How much does the military match in the TSP?
Under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), your service puts up to 5% of your basic pay into your TSP: an automatic 1% starting 60 days after you join, plus up to 4% in matching starting in your 25th month of service. To get the full 4% match, you contribute 5% of basic pay yourself. Members under the legacy High-3 system get no automatic or matching contributions.
Want your exact numbers? Use the free military TSP calculator. It uses the 2026 DFAS pay tables.
How the BRS match works
Your service's share has two parts, both based on basic pay only:
- Service Automatic (1%). Starts 60 days after you enter service, whether or not you contribute anything.
- Service Matching (up to 4%). Starts at the beginning of your 25th month of service. It's dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% you contribute, then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2%.
| You contribute | Automatic | Match | Total going in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| 2% | 1% | 2% | 5% |
| 3% | 1% | 3% | 7% |
| 4% | 1% | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| 5% or more | 1% | 4% | 10% or more |
Percent of monthly basic pay, for BRS members in their 25th month of service or later.
What that looks like in dollars (2026)
Each example assumes a 5% contribution from basic pay, using 2026 DFAS basic pay.
| Member (basic pay / month) | You (5%) | Service | Total / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-3, under 2 years ($2,836.80) | $141.84 | $28.37* | $170.21 |
| E-5, over 3 years ($3,775.80) | $188.79 | $188.79 | $377.58 |
| E-6, over 10 years ($4,759.50) | $237.98 | $237.98 | $475.96 |
| O-2, over 3 years ($6,272.40) | $313.62 | $313.62 | $627.24 |
"Service" is the automatic 1% plus the match. With 2+ years of service and a 5% contribution, it equals what you put in. *Under 2 years: the automatic 1% only; matching hasn't started yet.
These monthly totals should line up with the TSP lines on your LES. You're paid twice a month, so each paycheck carries half.
What you give up by contributing less than 5%
The match follows what you put in, so every percent below 5% costs you match money. Once matching starts in your 25th month, here's what each contribution rate leaves behind:
| You contribute | Match you miss | E-5, over 3 years ($3,775.80/mo) | E-6, over 10 years ($4,759.50/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 4% of basic pay | $151.03/mo ($1,812.38/yr) | $190.38/mo ($2,284.56/yr) |
| 3% | 1% | $37.76/mo ($453.10/yr) | $47.60/mo ($571.14/yr) |
| 4% | 0.5% | $18.88/mo ($226.55/yr) | $23.80/mo ($285.57/yr) |
| 5% or more | none | $0 | $0 |
Based on 2026 DFAS basic pay. The automatic 1% comes either way, so it isn't counted here.
When the match starts and stops
- Automatic 1%: starts 60 days after you enter service.
- Matching: starts at the beginning of your 25th month of service (the start of your third year). Members who opted into BRS in 2018 already had matching from their opt-in date.
- Both stop once you complete 26 years of service.
- Automatic enrollment: BRS members are enrolled at 5% of basic pay unless they choose a different amount.
- Vesting: your own contributions and matching are always yours. The automatic 1% becomes yours once you complete 2 years of service.
Every branch, plus the Guard and Reserve, gets the same match
The BRS match doesn't depend on your branch. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard all use the same formula: 1% automatic plus up to 4% matching, up to 5% of pay in total.
National Guard and Reserve members under BRS get it too. The service's contributions are figured on basic pay or Inactive Duty Pay (drill pay):
- Automatic 1%: starts 60 days after you enter service and continues through your 26th year.
- Matching (up to 4%): starts after your second full year of service, on whatever you contribute from that pay.
- Vesting: the automatic 1% becomes yours after 2 years of service.
Matching only applies to pay you contribute from, so the full match on drill pay, like on active-duty pay, takes a contribution of 5% of that pay.
Special pay, incentive pay and bonuses aren't matched
You can put 1% to 100% of special pay, incentive pay and bonuses into the TSP, as long as you contribute at least 1% of basic pay. Those contributions count toward your annual limit, but matching is figured on basic pay only.
Reaching the annual limit early can stop your match
In 2026 you can contribute up to $24,500 of your own money ($32,500 at age 50+, or $35,750 at ages 60–63). If you reach that limit before December, your contributions stop for the rest of the year, and so does the match, because matching only happens in months you contribute. The automatic 1% keeps coming. See TSP contribution limits for 2026 for the details, including the higher limit for combat-zone pay.
Common questions
How much does the military match in the TSP?
Up to 4% of basic pay, plus an automatic 1%, for a total of up to 5% from your service. You get the full match by contributing at least 5% of basic pay. It applies to members under the Blended Retirement System.
What do I lose if I only contribute 3% to the TSP?
1% of basic pay in matching. At 3% the service matches 3%; at 5% it matches 4%. For an E-5 over 3 years in 2026, that's $37.76 a month, or $453.10 a year.
When does BRS matching start?
At the beginning of your 25th month of service. The automatic 1% starts earlier, 60 days after you enter service.
Do legacy High-3 members get a TSP match?
No. Members under the legacy High-3 retirement system can contribute to the TSP, but they don't receive automatic or matching contributions.
Does the Army match TSP the same as the Navy and Air Force?
Yes. Every branch under the Blended Retirement System, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard, uses the same match: 1% automatic plus up to 4% matching, for up to 5% of basic pay.
Do National Guard and Reserve members get a TSP match?
Yes, if they're under BRS. The automatic 1% and up to 4% matching are figured on basic pay or Inactive Duty Pay (drill pay). Matching starts after two full years of service, and the automatic 1% is yours once you complete two years.
Is the Roth TSP matched?
Yes. Roth and traditional contributions are both matched. The service's automatic and matching contributions always go into your traditional balance.
Does the military match bonuses or special pay?
No. You can contribute from special pay, incentive pay and bonuses, but matching is based on basic pay only.
Does the match stop at 26 years?
Yes. Both the automatic 1% and the matching stop once you complete 26 years of service.
Sources
- DFAS military pay tables (2026 basic pay)
- Military OneSource: Blended Retirement System
- Office of Financial Readiness: BRS defined contribution fact sheet
- tsp.gov: contribution types and limits
- Army Benefits: Blended Retirement System (Army Reserve): 1% of basic pay or Inactive Duty Pay, through the 26th year
- DoD: BRS frequently asked questions: Inactive Duty Pay (drill pay) for the Guard and Reserve
Educational information, not investment advice. Figures are estimates; your LES and tsp.gov are the official record.