Navy Retirement Calculator | Estimate Your Future Pay & Benefits

ByDave
Use the Navy Retirement Calculator to quickly estimate your retirement pay, benefits, and pension. Fast, accurate, and built for every sailor’s career.
Navy Retirement Story Calculator

Which Retirement System Applies to You?

Your retirement system isn’t random; it depends on your Date of Initial Entry into Military Service (DIEMS):

High-36 (High-3) Retirement

Covers most sailors who joined between September 8, 1980, and December 31, 2017, and didn’t opt into BRS.

Blended Retirement System (BRS)

Applies to sailors who joined on or after January 1, 2018, or those eligible who opted in.

How Navy Retirement Pay Is Calculated

High‑36 is a defined benefit system. Your pension is calculated using this formula:

Years of Service × 2.5% × High-36 Average Base Pay

At 20 years of service, your multiplier hits 50%.

Example: If your High‑36 average pay is $4,534/month, your retirement pay would be $2,267/month.

For BRS, it is slightly different. The pension multiplier is lower.

Years of Service × 2.0% × High-36 Base Pay

This formula is used under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), which provides a lower multiplier but includes additional benefits like TSP matching.

Enlisted
Rank Monthly Pension Annual Pension
E‑4 $1,833 $21,996
E‑5 $2,224 $26,688
E‑6 $2,571 $30,852
E‑7 $2,969 $35,628
E‑8 $3,408 $40,896
E‑9 $3,839 $46,068
Officers
Rank Monthly Pension Annual Pension
O‑3 $3,927 $47,124
O‑4 $4,264 $51,168
O‑5 $4,594 $55,128
O‑6 $5,508 $66,096
Source: https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/retired-pay

Tax Considerations

Your retirement pay is federally taxable, but state rules vary widely:

Some states fully exempt military retirement pay. While others offer partial exemptions or age/income-based deductions.

State Exemption Type Notes
AlaskaFullNo state income tax
FloridaFullNo state income tax
NevadaFullNo state income tax
New HampshireFullPreviously taxed interest/dividends; now fully exempt
South DakotaFullNo state income tax
TennesseeFullNo state income tax
TexasFullNo state income tax
WashingtonFullNo state income tax
WyomingFullNo state income tax
CaliforniaPartialUp to $20,000 for AGI under limits
ColoradoPartialUp to $15,000 if under 55; $24,000 for 65+
DelawarePartialUp to $12,500 excluded if under 60
GeorgiaPartialExclusion increases with age; up to $65,000 for 2026
IdahoPartialRetirees 62+ and disabled; limited by SS benefits
KentuckyPartialSet amount exempt; exceptions for older retirees
MarylandPartialFirst $12,500; increases with age
MontanaPartial50% deduction first 5 years of eligibility
New MexicoPartialUp to $30,000 excluded
OregonPartialExemption depends on pre‑1991 service; otherwise rules vary
VermontPartialFull for low AGI; partial for moderate AGI starting 2025
VirginiaPartialExemption up to $40,000
CaliforniaBroad TaxBroad tax applies; modest exclusions
MontanaBroad TaxGeneral taxation with limited deductions
VermontBroad TaxStill taxes retirement income broadly; exemptions expanding

No state income tax exists in Florida, Texas, Nevada, or Alaska.

I’m Dave, a financial advisor helping seniors navigate retirement, Social Security, and savings. I share practical tips to help you plan and enjoy a secure, stress-free financial future.

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2 Comments

  1. Alright, I’m not gonna lie I’ve been staring at these numbers and my brain is spinning. I joined in 2017, I’m retiring E-5 after 20 years under High-36, and the calculator says $2,267/month. Then there’s COLA (2.8%?), federal taxes (~13%), and Alabama state tax so I’m sitting here thinking, wait, am I actually going to see $23k a year, or is it more like $20k? 😅

    Does anyone have experience with High-36 payouts in real life? I feel like every calculator online gives slightly different numbers, and I’m just trying to figure out what retirement will really look like at 37.

    Reply

    1. Haha, I feel you 100%. Between COLA adjustments, taxes, and state stuff, your “$2,267” ends up closer to $1,950–$2,000 a month in your account at first.

      My advice—don’t stress over exact numbers right now. Just use the calculator as a ballpark, and once you’re a few years out from retirement, sit down with PSD or a financial advisor. Seeing it on paper makes it way easier to plan, and the COLA does help over time.

      Reply

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