CSRS Retirement Calculator

Calculate CSRS pension for legacy federal employees from years of service and high-3 salary.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: IRS

$
%

Annual Pension

$56,250.00

Monthly Pension

$4,687.50

% of High-3

56.3%

CSRS Formula Breakdown

First 5 years (1.5%)$7,500.00
Next 5 years (1.75%)$8,750.00
Remaining years (2.0%)$40,000.00
Annual Pension$56,250.00
Monthly Pension$4,687.50

Pension with COLA (Full CPI)

Year 5$63,641.71
Year 10$72,004.76
Year 20$92,172.17

Use the CSRS Retirement Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Longtime federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System can project their pension here using nothing more than their service history and salary record. Because CSRS annuities are generous and predictable, knowing your expected benefit shapes the most important questions of retirement: when to step away and what kind of lifestyle the pension will support. The calculation reflects rates that hold steady through 2026.

CSRS uses a tiered formula tied to your high-3 average salary and years of creditable service. The first 5 years of service accrue at 1.5%, the next band from 5 to 10 years accrues at 1.75%, and every year beyond 10 accrues at 2%. Those percentages are summed and then applied to the high-3 average to produce the gross annuity. This three-part structure has anchored federal pensions for decades and carries forward unchanged into 2026.

Your high-3 is the average of your three highest consecutive years of basic pay, which are not always your final three years on the job. Unused sick leave is another factor worth tracking, since it adds to the service total used in the pension formula even though it does not count toward retirement eligibility. Finally, if you elect a survivor benefit, plan around a reduced gross annuity, because that election lowers the monthly check.

Example: 30 Years of Service, High-3 Salary of $80,000

  1. 1 Input: Years of Service = 30 years, High-3 Salary = $80,000.
  2. 2 Calculation: (5 years * 1.5%) + (5 years * 1.75%) + (20 years * 2%) = 7.5% + 8.75% + 40% = 56.25%. Multiply $80,000 (High-3) by 56.25%.
  3. 3 Result: Your estimated annual CSRS pension is $45,000.
  4. 4 Context: This $45,000 annual pension provides a significant and stable income stream in retirement. This example does not include potential cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) which typically begin after age 62, or any deductions for health insurance or survivor benefits.

Source: IRS · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the CSRS pension calculated?
CSRS annuity uses a tiered formula: 1.5% of high-3 salary x first 5 years, plus 1.75% x next 5 years, plus 2% x remaining years. For 30 years at $90,000 high-3: (1.5% x 5 + 1.75% x 5 + 2% x 20) x $90,000 = $50,625 per year (56.25% of salary).
Do CSRS retirees get Social Security?
Most CSRS employees did not pay into Social Security and do not receive SS benefits for their federal service. If they qualify for SS through other work, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) significantly reduces the SS benefit. CSRS retirees also face the Government Pension Offset on spousal SS benefits.
Is CSRS better than FERS?
CSRS generally provides a higher pension (56% of high-3 at 30 years vs about 30% under FERS). However, FERS includes Social Security coverage and the TSP with matching, which can make up the difference. CSRS has been closed to new hires since 1987.

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