High 3 Retirement Calculator

High-3 Retirement Calculator

1.0% (Standard FERS) 1.1% (Age 62+ with 20+ years) 1.7% (Special/Law Enforcement)

Estimated Benefits

High-3 Average Salary

$0

Creditable Service Time

0 Years

Estimated Annual Pension

$0

Estimated Monthly Payment

$0

function calculateHigh3() { var s1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('salary1').value); var s2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('salary2').value); var s3 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('salary3').value); var years = parseFloat(document.getElementById('yearsService').value) || 0; var months = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthsService').value) || 0; var mult = parseFloat(document.getElementById('multiplier').value); if (isNaN(s1) || isNaN(s2) || isNaN(s3)) { alert('Please enter all three salary figures to calculate the High-3 average.'); return; } // High 3 Average var avgSalary = (s1 + s2 + s3) / 3; // Total Service in Decimal var totalServiceYears = years + (months / 12); // Formula: High-3 Average x Years of Service x Multiplier var annualPension = avgSalary * totalServiceYears * (mult / 100); var monthlyPension = annualPension / 12; document.getElementById('avgSalaryResult').innerText = '$' + avgSalary.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('totalTimeResult').innerText = totalServiceYears.toFixed(2) + ' Years'; document.getElementById('annualPensionResult').innerText = '$' + annualPension.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('monthlyPensionResult').innerText = '$' + monthlyPension.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('results-area').style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Your FERS High-3 Retirement Benefit

For federal employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), your pension is the cornerstone of your retirement security. The "High-3" average is one of the most critical variables in determining exactly how much you will receive in your monthly annuity check.

What is the "High-3"?

The High-3 average is the highest average basic pay you earned during any three consecutive years of service. It's important to note that these do not have to be calendar years (January to December); they can be any 36-month period where your pay was at its peak. For most employees, this occurs during their final three years before retirement.

The FERS Pension Formula

To calculate your gross annual annuity, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) uses this standard formula:

High-3 Average Salary × Years of Creditable Service × Pension Multiplier = Annual Pension

Key Factors That Influence Your Calculation

• Years of Service: This includes all your creditable civilian service. Any unused sick leave can also be converted into additional months of service time, which can slightly increase your pension.
• The Multiplier: Most FERS employees receive 1%. However, if you are at least 62 years old and have 20 or more years of service at retirement, your multiplier increases to 1.1%, which provides a 10% boost to your lifetime pension.
• Basic Pay: Your "basic pay" for High-3 purposes includes your base salary and locality pay, but generally excludes overtime, bonuses, and travel allowances.

Realistic Example Calculation

Let's look at a hypothetical federal employee named Sarah:

• Highest Salary Year 1: $92,000
• Highest Salary Year 2: $95,000
• Highest Salary Year 3: $98,000
• High-3 Average: $95,000
• Years of Service: 30 Years
• Multiplier: 1.1% (Sarah is 62)

Sarah's Calculation: $95,000 (Avg) × 30 (Years) × 0.011 (1.1%) = $31,350 per year, or approximately $2,612.50 per month before taxes and deductions.

Pro Tip: Check Your SF-50

To get the most accurate numbers for this calculator, check your latest Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Look for your "Adjusted Basic Pay," which includes your locality pay. Using the precise figures from your records will ensure your retirement planning is based on reality rather than estimates.