Almost every state pays a teacher pension from the same three-part formula — an average of your best years, a percentage for each year you worked, and the number of those years. What changes across state lines is the percentage, which years count, and how long you must stay to keep any of it. All 50 formulas are below.
average salary × multiplier × years of service = annual pension. A teacher with a $70,000 average salary, a 2% multiplier and 30 years gets 70,000 × 0.02 × 30 = $42,000 a year for life. Move the multiplier to 1.65% and the same career pays $34,650 — $7,350 a year less, every year, for the same work.Sorted alphabetically. The contribution column is what comes out of the teacher's own paycheque — a 2% multiplier bought with 11% of salary is a different deal from the same 2% bought with 6%.
| State | Benefit formula | Teacher pays | Social Security | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaRetirement Systems of Alabama | AFC × 1.65% × years (Tier 2) |
6.2% of salary | Covered | $62,985 |
| AlaskaAlaska Teachers' Retirement System | DC plan (no DB) — Tier IV |
8% of salary | Not covered | $81,450 |
| ArizonaArizona State Retirement System | AMC × 2.1–2.3% × years |
6.0% of salary | Covered | $64,291 |
| ArkansasArkansas Teacher Retirement System | AFC × 2.15% × years |
7% of salary | Covered | $59,193 |
| CaliforniaCalifornia State Teachers' Retirement System | FAS × 2% × years (PEPRA tier) |
10.205% of salary | Not covered | $103,552 |
| ColoradoColorado Public Employees' Retirement Association | HAS × 2.5% × years |
11% of salary | Not covered | $72,781 |
| ConnecticutConnecticut Teachers' Retirement Board | FAS × 2% × years (Tier IIA) |
8% of salary | Covered | $89,593 |
| DelawareDelaware Public Employees' Retirement System | AMC × 1.85% × years |
5% on salary above $6K | Covered | $76,570 |
| FloridaFlorida Retirement System | AFC × 1.6% × years (Pension Plan, Tier 2) |
3% of salary | Covered | $56,663 |
| GeorgiaTeachers Retirement System of Georgia | AFC × 2% × years |
6% of salary | Not covered | $71,524 |
| HawaiiHawaii Employees' Retirement System | AFC × 1.75% × years (Hybrid) |
8% of salary | Covered | $75,860 |
| IdahoPublic Employee Retirement System of Idaho | AMC × 2% × years |
8.36% of salary | Covered | $62,786 |
| IllinoisTeachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois | FAS × 2.2% × years (Tier 2) |
9.0% of salary | Not covered | $78,495 |
| IndianaIndiana Teachers' Retirement Fund | AFC × 1.1% × years + DC plan |
3% of salary | Covered | $61,661 |
| IowaIowa Public Employees' Retirement System | FAS × 2% × years (capped) |
6.29% of salary | Covered | $65,312 |
| KansasKansas Public Employees Retirement System | FAS × 1.85% × years (KPERS 2; KPERS 3 hires ≥2015 are cash balance) |
6% of salary | Covered | $61,470 |
| KentuckyTeachers' Retirement System of Kentucky | FAS × 1.7–3.0% × years |
12.855% of salary | Not covered | $60,594 |
| LouisianaTeachers' Retirement System of Louisiana | AFC × 2.5% × years |
8% of salary | Not covered | $56,785 |
| MaineMaine Public Employees Retirement System | AFC × 2% × years |
7.65% of salary | Not covered | $65,621 |
| MarylandMaryland State Retirement and Pension System | AFC × 1.5% × years (Reformed) |
7% of salary | Covered | $87,409 |
| MassachusettsMassachusetts Teachers' Retirement Board | FAS × 2.0–2.5% × years |
11% of salary | Not covered | $93,554 |
| MichiganMichigan Public School Employees' Retirement System | FAC × 1.5% × years (Pension Plus 2) |
6.4% of salary | Covered | $71,023 |
| MinnesotaMinnesota Teachers Retirement Association | AFC × 1.7% × years |
8.0% of salary | Covered | $76,234 |
| MississippiPublic Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi | AFC × 2% × years |
9% of salary | Covered | $54,975 |
| MissouriPublic School Retirement System of Missouri | FAS × 2.5% × years |
14.5% of salary | Not covered | $57,366 |
| MontanaMontana Teachers' Retirement System | AFC × 1.6667% × years |
8.15% of salary | Covered | $59,305 |
| NebraskaNebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems | FAS × 2% × years |
