KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The 2026 TSP contribution limit is $24,500 ($32,000 if you’re 50 or older with catch-up contributions)
- Under BRS, DoD matches up to 5% of base pay — contribute at least 5% to capture the full match
- The C Fund has averaged roughly 6.9% annually — compounding over 20 years turns modest contributions into significant retirement wealth
- Maxing out your TSP early in the year stops your DoD matching — spread contributions to hit the limit in December, not July
- Combat zone deployments allow contributions up to $72,000 tax-free — the single best wealth-building window in a military career
- How to Use This Calculator
- TSP Growth Calculator
- TSP Basics for Military Members
- 2026 Contribution Limits
- BRS Matching: Don’t Leave Money Behind
- Choosing the Right TSP Fund
- Contribution Strategies by Career Stage
- The Combat Zone Advantage
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Use This Calculator
This TSP growth projector is built specifically for military service members. Enter your current TSP balance, your annual base pay, your contribution percentage, and how many years you have until retirement. Select the investment fund that most closely matches your current allocation, and the calculator will project your balance at retirement — broken down by your contributions, DoD matching, and investment growth.
A few things to keep in mind as you use it. The fund return rates shown are historical averages and are not guaranteed. Actual returns will vary year to year. The DoD matching calculation assumes you are enrolled in the Blended Retirement System (BRS) — if you are on the legacy High-36 system, your employer match is zero and your pension multiplier is higher. The annual pay increase slider lets you account for promotions and longevity pay increases over your career.
TSP Growth Calculator
TSP Growth Projector
Your situation
Investment fund
Historical averages — actual returns will vary. Higher potential returns come with greater short-term volatility.
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. It is not financial advice. For official TSP projections, use the TSP’s official calculators at tsp.gov. Consult a financial advisor for personalized retirement planning guidance.
TRENDING: See Today’s VA Loan Rates
TSP Basics for Military Members
The Thrift Savings Plan is the military’s version of a 401(k) — a tax-advantaged retirement savings account administered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. It offers some of the lowest expense ratios of any retirement account in the world (around 0.048%), meaning nearly every dollar you invest goes to work for you rather than to fund manager fees.
Military members contribute a percentage of their base pay — not a flat dollar amount like many civilian employees can. This matters for contribution timing, which we cover in the strategies section below. Contributions come out of your paycheck before taxes (Traditional TSP) or after taxes (Roth TSP), and you can split between both in any ratio.
Your TSP account goes with you when you leave the military. You can leave it in TSP, roll it to a civilian employer’s 401(k), or roll it to an IRA. For most service members, leaving it in TSP makes sense given the extremely low fees. See our guide to TSP military-to-civilian transfers for a full breakdown of your options at separation.
2026 TSP Contribution Limits
For 2026, the IRS has set the following limits for TSP contributions:
| Category | 2026 Limit |
|---|---|
| Elective deferral (under age 50) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contributions (age 50 and older) | $7,500 additional ($32,000 total) |
| Annual additions limit (including employer match) | $72,000 |
| Combat zone contributions (tax-free pay) | Up to $72,000 |
Note that DoD matching contributions count toward the $72,000 annual additions limit, not the $24,500 elective deferral limit. So even if you max out the $24,500 yourself, DoD matching can continue on top of that up to the $72,000 ceiling.
BRS Matching: Don’t Leave Money Behind
If you entered service on or after January 1, 2018, you are automatically enrolled in the Blended Retirement System. Under BRS, the Department of Defense automatically contributes 1% of your base pay to your TSP regardless of whether you contribute anything yourself. Beyond that, DoD matches your contributions dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of base pay, and 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2%.
Contributing exactly 5% of your base pay captures the full match and effectively gives you a 5% contribution for the cost of your own 5%. That is a 100% return on your first 3% before your money has even been invested. Any contribution below 5% under BRS is leaving guaranteed money on the table.
The BRS opt-in window for legacy members closed permanently on December 31, 2018. Service members who entered before January 1, 2018 and did not opt in during 2018 remain on the High-36 legacy system with no employer match and a higher pension multiplier. For more detail on how the two systems compare, see our Military TSP Guide 2026.
Choosing the Right TSP Fund
TSP offers five individual index funds and a series of Lifecycle (L) funds that automatically adjust their allocation as you approach your target retirement date. Here is a plain-language breakdown of each:
| Fund | What It Tracks | Avg Annual Return | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| G Fund | U.S. government securities | ~2.0% | Lowest |
| F Fund | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index | ~3.2% | Low-moderate |
| C Fund | S&P 500 large-cap stocks | ~6.9% | Moderate-high |
| S Fund | Small and mid-cap U.S. stocks | ~7.4% | Higher |
| I Fund | International stocks (MSCI EAFE) | ~5.8% | Moderate-high |
| L Funds | Blend of all five funds, auto-adjusted | Varies by target date | Varies |
For a detailed comparison of fund performance, expense ratios, and year-by-year returns, see our TSP Fund Performance Comparison 2026.
