Estimate your potential monthly retirement income from the U.S. Air Force based on your service years and current pay. This calculator provides a simplified estimate and does not include all potential benefits or factors.
Yes
No
Estimated Monthly Retirement Pay
—
Understanding USAF Retirement Pay
Retiring from the U.S. Air Force is a significant achievement, and understanding your retirement benefits is crucial for financial planning. The primary component of retirement pay for most Air Force members is the High-3 retired pay system.
The High-3 Retired Pay System
This system calculates your retired pay based on your average of the 36 months (3 years) of highest basic pay during your active duty service, multiplied by a retention multiplier.
Key Components:
Base Pay: This is the foundational element. It's determined by your rank and years of service. For estimation purposes, we use your current monthly base pay.
High-3 Average: For those retiring under the High-3 system (typically after 20 years of service), the calculation uses the average of your highest 36 months of basic pay. For simplicity in this calculator, we assume your current base pay represents a reasonable average for estimation, though actual calculations might differ slightly.
Retention Multiplier: This is a percentage based on your total years of active service. The multiplier increases by 2.5% for each creditable year of service, up to a maximum of 75% for 30 years of service.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified)
This calculator uses the following simplified formula:
Estimated Monthly Retired Pay = (Years of Service * 2.5%) * Monthly Base Pay
Important Notes:
The calculator assumes you are eligible for retirement benefits based on your years of service. A minimum of 20 years of creditable service is generally required.
The multiplier caps at 75% for 30 years of service.
This calculation does not include potential longevity bonus pay, special pays, allowances (like BAS or BAH), or the impact of SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan).
The "High-3" system is standard for servicemembers who entered service after September 7, 1980. Those who entered before may be under different systems (e.g., Final Basic Pay). This calculator defaults to the High-3 calculation method.
The calculator treats the input 'monthlyBasePay' as the base for the High-3 average calculation for simplicity.
Disclaimer: This tool is for informational and estimation purposes only. Consult official Air Force retirement resources or a financial advisor for precise calculations and personalized advice.
function calculateRetirement() {
var yearsOfServiceInput = document.getElementById("yearsOfService");
var monthlyBasePayInput = document.getElementById("monthlyBasePay");
var has20YearsFlagInput = document.getElementById("has20YearsFlag");
var yearsOfService = parseFloat(yearsOfServiceInput.value);
var monthlyBasePay = parseFloat(monthlyBasePayInput.value);
var has20YearsFlag = has20YearsFlagInput.value === 'true';
var retirementEstimateSpan = document.getElementById("retirementEstimate");
// Clear previous results and errors
retirementEstimateSpan.textContent = "–";
retirementEstimateSpan.style.color = "#28a745"; // Reset to success green
// Input validation
if (isNaN(yearsOfService) || yearsOfService < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number for Years of Service.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(monthlyBasePay) || monthlyBasePay < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number for Monthly Base Pay.");
return;
}
// Basic requirement check for retirement eligibility
if (yearsOfService 75) {
retentionMultiplierPercentage = 75;
}
// Calculate estimated monthly retired pay
var estimatedPay = monthlyBasePay * (retentionMultiplierPercentage / 100);
// Format the output to two decimal places
var formattedPay = estimatedPay.toFixed(2);
// Display the result
retirementEstimateSpan.textContent = "$" + formattedPay;
retirementEstimateSpan.style.color = "#28a745"; // Success green for valid results
}