Retirement base salary is the basic pension amount a retiree receives before adding increases, supplementary payments, and welfare shares. In 2025, millions of retirees are curious about new regulations and raise rates that may affect their base salaries.
In this article you will find detailed answers to questions such as “what is the retirement base salary”, “how is the base salary calculated”, and “how to check base salary on e-Government (e-Devlet)”.
What Is the Retirement Base Salary?
Base salary is the retiree’s monthly income in its form without any raises or supplementary payments. In other words, it is the minimum basic amount the state is obliged to pay to the retiree.
On top of this amount, each year at certain periods the raise rate, a supplementary payment (4% or 5%) and the welfare share are added.
Official Definition of Base Salary
According to the Social Security Institution (SGK), base salary is defined as:
“The gross monthly amount of the retirement pension before any supplementary payment, raise or social aid amount is added.”
Why Is the Base Salary Important?
The base salary forms the basis for all raise calculations.
- Annual inflation raise and the increases applied in July and January are all calculated on the base salary.
- If the base salary is low, the resulting raise amount will also remain low.
- Therefore, a higher base salary means higher retirement income in the long term.
How Is a Pension Formed?
A pension consists of three main components:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | The basic amount determined by SGK. |
| Supplementary Payment (4% – 5%) | A regular payment calculated as a percentage of the base salary. |
| Raise + Welfare Share | The increase rate applied each January and July. |
Example: A retiree whose base salary is 8,000 TL will have a salary of 10,000 TL after a 25% raise. However, the base salary remains 8,000 TL for calculation purposes; raise rates are applied to that base amount.
How Is the Retirement Base Salary Calculated?
The base salary calculation is straightforward, but you need to know all components of the pension to get an accurate result.
Step-by-Step Calculation
- Find out the total pension amount via e-Government or your bank’s app.
- Locate the “Supplementary Payment” amount in the pension breakdown.
- Subtract that supplementary payment from the total pension.
- The remaining amount is your base salary.
Formula:
Base Salary = Total Pension – (Total Pension × Supplementary Payment Rate)
Example Calculation (2025 Current)
| Info | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total pension | 10,400 TL |
| Supplementary payment rate | 4% |
| Supplementary payment amount | 416 TL |
| Base Salary (10,400 – 416) | 9,984 TL |
So, as of 2025 this retiree’s base salary is 9,984 TL.
Checking Base Salary on e-Government (e-Devlet) (2025)
Checking the base salary on e-Government is the most up-to-date and official method.
The SGK Digital Service Portal shows the pension breakdown and base salary details.
Steps to Check Base Salary on e-Government
- Log in to the e-Government portal (turkiye.gov.tr) using your credentials.
- Type “4A Retirement Monthly Information”, “4B Retirement Monthly Information” or “4C Retirement Monthly Information” in the search box.
- Click on the section labeled “Monthly Details”.
- Check the “Supplementary Payment” and “Net Pension” fields.
- Subtract the supplementary payment from the total pension to see your base salary.
e-Government Display Example (Table)
| Field Name | Description | Sample Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total Payment | Pension total including raises and supplementary payments | 11,200 TL |
| Supplementary Payment | Payment made at a 4% rate | 448 TL |
| Net Payment | Total minus supplementary payment | 10,752 TL |
| Base Salary | The pre-raise basic salary | 10,000 TL |
The Difference Between Base Salary and Net Pension
Many retirees confuse “is the base salary the same as net pension?”
Base salary is the basic amount set by the state.
Net pension is the amount after adding raises, supplementary payments and welfare shares to the base salary.
In summary:
Base salary = Salary before the raise
Net pension = Salary after raises + supplementary payments
The Relationship Between Minimum Pension and Base Salary
Minimum pension is the amount set by the state as the minimum retiree salary.
If a retiree’s base salary is below this minimum, the difference is provided by the state as a supplementary payment.
| Type | Expected Amount (TL) 2025 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Pension | 10,000 TL |
| Average Base Salary | 8,500 – 9,000 TL |
| Average Net Pension | 11,500 – 12,000 TL |
According to this table, many retirees receive more than 10,000 TL in total, while their base salaries remain around 9,000 TL.
Reasons for Low Base Salary
- Insufficient number of premium contribution days
- Low reported earnings
- Early retirement
- Low SGK contributions during working years
These factors can keep the base salary—the core component of the pension—low.
Recommendation: Paying contributions on gross salary during working years significantly increases your future base salary.
How Is the Raise Rate Applied to Pension?
The raise rate is applied to the base salary.
The formula is:
New Salary = Base Salary × (1 + Raise Rate)
Example:
If your base salary is 8,000 TL and the raise rate is 25%:
New Salary = 8,000 × 1.25 = 10,000 TL
Base Salary for Widows and Orphans
The base salary for survivors receiving widow or orphan pensions is calculated as a percentage of the deceased person’s base salary.
| Status | Rate | Example (Base Salary 10,000 TL) |
|---|---|---|
| Widow (no children) | 75% | 7,500 TL |
| Widow + 1 child | 50% + 25% | 7,500 TL |
| Widow + 2 children | 50% + 25% + 25% | 10,000 TL (full) |
In these cases, the raise rate is calculated based on the deceased person’s base salary.
Terms Seen When Checking Base Salary on e-Government
Some terms on the e-Government pension breakdown screen can cause confusion.
The table below explains their meanings:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Monthly Amount | This is the base salary. |
| Supplementary Payment | A payment at a 4% or 5% rate. |
| Total Payment | Amount including raises, welfare share and supplementary payments. |
| Net Payment | The cash amount received after deductions. |
SGK Base Salary Inquiry (Alternative Method)
Apart from e-Government, you can also check directly on the SGK official website:
- Go to the SGK website and enter the “Online Transactions” menu.
- Select the “Retirement Monthly Information Inquiry” section.
- Log in with your ID number and e-Government password.
- In the monthly breakdown you can view the base salary, raises and supplementary payment details.
Suggestions to Increase Base Salary
- Increase the number of premium contribution days.
- Report higher gross earnings.
- Pay any missing contributions as voluntary payments.
- Check differences between employment regimes (4C, 4B, or SSK) and their effects.
These steps directly affect your future pension.
Base Salary Calculation Table (2025)
| Base Salary (TL) | Salary with 25% Raise | Salary with 30% Raise | Salary with 35% Raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 | 10,000 | 10,400 | 10,800 |
| 9,000 | 11,250 | 11,700 | 12,150 |
| 10,000 | 12,500 | 13,000 | 13,500 |
Expected Regulations in 2025
- Minimum base salary may be raised to 10,000 TL
- The supplementary payment rate may increase from 4% to 5%
- Base salary records may be displayed with QR code in the e-Government mobile app
These changes would improve pay equity and make checking pensions easier for retirees.
Pension Calculation Example (Full Scenario)
| Item | Amount (TL) |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | 9,000 |
| Raise Rate | 30% |
| Salary After Raise | 11,700 |
| Supplementary Payment (4%) | 468 |
| Total Pension (Net) | 12,168 TL |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the retirement base salary?
It is the basic pension amount before adding raises, welfare shares and supplementary payments.
2. How can I find my base salary on e-Government?
Open the “4A/4B/4C Retirement Monthly Information” screen and subtract the supplementary payment amount to find your base salary.
3. If the base salary is low, will the raise be small?
Yes. Since raises are applied to the base salary, a low base means a smaller raise.
4. Why do early retirees often have low base salaries?
Many have low contribution days and low reported earnings during their working life, which places their base salary near the minimum level.
5. Will base salaries increase in 2025?
Yes, legislation under discussion is expected to raise the minimum base salary to 10,000 TL.