Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Annuity Calculator
Estimated Annuity:
Estimated Annual Annuity:
Estimated Monthly Annuity:
Understanding Your Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Annuity
The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) is a defined benefit plan that was established in 1920 to provide retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for most civilian employees of the United States government. While largely replaced by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) in 1987, many long-serving federal employees remain covered under CSRS. Understanding how your CSRS annuity is calculated is crucial for retirement planning.
How Your CSRS Annuity is Calculated
Your CSRS annuity is primarily determined by three factors:
- Your "High-3" Average Salary: This is the highest average annual basic pay you earned during any 3 consecutive years of service. These three years do not have to be your last three years of service, but they typically are.
- Your Years and Months of Creditable Service: This includes all periods of federal civilian service for which retirement deductions were taken, as well as certain types of military service if a deposit was made.
- A Multiplier Based on Service Length: The percentage of your High-3 salary you receive per year of service varies depending on how long you've served.
The CSRS Annuity Formula
The basic formula for calculating your annual CSRS annuity is:
Annual Annuity = High-3 Average Salary × Total Service Multiplier
The "Total Service Multiplier" is calculated as follows:
- First 5 years of service: 1.5% for each year (0.015)
- Next 5 years of service (years 6 through 10): 1.75% for each year (0.0175)
- All service over 10 years: 2.0% for each year (0.02)
These percentages are applied to your High-3 average salary. For example, if you have 20 years of service, your multiplier would be calculated as:
- (5 years × 1.5%) + (5 years × 1.75%) + (10 years × 2.0%)
- (5 × 0.015) + (5 × 0.0175) + (10 × 0.02)
- 0.075 + 0.0875 + 0.20 = 0.3625
So, for 20 years of service, your multiplier would be 36.25% of your High-3 average salary.
Using the CSRS Annuity Calculator
Our calculator simplifies this process for you. Simply input:
- High-3 Average Salary: Enter your highest average basic pay over any three consecutive years.
- Years of Creditable Service: Input the total number of full years you have served.
- Months of Creditable Service: Input any additional months of service (0-11).
The calculator will then provide you with an estimated annual and monthly annuity amount.
Examples:
Let's look at a couple of scenarios:
Example 1: Employee with 15 Years and 0 Months of Service
- High-3 Average Salary: $60,000
- Years of Service: 15
- Months of Service: 0
- Calculation:
- (5 years × 0.015) = 0.075
- (5 years × 0.0175) = 0.0875
- (5 years × 0.02) = 0.10
- Total Multiplier = 0.075 + 0.0875 + 0.10 = 0.2625 (or 26.25%)
- Annual Annuity = $60,000 × 0.2625 = $15,750.00
- Monthly Annuity = $15,750.00 / 12 = $1,312.50
Example 2: Employee with 30 Years and 6 Months of Service
- High-3 Average Salary: $80,000
- Years of Service: 30
- Months of Service: 6
- Total Service Years = 30.5 years
- Calculation:
- (5 years × 0.015) = 0.075
- (5 years × 0.0175) = 0.0875
- (20.5 years × 0.02) = 0.41
- Total Multiplier = 0.075 + 0.0875 + 0.41 = 0.5725 (or 57.25%)
- Annual Annuity = $80,000 × 0.5725 = $45,800.00
- Monthly Annuity = $45,800.00 / 12 = $3,816.67
Important Considerations:
- Estimates Only: This calculator provides an estimate. Your actual annuity may be affected by factors such as deductions for health insurance, life insurance, survivor benefits, and taxes.
- Creditable Service: Ensure you have an accurate count of your creditable service, including any military service deposits.
- High-3 Accuracy: Your agency's HR or payroll department can help you determine your precise High-3 average salary.
- Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs): CSRS annuities are generally subject to annual COLAs, which are not factored into this initial calculation.
For a definitive calculation of your CSRS annuity, always consult with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or your agency's retirement specialist.