Originally Posted by
Jughead135
Double check your numbers. Remember, your numbers are percentage based off the "High 3" (if I understand your timeline correctly, that's the retirement system you're under), i.e., an average of your highest 36 months of pay. If you're an O-5 for less than 36 months, you won't be getting X% of that, it'll be a blend of your O-4 & O-5 pay (further complicated by annual CoL raises). I don't know if you included that in your calculations, but your $1,000 / mo (or $800 / mo in your numbers above) estimate seems potentially high....
As others have said, only you can decide--but, one more opinion to add to the pile, take the retirement NOW, get hired ASAP, and enjoy the benefits of seniority sooner, both financially & QoL....
Good luck!
Keep in mind that at most major airlines you will be putting the 415c limit into a retirement account within a few years of being hired. Even the second year you should be able to put 3ok plus into a tax deferred retirement account. That should ramp up to 52k fairly quickly. Once over 50 years old you can jump thar number to 57k.