CSRS Retirement: Formula, Eligibility and How It Differs From FERS
The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pays 1.5% of your high-3 average salary for each of your first 5 years, 1.75% for the next 5, and 2% for every year after 10. The most it can pay is 80% of high-3. FERS replaced CSRS for federal employees who first entered covered service on or after January 1, 1987, so CSRS is the older system.
Table of Contents
The CSRS Formula
| Years of service | Percent of high-3, per year |
|---|---|
| First 5 years | 1.5% |
| Second 5 years | 1.75% |
| Every year over 10 | 2% |
| Law enforcement, firefighter, nuclear materials courier, Capitol Police or Supreme Court Police service (first 20 years) | 2.5%, then 2% for the rest |
High-3 is the highest average basic pay over any 3 consecutive years, usually your last three. Overtime and bonuses are not included. Your unused sick leave counts as extra service time when you retire on an immediate annuity. The annuity cannot exceed 80% of high-3 plus sick leave credit, which generally affects only people with more than 41 years 11 months of service.
Example, our own arithmetic from OPM's rates: 30 years of service and a high-3 of $80,000 is 5 x 1.5% + 5 x 1.75% + 20 x 2% = 56.25%, or $45,000 a year before any reductions.
The annuity is cut if you retire before 55 (one-sixth of 1% per full month under 55, except disability and the special law enforcement, air traffic controller and firefighter provisions), and if you choose a survivor benefit. A full survivor benefit for a spouse costs 2.5% of the first $3,600 of annuity plus 10% of the rest. After you retire, cost-of-living increases are added to the annuity.
When You Can Retire
| Type | Age | Years of service | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optional (voluntary) | 62 | 5 | |
| Optional (voluntary) | 60 | 20 | |
| Optional (voluntary) | 55 | 30 | |
| Early optional | 50, or any age | 20, or 25 | Agency in a major reorganization, reduction in force or transfer of function; reduced if under 55 |
| Discontinued service | 50, or any age | 20, or 25 | Involuntary separation, not for misconduct or delinquency |
| Special provision | 50, or any age (air traffic controllers only) | 20, or 25 | Law enforcement, firefighters, air traffic controllers and similar |
| Disability | Any | 5 | Disabled for useful and efficient service, expected to last over a year |
In every case you must have served in a CSRS-covered position in one of your last two years before retiring. If you leave before meeting these, you can get a deferred annuity at age 62 with at least 5 years of civilian service.
CSRS vs FERS
FERS replaced CSRS for employees who first entered covered service on or after January 1, 1987. CSRS employees contribute 7, 7.5 or 8 percent of pay and generally pay no Social Security retirement, survivor and disability tax, though they do pay the 1.45% Medicare tax. The Thrift Savings Plan is open to CSRS employees but with no government match. Under FERS the pension is 1% of high-3 per year of service, or 1.1% in some cases. See our FERS retirement calculator to compare.
Sources & Methodology
- Formula, reductions, 80% cap, special computations: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, CSRS Computation. Retrieved Nov. 4, 2026.
- Age and service requirements: OPM, CSRS Eligibility. Retrieved Nov. 4, 2026.
- Deferred and disability retirement: OPM, CSRS Types of Retirement. Retrieved Nov. 4, 2026.
- Coverage, contribution rates, Social Security and Medicare tax, TSP: OPM, CSRS Information. Retrieved Nov. 4, 2026.
- Our $45,000 example is our own arithmetic from the OPM rates. Every figure is checked in
docs/research/csrs-retirement-facts-2026-11-04.mdin our research repo. OPM's pages are the final word.
FAQ
What is the CSRS retirement age?
There is no single age. You can retire at 62 with 5 years, 60 with 20 years or 55 with 30 years. With 25 years you can retire at any age in some early cases, with a reduction under 55.
What is the most CSRS can pay?
80% of your high-3 average salary, plus credit for unused sick leave.
Do CSRS employees pay into Social Security?
Generally no for the retirement, survivor and disability part. They do pay the 1.45% Medicare tax.
General information, not financial advice.