The most common mistake among military members is defaulting to the G Fund because it never loses money. While true, the G Fund’s 2% average return barely keeps pace with inflation over a 20-year career. A service member who puts $500 per month into the G Fund for 20 years ends up with significantly less purchasing power than one who uses the C Fund, despite both making the same dollar contributions.
VA Home Loan Benefit
Planning Retirement? Don’t Overlook Your VA Loan Benefit
Building wealth through TSP is one piece of the puzzle. Owning a home with $0 down and no PMI is another. Check your VA loan eligibility in minutes.
Check VA Loan Eligibility →Contribution Strategies by Career Stage
Early Career (0–8 Years of Service)
Time is your most valuable asset. Even modest contributions invested in growth-oriented funds like the C or S Fund will compound dramatically over a 20-year career. The priority at this stage is hitting 5% to capture the full BRS match, then increasing contributions with each promotion and pay raise. Many junior enlisted members can contribute 5–10% without significantly impacting take-home pay.
Mid-Career (8–16 Years of Service)
At this stage, promotions and longevity pay increases create opportunities to step up contributions without lifestyle impact. Aim to increase your contribution percentage by 1% with each pay raise. Review your fund allocation — a C/S Fund split or an age-appropriate L Fund is suitable for most mid-career members. This is also the window to consider the Roth vs. Traditional decision more carefully based on your current tax bracket.
TRENDING: See Today’s VA Loan Rates
Approaching Retirement (16–20 Years)
Begin transitioning toward a more conservative allocation — not all-G-Fund, but a mix that reduces volatility without sacrificing all growth potential. L Fund target-date options are designed for this transition. Also revisit your beneficiary designations and ensure your TSP account information is current. Use our Military Pension Calculator to see how your TSP balance will supplement your retirement pay.
The Contribution Timing Problem
This is one of the most overlooked TSP mistakes for military members. Because you contribute as a percentage of base pay rather than a flat dollar amount, it is possible to hit the $24,500 annual limit mid-year — and when contributions stop, so does your DoD matching for the rest of the year. Divide $24,500 by your total base pay for the year to find the exact percentage that will get you to the limit in December. Recalculate every January when your pay changes.
The Combat Zone Advantage
Deployment to a qualifying combat zone is the single greatest wealth-building opportunity available to military service members. When deployed to a combat zone, your contribution limit jumps from $24,500 to $72,000 for that tax year. If you elect Roth TSP contributions during deployment, those contributions come from tax-free combat pay — meaning the money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free in retirement. This triple tax advantage is unique in the U.S. tax code.
Service members with deployment savings or bonuses should strongly consider flooding their TSP during combat zone deployments. Even one deployment where you contribute the maximum can add years of projected retirement wealth. See our Military Deployment Financial Checklist for a full breakdown of financial moves to make before and during deployment.
Want updates when benefit rates change?
Join thousands of service members who get our free weekly briefing.
Frequently Asked Questions
This calculator uses historical average fund returns and standard compound interest math to project future balances. It is designed to give you a realistic range of outcomes based on reasonable assumptions. Actual results will vary based on real-world market performance, contribution timing, and changes to your pay and contribution rate over time. For official projections, use the TSP’s own calculators at tsp.gov.
Yes, with one adjustment. Set the calculator to assume 0% DoD matching — the BRS matching shown does not apply to legacy High-36 members. Your personal contributions and investment growth will project correctly. Note that as a High-36 member your pension multiplier is higher (2.5% per year vs. 2.0% under BRS), which partially offsets the lack of matching. Use our Military Pension Calculator to compare total retirement income under both systems.
For most junior enlisted members, Roth TSP is the right choice — your current tax rate is low and will likely be higher in retirement. For senior enlisted and officers in higher tax brackets, Traditional TSP may make more sense. During combat zone deployments, Roth is almost always superior because contributions come from tax-free pay. Many service members split contributions between both. See the Roth vs. Traditional section of our Military TSP Guide for a full comparison.
Your TSP account stays active when you separate or retire. You can leave your balance in TSP indefinitely, roll it to a civilian employer’s 401(k), or roll it to an IRA. TSP’s expense ratios (~0.048%) are among the lowest available anywhere, so many financial advisors recommend leaving it in TSP unless you have a compelling reason to move it. See our TSP Military-to-Civilian Transfer Guide for a full breakdown of your options.
Yes. TSP and IRA contribution limits are completely separate. In 2026 you can contribute up to $24,500 to TSP and up to $7,000 to a Traditional or Roth IRA (or $8,000 if you are 50 or older). For guidance on IRA options for military members, see our guide on whether service members can contribute to IRAs.
This article is provided by USMilitary.org, an independent educational resource. We are not affiliated with the Department of Defense, the Thrift Savings Plan, or any government agency. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. For official TSP information, visit tsp.gov.
