OPM Pension Estimator
Use this calculator to estimate your potential annual and monthly retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Your highest average basic pay over any 3 consecutive years of service.
Total years of federal service creditable towards your pension.
Your age when you plan to retire. Important for FERS multipliers.
Hours of unused sick leave that can be converted to service credit.
Understanding OPM Pensions (FERS & CSRS)
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers retirement benefits for federal employees. The two primary systems are the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Most federal employees hired after December 31, 1983, are covered by FERS. FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan consisting of:
- A Basic Benefit Plan (the pension calculated here)
- Social Security benefits
- The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a 401(k)-like plan
The FERS Basic Benefit is calculated using a formula:
High-3 Average Salary × Years of Creditable Service × Multiplier
The multiplier is typically 1.0% per year of service. However, if you retire at age 62 or later with at least 20 years of service, the multiplier increases to 1.1% per year of service.
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
CSRS covers most federal employees hired before January 1, 1984. It is a defined benefit plan that provides a pension based on your years of service and high-3 average salary. CSRS does not include Social Security as part of its primary benefit, though some employees may have Social Security coverage through other employment.
The CSRS basic benefit uses a tiered multiplier system:
- 1.5% for the first 5 years of service
- 1.75% for the next 5 years of service
- 2.0% for all years of service over 10
Key Inputs Explained
- High-3 Average Salary: This is the average of your highest basic pay during any 3 consecutive years of service. This period is usually at the end of your career when your salary is highest.
- Creditable Service Years: This includes all periods of federal civilian service for which retirement deductions were withheld, plus any military service for which a deposit was made.
- Age at Retirement: Your age at the time you retire can affect eligibility and the FERS multiplier.
- Unused Sick Leave Hours: Both FERS and CSRS allow you to convert unused sick leave into additional creditable service for pension calculation purposes. Approximately 2087 hours of sick leave equate to one year of service.
Example Calculation (FERS)
Let's say a FERS employee has a High-3 Average Salary of $80,000, 30 years of creditable service, retires at age 62, and has 1000 unused sick leave hours.
- Sick Leave Service: 1000 hours / 2087 hours/year ≈ 0.48 years
- Total Service: 30 + 0.48 = 30.48 years
- Since they are 62 with over 20 years, the multiplier is 1.1% (0.011).
- Annual Pension: $80,000 × 30.48 × 0.011 = $26,822.40
- Monthly Pension: $26,822.40 / 12 = $2,235.20
Example Calculation (CSRS)
Consider a CSRS employee with a High-3 Average Salary of $70,000, 35 years of creditable service, and 1500 unused sick leave hours.
- Sick Leave Service: 1500 hours / 2087 hours/year ≈ 0.72 years
- Total Service: 35 + 0.72 = 35.72 years
- Pension Calculation:
- First 5 years: $70,000 × 5 × 0.015 = $5,250
- Next 5 years: $70,000 × 5 × 0.0175 = $6,125
- Remaining years (35.72 – 10 = 25.72 years): $70,000 × 25.72 × 0.020 = $36,008
- Total Annual Pension: $5,250 + $6,125 + $36,008 = $47,383
- Monthly Pension: $47,383 / 12 = $3,948.58
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and should not be considered a guarantee of benefits. Actual benefits are determined by OPM based on official records and current regulations. It is always recommended to consult with an OPM benefits specialist or your agency's HR department for personalized advice.