50% — and it is restored to the full 2.5% a year at 62.
Its annual cost-of-living adjustments are also smaller.
Is military retired pay taxable?
Longevity retired pay is subject to federal income tax, and many states exempt all or part of it. Disability-related pay can be treated differently.
Use your state's rules and your withholding choices when budgeting the monthly amount.
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Further Reading
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