Calculate your Thrift Savings Plan growth: project your TSP balance with federal agency matching, Roth vs traditional contributions, and G/F/C/S/I fund allocation. Plan your federal retirement with confidence.
A GS-9 employee earning $60,000/year contributes 5% ($3,000/yr) of their salary. Their agency matches the full 5% ($3,000/yr) through FERS automatic (1%) and matching contributions (up to 4%). Total annual contribution: $6,000.
With 7% average annual return over 30 years and 2.5% annual salary growth:
Projected TSP Balance: ~$590,000
Total Employee Contributions: ~$138,000
Total Agency Match: ~$138,000
The agency match effectively doubles your contributions. Over 30 years, compounding turns ~$276,000 in total contributions into nearly $590,000.
A service member under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) earning $50,000/year contributes 5% ($2,500/yr). The military provides automatic 1% ($500) plus dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% and 50 cents on the next 2% — totaling 5% agency match ($2,500/yr).
With 6% average annual return over 20 years:
Projected TSP Balance: ~$185,000
Under BRS, the automatic 1% starts after 60 days. Matching begins after 2 years. Even a 20-year career builds significant savings.
A federal employee earning $75,000 contributes 10% ($7,500/yr) for 25 years with 7% annual return.
Roth TSP: Contributions are made with after-tax dollars. Withdrawals in retirement are 100% tax-free, including all growth.
Traditional TSP: Contributions are pre-tax, reducing your current taxable income. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income in retirement.
If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, Roth is usually better. If you expect a lower bracket, Traditional may save you money. Many employees split contributions between both.
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined contribution retirement plan for federal employees (FERS/CSRS) and uniformed service members. Our calculator projects your future balance by modeling contributions, agency matching, salary growth, and returns.
Government Securities Investment Fund — short-term U.S. Treasury securities. No risk of loss, lowest return potential. Ideal for capital preservation.
Fixed Income Index Fund — tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Provides diversification and income through bonds.
Common Stock Index Fund — tracks the S&P 500 Index. Core large-cap U.S. stock exposure with historically strong long-term returns.
Small Capitalization Stock Index Fund — tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Completion Index. Higher growth potential but more volatility.
International Stock Index Fund — tracks the MSCI EAFE Index. International developed market exposure for diversification.
Lifecycle (L) Funds — professionally managed portfolios that automatically shift from aggressive to conservative as you approach retirement.
| Feature | Roth TSP | Traditional TSP |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Treatment | After-tax contributions | Pre-tax contributions |
| Tax Now | Pay taxes on contributions now | Lower your current taxable income |
| Tax in Retirement | Qualified withdrawals are tax-free | Withdrawals taxed as ordinary income |
| Contribution Limit | $23,500 (2025) — same limit | $23,500 (2025) — same limit |
| Agency Match | Match goes to Traditional TSP | Match goes to Traditional TSP |
| Best For | Lower tax bracket now, higher later | Higher tax bracket now, lower later |
| RMDs | Not required (as of 2024) | Required at age 73 |
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings and investment plan for federal employees and uniformed service members. Established in 1986 under FERS, the TSP operates similarly to a private-sector 401(k) but offers unique features like FERS agency matching and specialized government securities funds.
With over $800 billion in assets and 6+ million participants, the TSP is one of the largest defined contribution plans globally. Federal employees contribute through payroll deductions, choosing between Roth (after-tax) and Traditional (pre-tax) options. The TSP offers six core investment funds: G (Government Securities), F (Fixed Income), C (S&P 500), S (Small Cap), I (International), and L (Lifecycle) target-date funds.
If you're a FERS employee, your agency automatically contributes 1% of your basic pay to your TSP — even if you contribute nothing. If you contribute at least 5%, your agency adds another 4% (dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% and 50 cents per dollar on the next 2%), bringing the total to 5%. Combined with your 5% contribution, that's 10% of your salary going into your TSP every year — and the match is free money from your agency.
For example, a GS-9 employee earning $60,000 who contributes 5% ($3,000/year) receives an additional 5% ($3,000/year) from their agency. Over 30 years with 7% annual returns, the agency match alone could grow to over $250,000 of the final balance. Not contributing enough to get the full match is leaving free money on the table.
$23,500 — maximum elective deferral for 2025 for employees under age 50. Applies to combined Roth and Traditional TSP contributions.
$31,000 — total limit for age 50+, including the standard $23,500 plus a $7,500 catch-up contribution. Take advantage as you approach retirement.
Agency matching contributions do not count toward your elective deferral limit. You can receive up to 5% of your salary in matching on top of your own contributions.
The combined employee + employer contribution limit for 2025 is $70,000 (or $77,500 with catch-up). This is the maximum that can be added to your TSP in one year.
Our TSP Calculator is designed for federal employees and military members who need to project their TSP growth with accurate FERS agency matching. Unlike generic retirement calculators, ours accounts for the unique TSP matching structure, fund allocation, and the Roth vs Traditional decision.
Precisely calculates your agency match using the FERS formula: automatic 1%, dollar-for-dollar on the first 3%, and 50 cents per dollar on the next 2%.
See how splitting contributions between Roth and Traditional TSP affects your projected balances and retirement tax strategy.
Explore allocation strategies from Conservative to Aggressive and Lifecycle funds. Your allocation significantly impacts growth and risk.
View a complete year-by-year projection showing salary growth, contributions, agency matching, and compounding returns over time.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer: This TSP Calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It provides estimates based on standard financial formulas and assumptions about future returns, salary growth, and contribution patterns. Actual TSP performance depends on market conditions, fund allocation, and individual circumstances. This calculator does not provide financial advice or guarantee any specific retirement outcome.