Federal retirement worksheet
See how the general CSRS formula works.
Use your agency-confirmed high-3 and ordinary CSRS service to illustrate the general formula before adjustments. This worksheet excludes unused sick leave.
Educational formula illustration. It is not an official benefit estimate or financial, tax or retirement advice.
Figures stay in this page's memory. This tool does not send or save them, add them to a link, or ask for a name, birth date, account number or document.
General formula illustration
Enter agency-confirmed figures, then illustrate the general formula.
Before adjustments
- Illustrated annual amount
- Monthly arithmetic equivalent
These amounts exclude unused sick-leave credit, survivor costs, deposits, taxes and benefit premiums.
The three service bands
Apply 1.5% of high-3 for each of the first five service years, 1.75% for each of the next five, and 2% for service beyond ten years.
Whole service months are used proportionately. This illustration limits the basic-service formula to 80% of high-3 before any unused sick-leave credit.
The complete CSRS benefit can include unused sick-leave credit beyond the basic-service ceiling. This worksheet does not add that credit. Ask your agency to reconcile it separately.
Annual and monthly amounts are rounded independently to cents for arithmetic illustration. They do not reproduce OPM's benefit-award or payment-rounding rules.
Use the right system and a complete estimate.
High-3 is an average of basic pay over a consecutive three-year period. Your final salary, total earnings and last three calendar years may produce different figures. Your agency verifies the applicable pay and credited service.
CSRS Offset, mixed CSRS/FERS service, special-category retirement, early or reduced benefits, disability, part-time service, phased retirement and unresolved service adjustments require different work. This worksheet holds those cases instead of applying the ordinary formula.
The tool does not decide whether or when you can retire, calculate an official annuity, select a survivor election or forecast take-home income. Keep personal service and financial records with your agency or appropriate adviser.
Read the primary sources
Relevant primary-source sections rechecked November 5, 2026. Recheck current agency and OPM guidance before a decision.
- OPM: CSRS computation, adjustments and maximum benefit
- OPM: CSRS eligibility and retirement categories
- OPM: CSRS planning and agency records
Connect the next question
Read the CSRS formula record guide, explore CSRS decision topics, or use the separate FERS formula worksheet if your agency confirms FERS coverage.