TSP Calculator: Project Your Thrift Savings Plan Balance
Use this guide to understand the assumptions, inputs, results, and next steps behind the calculator.
Created by Luis Gonzalez · Last updated September 29, 2026
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined-contribution retirement plan for federal employees and members of the uniformed services. Your balance depends on contributions, government contributions, investment returns, and time. This calculator projects a TSP balance using salary, contribution rate, age, current balance, annual pay raises, expected return, and matching eligibility.
With the default inputs—$85,000 salary, 5% contribution, age 35 now, retirement at 62, $50,000 current TSP balance, 7% return, and 2% annual pay raises—the projected balance is $1,092,204. The model estimates $4,250 in annual employee contributions and $4,250 in annual agency contributions at the starting salary. It projects $735,769 of total investment growth.
Enter your salary, rate, and timeline
Enter annual salary and the percentage you contribute. Add your current TSP balance, current age, and planned retirement age. The calculator applies expected annual pay raises and investment return across the projection period.
Choose whether the account is under FERS or the applicable military system, and enter any Roth portion or catch-up eligibility. These selections affect how the calculator treats contributions and matching. Confirm how your actual payroll elections and agency contributions work; individual eligibility and service rules matter.
Default projection: where $1,092,204 comes from
The default employee contribution begins at 5% of $85,000:
Starting employee contribution = annual salary × contribution rate
$85,000 × 5% = $4,250
The default FERS match breakdown is $850 automatic, $2,550 dollar-for-dollar, and $850 at 50 cents per dollar. Together, that is $4,250 in agency contributions for the starting-year salary.
Agency match = $850 + $2,550 + $850 = $4,250
Annual employee and agency contributions = $4,250 + $4,250 = $8,500
The timeline covers 27 years of new contributions, from age 36 through 62. The projection’s data contains 28 rows because it also includes the starting age-35 balance before the first year of contributions. By age 62, the projected balance is $1,092,204. The supplied breakdown is $153,218 in employee contributions, $153,218 in agency contributions, and $735,769 in investment growth. The total includes the original $50,000 balance.
| Contribution rate | Starting employee contribution on $85,000 salary | Starting agency match | Starting total added |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $2,550 | $3,400 | $5,950 |
| 5% | $4,250 | $4,250 | $8,500 |
| 8% | $6,800 | $4,250 | $11,050 |
The 3% row shows the match under the calculator’s FERS assumptions; at 5%, the model reaches the maximum match used in its calculations. Additional contributions above that rate can still grow the account, but they do not increase this modeled match.
How the agency match works
Under the standard FERS structure modeled here, the agency provides a 1% automatic contribution and matches employee contributions dollar for dollar on the first 3% of pay, then 50 cents per dollar on the next 2%. Contributing at least 5% of basic pay generally captures the full matching contributions available under this formula. The automatic 1% contribution has separate service and vesting rules. Check the TSP contribution and match information for current details and eligibility.
The calculator’s default match is structured as follows:
Automatic 1%: $85,000 × 1% = $850
Dollar-for-dollar 3%: $85,000 × 3% = $2,550
50% match on next 2%: $85,000 × 2% × 50% = $850
The matching schedule can differ for uniformed service members and by plan eligibility. If you are comparing the TSP with another workplace plan, use a 401(k) calculator or a 403(b) calculator only after confirming the employer’s specific match rules.
Formula: annual balance projection
The calculator adds employee contributions, agency contributions, and assumed growth to the account balance. It increases salary by the selected pay-raise rate in future years and limits employee contributions by the applicable annual elective-deferral limit.
Employee contribution = smaller of (salary × contribution rate) or annual contribution limit
Annual account growth = beginning balance × expected annual return
Ending balance = beginning balance + employee contribution + agency contribution + annual account growth
These are annualized projections. Actual TSP returns vary by fund and year, and payroll contributions may be invested throughout the year rather than as a single deposit. The calculator does not model fund allocations, fees in detail, taxes, or sequence-of-returns risk.
2026 contribution limits and catch-up rules
For 2026, the employee elective deferral limit for TSP, 401(k), 403(b), and most 457(b) plans is $24,500. Eligible participants age 50 or older can generally contribute an additional $8,000 catch-up amount. Under SECURE 2.0, eligible participants ages 60–63 may have a higher catch-up limit of $11,250. Confirm how the calculator’s catch-up setting applies to your age and the current plan rules with the IRS contribution limits.
The calculator projects a 5% contribution on the default salary, well below the standard employee limit. At higher salaries or contribution rates, the limit may cap employee deferrals. Agency contributions are separate from employee elective deferrals, and the employee contribution limit is not the same as the total annual additions limit. Avoid treating an input percentage as permission to exceed plan limits.
If you want to compare paycheck deductions at different rates, try the TSP contribution calculator. To focus on matching eligibility, use the TSP match calculator. The TSP growth calculator can help isolate compounding assumptions.
FAQs about TSP projections
Is the projected $1,092,204 guaranteed?
No. It is the result of the calculator’s assumptions, including a steady 7% annual return and 2% pay raises. Real returns and pay increases vary, so test lower-return and lower-contribution scenarios.
Do I need to contribute 5% to receive the full FERS match?
Under the standard FERS matching formula modeled here, contributing 5% of basic pay captures the full matching contribution. Your actual eligibility and payroll treatment should be checked with your agency or the TSP.
Does the agency automatic 1% contribution require my own contribution?
The automatic contribution is distinct from the matching formula, but eligibility and vesting rules apply. See the TSP’s current guidance rather than assuming every agency contribution is immediately vested.
Is the Roth TSP contribution taxed the same way as a traditional TSP contribution?
No. Traditional contributions generally reduce current federal taxable income, while qualified Roth withdrawals can be tax-free under applicable rules. State taxation and eligibility details vary. The calculator’s Roth portion input does not provide a full tax projection.
Should I increase my contribution or pay off debt first?
Increasing contributions can capture available matching dollars and build long-term savings, while paying down high-interest debt can reduce a costly, guaranteed obligation. Compare the interest rate, cash reserves, employer match, and monthly budget before deciding; the right balance depends on your circumstances.
Does the model include TSP fees and specific fund returns?
It uses the expected return input and does not project the performance of a particular fund allocation or model all account costs separately. TSP funds can have different risk and return characteristics.
When do required minimum distributions begin?
Under current federal law, the general RMD starting age is 73, rising to 75 in 2033 under SECURE 2.0, subject to plan and individual rules. Learn how required minimum distributions work and use a TSP withdrawal calculator to examine retirement withdrawals.
Next steps: test the assumptions you control
Run the projection with a lower return, a different retirement age, and contribution rates above and below 5%. Check whether your agency match is fully captured and whether your contribution rate fits your budget. Then compare account growth with your expected retirement spending using a retirement needs calculator or estimate a broader early-retirement timeline with the FIRE calculator.
For withdrawals, account for taxes, other retirement income, and how long the balance must last. A TSP withdrawal calculator can focus on distributions, while a TSP loan calculator can help you examine a loan separately from long-term retirement growth.