FERS Retirement Calculator: How to Use It
The FERS pension formula looks simple on paper: high-3 times years of service times the multiplier. The inputs are where it gets complicated.
What this calculator does
The FERS Retirement Calculator computes your Federal Employees Retirement System defined benefit pension using OPM's actual formula. It handles three distinct retirement scenarios: standard retirement with full benefits, MRA+10 early retirement with the 5%-per-year penalty, and VERA (Voluntary Early Retirement Authority) for employees whose agency has received OPM approval. It also estimates the FERS Special Retirement Supplement for employees who retire before 62.
The result tells you your annual and monthly pension, any early retirement reduction that applies, and an estimated supplement amount. If you're comparing VERA to waiting for standard retirement, it shows you what staying costs in additional years and what you gain in pension income.
What each input means
High-3 average salary
This is the average of your three consecutive highest years of basic pay, not your current salary. For most people approaching retirement, it's the average of the last three years. Basic pay includes locality pay for most FERS employees but excludes overtime, bonuses, awards, and allowances.
Find it on your SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action forms. Pull the last four or five to see your salary history. Average the three highest consecutive years. If you took a lower-grade position at some point, your high-3 might come from a few years back.
Years of creditable service
Not the same as years employed. Creditable service counts your civilian federal service under FERS or CSRS (if you transferred), military service for which you made a deposit, and certain leave without pay. Part-time service is prorated. Sick leave counts at retirement but only after you're already eligible.
Check your FERS Statement of Earnings and Leave or request your Official Personnel Folder for the exact count. If you have military service you haven't deposited, it's worth calculating whether the deposit cost is worth the added service credit.
Current age and retirement age
The calculator needs your current age to determine your Minimum Retirement Age and to assess whether any penalty applies. Born in 1970 or later: your MRA is 57. The retirement age you enter determines which scenario applies and whether the 1.1% multiplier is available.
Estimated Social Security benefit at 62
Used only to calculate the FERS supplement. Get this from your Social Security Statement at ssa.gov/myaccount. The statement shows your estimated benefit at 62, full retirement age, and 70. Use the age-62 figure. The supplement calculation is: (years of FERS service / 40) times that estimated benefit.
Understanding the outputs
The pension figure is your annual gross benefit before taxes and before any survivor benefit election. A survivor benefit election costs roughly 10% of your pension for a full survivor annuity (50% of your benefit to your spouse after death). The calculator shows the pre-election number.
The early retirement reduction, if applicable, is permanent. It doesn't go away when you turn 62. The only way to avoid it after separating at MRA+10 is to defer your annuity start date to 62, receiving nothing in the interim.
The supplement estimate is approximate. OPM calculates it from your actual Social Security earnings record when you retire. The calculator uses your self-reported SSA estimate, which is a reasonable proxy but not exact.
The 1.1% multiplier: when it matters
Standard FERS uses a 1.0% multiplier. Retire at 62 or older with at least 20 years of service and the multiplier becomes 1.1%. On a $90,000 high-3 with 28 years of service, that's the difference between $25,200 and $27,720 per year. Every year, for life. If you're 60 with 19 years, staying two more years doesn't just add service credit, it also triggers the higher multiplier.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my high-3 average salary?
Pull your SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action forms for the last four or five years. Your salary is in Box 20. Average the three highest consecutive years. OPM calculates the exact number when you apply, but SF-50s give you a solid estimate for planning.
What is the MRA for someone born in 1970 or later?
57. The MRA ranges from 55 to 57 depending on birth year. Anyone born in 1970 or later has an MRA of 57. The MRA schedule is fixed by law and hasn't changed since FERS was created.
Does the FERS supplement count as income for the earnings test?
No. Only wages from employment count. Investment income, your pension, and the supplement itself don't trigger the reduction. In 2026, you can earn roughly $22,000 in wages before the supplement is reduced at $1 for every $2 over the limit.
Can I get a FERS pension if I leave before retirement age?
Yes, with 5+ years of service you're vested. You can receive a deferred annuity at 62, or at your MRA with 10+ years (subject to the MRA+10 penalty). Taking a contribution refund forfeits your annuity rights permanently.
What happens to my pension if I worked part-time?
Part-time service counts but at a reduced rate. Four years at half-time equals two years of creditable service. OPM applies a proration factor to the affected years. Your high-3 is based on your actual part-time pay, not what full-time would have been.