Monthly retired pay at 20 or more years under High-3 (2.5% a year) and the Blended Retirement System (2.0%), with REDUX for comparison
How Military Retired Pay Is Calculated
- High-3 average: your highest 36 months of basic pay, usually the last three years. For an E-7 retiring at 20, the 2026 table gives $6,000.90 (over 16) and $6,177.30 (over 18), for an average of about $6,118.50.
- Multiplier: 2.5% per year under High-3 (20 years = 50%), 2.0% under BRS (20 years = 40%).
- Retired pay: 50% × $6,118.50 = $3,059.25 a month under High-3; 40% = $2,447.40 under BRS.
BRS trades the lower multiplier for government contributions to your Thrift Savings Plan: an automatic 1% of basic pay plus up to 4% in matching. The BRS calculator works out that side, the continuation pay and the lump-sum option.
Multipliers by Years of Service
The 20, 30 and 40-year rows match the Defense Department’s published table. REDUX applied to members who entered from August 1, 1986 through December 31, 2002 and chose the $30,000 Career Status Bonus at 15 years; it cuts the multiplier by 1 point for each year under 30 until age 62.
Estimated Retired Pay, 2026 Table
These assume the member held the same grade for the last three years and use 2026 rates; your real High-3 is based on your actual pay history.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
High-3 and BRS retired pay rise each year with the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). REDUX increases are one percentage point lower, never below zero, with a one-time adjustment at 62 to restore the difference.
Common Mistakes
- Using final pay instead of the High-3 average. Only members who entered before September 8, 1980 use final basic pay.
- Comparing High-3 and BRS on retired pay alone. BRS adds TSP contributions and continuation pay.
- Forgetting taxes and offsets. Retired pay is taxable; VA disability compensation and the Survivor Benefit Plan premium can change the net amount.
What This Calculator Does Not Cover
It covers active-duty retirement at 20 or more years. Reserve (points-based) retirement, disability retirement (capped at 75% by law), TERA, the BRS lump sum and SBP are not included here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is military retirement pay calculated?
Multiply your years of service by 2.5% (High-3) or 2.0% (BRS) and apply that percentage to your High-3 average: the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay.
What percent of base pay is military retirement at 20 years?
50% of the High-3 average under the legacy High-3 plan, 40% under BRS and 40% under REDUX before age 62, per the Defense Department.
How much is E-7 retirement pay after 20 years?
About $3,059 a month under High-3 and $2,447 under BRS using a High-3 estimated from the 2026 pay table (about $6,118.50).
Does military retired pay get a COLA?
Yes. High-3 and BRS retired pay rise with CPI-W each year; REDUX gets CPI minus one point until a catch-up at 62.
What is REDUX?
A plan for members who entered between August 1, 1986 and December 31, 2002 and took the $30,000 Career Status Bonus at 15 years: 2.5% per year minus 1% for each year under 30 until age 62.
Is BRS worse than High-3?
The pension is 20% smaller, but BRS adds TSP contributions of up to 5% of basic pay and continuation pay, and covers members who leave before 20 years.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose your grade at retirement — and enter total years of service.
- Enter your High-3 average — or leave 0 to estimate it from the 2026 pay table.
- Calculate — to see High-3, BRS and REDUX monthly retired pay.
- Compare — the difference and the COLA rules for each plan.
📚 Sources & References- [1] Department of Defense, Military Compensation. Retirement: Final Pay, High-36, CSB/REDUX and BRS (accessed October 2026). militarypay.defense.gov
- [2] Executive Order of December 18, 2025, Schedule 8: Pay of the Uniformed Services, effective January 1, 2026. www.whitehouse.gov
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Editorial Standards — Every calculator is built from peer-reviewed formulas and official data sources, editorially reviewed for accuracy, and updated regularly.
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