7.25% of salary | Covered | $63,326 |
| NevadaPublic Employees' Retirement System of Nevada | AMC × 2.5% × years (2.25% if enrolled on/after 7/1/2015; 2.67% for service after 7/1/2001) |
0% deducted (employer pays 36.75%) | Not covered | $74,812 |
| New HampshireNew Hampshire Retirement System | AFC × 1.52% (yrs 1-30) + 2.5% (yrs 31+) |
7% of salary | Covered | $69,432 |
| New JerseyTeachers' Pension and Annuity Fund | FAS × 1/60 × years (TPAF Tier 5) |
7.5% of salary | Covered | $84,974 |
| New MexicoNew Mexico Educational Retirement Board | AFC × 2.35% × years |
10.7% of salary | Covered | $69,736 |
| New YorkNew York State Teachers' Retirement System | FAS × 1.75% (yrs 1-20) + 2% (yrs 21+) [Tier 6] |
3-6% (tiered by salary) | Covered | $98,655 |
| North CarolinaTeachers' and State Employees' Retirement System | AFC × 1.82% × years |
6% of salary | Covered | $60,323 |
| North DakotaTeachers' Fund for Retirement | FAS × 2% × years |
11.75% of salary | Covered | $60,704 |
| OhioState Teachers Retirement System of Ohio | FAS × 2.2% × years (Tier 1) |
14% of salary | Not covered | $70,586 |
| OklahomaOklahoma Teachers Retirement System | AFC × 2% × years |
7% of salary | Covered | $61,931 |
| OregonOregon Public Employees Retirement System | FAS × 1.5% × years + IAP DC |
6% of salary (IAP + EPSA) | Covered | $81,657 |
| PennsylvaniaPublic School Employees' Retirement System | FAS × 2% × years (Class T-E/T-F) |
7.5% of salary | Covered | $79,078 |
| Rhode IslandEmployees' Retirement System of Rhode Island | FAS × 1% × years (DB) + DC plan |
3.75% of salary | Not covered | $85,772 |
| South CarolinaSouth Carolina Retirement System | AFC × 1.82% × years |
9% of salary | Covered | $64,050 |
| South DakotaSouth Dakota Retirement System | FAS × 1.8% × years (Foundation) |
6% of salary | Covered | $58,486 |
| TennesseeTennessee Consolidated Retirement System | AFC × 1% × years (Hybrid: DB + DC) |
5% of salary | Covered | $61,222 |
| TexasTeacher Retirement System of Texas | Avg of 5 highest salaries × 2.3% × years |
8.25% of salary | Not covered | $63,749 |
| UtahUtah Retirement Systems | FAS × 1.5% × years + DC plan |
1.3% (Hybrid, above 10% employer) | Covered | $72,882 |
| VermontVermont State Teachers' Retirement System | AFC × 1.25–2% × years |
5% of salary | Covered | $59,800 |
| VirginiaVirginia Retirement System | AFC × 1% × years + DC plan (Hybrid Tier 3) |
5% of salary | Covered | $69,254 |
| WashingtonWashington State Teachers' Retirement System | AFC × 1% × years + DC plan (Plan 3) |
5–15% (member elects) | Covered | $96,589 |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia Teachers Retirement System | FAS × 2% × years (TRS) |
6% of salary | Covered | $58,099 |
| WisconsinWisconsin Retirement System | FAS × 1.6% × years |
7.20% of salary | Covered | $67,794 |
| WyomingWyoming Retirement System | AHC × 2.125% × years (Tier 1) |
8.75% of salary | Covered | $65,668 |
Formulas are the schedule in effect for teachers hired under each state's current tier. Earlier hires are often on a better one. Always confirm against your own system before making a decision — the systems are linked from each state page.
In 14 states, teachers are outside Social Security entirely: those years build no Social Security benefit, so the formula above is not one leg of a retirement, it is the whole thing. That makes the multiplier matter far more in Alaska, California, Colorado than it does in a state where a smaller pension sits on top of a Social Security cheque. The full list is here, and the timing tool covers when to claim if you are covered.
Two things decide whether the number above ever reaches you. Vesting: leave before your state's minimum service and you generally get your own contributions back and nothing else — the employer's share stays behind. Tax: 30 states then tax the pension the formula produces, at rates from a fraction of a percent to over 8% effective. See where each state lands, or run your own number in the state comparison tool.
Related: offered a lump sum instead? · will the 403(b) on top of this be enough? · the dataset behind this page