Estimate your annual and monthly defined-benefit pension from your final average salary, years of service, and the plan's accrual multiplier. See your income replacement ratio.
Defined-benefit estimate
Most defined-benefit pensions use a simple formula: Annual Pension = Final Average Salary × Years of Service × Accrual Multiplier. The multiplier (often 1%–2.5% per year of service) is set by the plan. So 30 years of service at a 2% multiplier on an $80,000 final average salary yields 80,000 × 30 × 0.02 = $48,000 per year, or $4,000 per month — a 60% income replacement ratio.
"Final average salary" is usually the average of your highest 3 or 5 years of pay, depending on the plan. The income replacement ratio (pension ÷ salary) shows how much of your working income the pension replaces; combined with Social Security and personal savings, retirees typically aim to replace 70%–85% of pre-retirement income. This estimate doesn't include cost-of-living adjustments, early-retirement reductions, or survivor options, which vary by plan.
Salary × Years × Multiplier. A 2% multiplier over 30 years replaces 60% of final salary.
Typically 1%–2.5% per year of service, set by your plan. Higher multipliers and longer service mean a bigger pension.
Pension ÷ salary. Combined with Social Security and savings, aim to replace 70%–85% of working income.