Retired 4 star general pay is one of the most frequently misunderstood compensation packages in the U.S. military retirement system. According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), a retired four-star general with 40 years of service receives a monthly pension that can exceed $15,000, but the exact figure depends on several variables.
Many people assume generals retire on full active-duty salary, which is not how the system works. The problem is that public data is scattered across multiple sources, and the rules changed significantly under the Blended Retirement System.
This article breaks down how retired 4 star general pay is calculated, what factors influence the final number, and how you can verify figures using official tools.
How Retired 4 Star General Pay Is Calculated
Retired 4 star general pay follows the same pension formula as all military retirees, but the high base pay produces a larger result. The legacy High-3 system multiplies your highest 36 months of base pay by 2.5% for each year of service.
A four-star general (O-10) with 40 years of service under High-3 receives 100% of their High-3 base pay. The 2024 O-10 base pay with over 22 years of service is $18,096.90 per month, according to DFAS military pay tables. That means a 40-year retiree receives the full amount as their monthly pension.
But most generals do not serve 40 years. A general retiring at 30 years receives 75% of High-3. At 35 years, the figure rises to 87.5%.
How to apply this: Use the DFAS retirement calculator to estimate your own projected pension using your service dates and pay grade.
Factors That Change the Final Number
Several variables shift retired 4 star general pay from the theoretical maximum. Each one matters more than most people expect.
Time in Grade Requirements
Generals must serve a minimum of three years in grade to retire at O-10 pay. If they retire before that window, their pension is calculated at the lower O-9 rate.
Disability Ratings and Combat-Related Special Compensation
Retired generals with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher may qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). This allows them to receive both military retirement pay and VA disability compensation without offset.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Military pensions receive annual COLA increases tied to the Consumer Price Index. The 2024 COLA was 3.2%, which raised all military retirement pay accordingly.
How to apply this: Check your most recent DFAS Retiree Account Statement to confirm your current COLA-adjusted monthly amount.
The Blended Retirement System Impact
The Blended Retirement System (BRS), introduced in 2018, changed how newer service members accumulate retirement benefits. Active-duty members who opted into BRS receive a 2.0% multiplier instead of 2.5%, but gain automatic and matching Thrift Savings Plan contributions.
No current four-star general is under BRS, because all O-10s entered service decades before 2018. However, future generals who joined after 2006 and opted into BRS will see lower pension multipliers.
The trade-off is that BRS members receive up to 5% government matching in the Thrift Savings Plan, which can build substantial additional retirement wealth.
How to apply this: If you are mid-career, review your BRS opt-in status in myPay and confirm your TSP contribution rate captures the full match.
Survivor Benefit Plan Costs
Retired generals who elect the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) pay premiums that reduce monthly take-home pay. SBP premiums are 6.5% of the elected base amount, which can be thousands of dollars monthly for an O-10 pension.
Under the Blended Retirement System, the calculation for retired 4 star general pay uses a reduced 2.0% multiplier.
What Retired 4 Star General Pay Looks Like in Practice
Consider a hypothetical scenario. A four-star general retires in 2024 with 38 years of service under High-3. Their High-3 base pay is $18,096.90.
Their pension multiplier is 38 × 2.5% = 95%. Monthly gross pension: $17,192.06.
After SBP premiums, federal taxes, and potential state taxes, net pay may fall to $11,000–$13,000 depending on filing status and state of residence.
The table below compares retirement outcomes at different service lengths:
| Years of Service | Multiplier | Monthly Gross Pension | Action to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 years | 75% | $13,572.68 | Verify service record in myPay |
| 35 years | 87.5% | $15,834.79 | Request a retirement estimate from DFAS |
| 38 years | 95% | $17,192.06 | Confirm High-3 months are correct |
| 40 years | 100% | $18,096.90 | Review SBP election annually |
How to apply this: Log into myPay and download your latest Retiree Account Statement to see your exact gross and net amounts.
A 2024 retiree with 38 years of service can see retired 4 star general pay reach over $17,000 monthly.
Additional Income Sources for Retired Generals
Retired 4 star general pay is rarely the only income stream. Many retired generals earn substantial income from board positions, consulting, speaking fees, and book deals.
Federal ethics rules require retired generals to observe a one-year cooling-off period before lobbying their former service branch. The Department of Defense Standards of Conduct Office enforces these restrictions.
Some retired generals also receive income from private-sector defense contractors, though this is subject to public scrutiny and ethics review.
According to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, retired senior military officers must file public financial disclosure reports for three years after retirement.
How to apply this: If you are approaching retirement, consult with a military-focused financial planner to structure post-retirement income in compliance with ethics rules.
Frequently Asked Questions About retired 4 star general pay
How does retired 4 star general pay compare to a lieutenant general's pension?
A lieutenant general (O-9) retires at a lower base pay, so their pension is proportionally smaller. The 2024 O-9 base pay with over 22 years is $15,946.20 per month. At 40 years of service, an O-9 receives 100% of that figure, while an O-10 receives $18,096.90. The gap widens with COLA adjustments because the higher base compounds faster.
Because an O-9 earns a lower base salary, retired 4 star general pay is always significantly higher.
Can a retired four-star general lose their pension?
Yes, in rare cases. A court-martial conviction after retirement can result in forfeiture of retired pay under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Additionally, if a retired general is convicted of certain offenses related to their official duties, the President can reduce or revoke their pension.
A court-martial conviction after service can legally strip away retired 4 star general pay.
Do retired generals pay taxes on their military pension?
Yes. Retired 4 star general pay is taxable as ordinary federal income. State tax treatment varies: some states like Texas and Florida exempt military pensions entirely, while others like California tax them fully. This state-level difference can shift net income by thousands annually.
What happens to retired 4 star general pay when the general dies?
The pension stops unless the retiree elected the Survivor Benefit Plan. Under SBP, the surviving spouse receives 55% of the elected base amount for life. If no SBP election was made, the surviving spouse receives nothing from the military pension system.
Unless the Survivor Benefit Plan was elected, retired 4 star general pay stops upon the general's death.
Is retired 4 star general pay public information?
Yes, partially. The base pay tables and retirement formulas are public. However, individual pension amounts are not published. Some retired generals voluntarily disclose their pension in financial disclosure reports filed with the Office of Government Ethics, which are publicly available for three years post-retirement.
Base pay tables are public, but an individual's exact retired 4 star general pay is not automatically disclosed.
Key Takeaways
- Retired 4 star general pay is calculated using the High-3 formula: 2.5% × years of service × highest 36 months of base pay
- The 2024 O-10 base pay is $18,096.90 per month, making a 40-year pension equal to that full amount
- SBP premiums, taxes, and state residency significantly reduce net take-home pay
- The Blended Retirement System does not affect current generals but will reduce pensions for future O-10s
To verify your own projected retired 4 star general pay, download your DFAS Retiree Account Statement today and confirm your service computation matches your official records.
