High-3 Salary Calculator
Compute your high-3 average salary — the highest-paid 36 consecutive months of your federal career — the exact figure your FERS annuity is based on. Enter your salary history periods and get the properly weighted average, with the math shown month by month.
Works offline — your inputs never leave this device. How that works
Enter your basic pay periods in order, oldest first — include locality pay, exclude bonuses/overtime. Promotions and step increases mid-year should be separate rows.
Best consecutive 36-month window, time-weighted by months at each rate. Carry this into the FERS retirement calculator.
Verified 2026-07-30 against OPM — FERS computation, eligibility, creditable service & annuitant pamphlet (effective 2026-01-01)
Estimate only — not legal, financial, or benefits advice. Only OPM can determine your actual benefit.
Official source: OPM — FERS computation (high-3) ↗
🎓 Understand this tool
What it is
A calculator for your high-3 average salary — the 36 consecutive highest-paid months of federal service that anchor every FERS annuity computation.
How it works
You enter salary periods (rate and months); the tool finds the best consecutive 36-month window and computes the time-weighted average, the same way the statute defines it — by rates in effect over time, not calendar-year W-2 totals.
Getting the most from it
- List your basic pay rates for the last several years, including locality pay.
- Include the months each rate was in effect — promotions and within-grade increases mid-year matter.
- Check the highlighted 36-month window; it is usually, but not always, your last three years.
- Carry the result into the FERS retirement calculator.
Reading your result
The output is an average of basic pay rates over time. If your recent pay dipped (for example a voluntary change to lower grade), the tool may select an earlier window — that is correct behavior, not a bug.
What it can't tell you
Bonuses, overtime, and awards never count; part-time service proration and certain pay caps are not modeled. Your official high-3 is determined from your certified pay record at retirement.
Frequently asked questions
Basic pay — including locality pay and shift rates where applicable — over your highest-paid 36 consecutive months, usually your final three years. Bonuses, overtime, and awards do not count.
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Estimate your FERS annuity from your high-3 average salary, creditable service years, and retirement age. Applies the 1% multiplier, the 1.1% multiplier at age 62 with 20+ years, your minimum retirement age by birth year, and the MRA+10 early-retirement reduction — with every step of the math shown.
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Look up 2026 General Schedule pay for any grade, step, and locality. Returns the exact annual and hourly figures from the official OPM tables — base pay plus your locality percentage — for all 15 grades, 10 steps, and 58 locality areas including Rest of U.S.
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