CalSTRS Retirement Calculator: Estimate Your Teacher Pension
Calculate your CalSTRS pension benefits. Understand the 2% at 62 formula and plan for California teacher retirement.
This rule no longer exists
WEP and GPO were repealed on 5 January 2025
If you were reading this page because you expected your Social Security to be cut by a public pension, it is not. Both rules were abolished, the change was backdated to January 2024, and the Social Security Administration has already paid the difference to everyone it identified as affected.
“December 2023 is the last month that WEP and GPO will apply. This means that those rules no longer apply to benefits payable for January 2024 and later.”
Social Security Administration
- Signed into law
- 5 January 2025 (SSA Legislative Bulletin 118-13)
- The law
- H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82 at Congress.gov)
- What it repealed
- Both the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset (SSA Legislative Bulletin 118-13)
- Last month the rules applied
- December 2023 (SSA, Social Security Fairness Act)
- Back pay went back to
- January 2024, paid as a one-time deposit (SSA, Social Security Fairness Act)
- Paid out
- Over 3.1 million payments totalling $17 billion, completed 7 July 2025 (SSA press release, 7 July 2025)
One thing that still matters
“WEP and GPO still apply to months prior to January 2024.” So the old formula is not irrelevant history: it is what determines whether the one-time payment you received was the right amount. Our back pay calculator works out what you should have been owed, so you can check it against what landed in your account.
Sources last checked 30 July 2026. The rest of this page describes how WEP and GPO worked while they were in force, and is kept because the historical formula is what the back pay was calculated from.
CalSTRS uses the formula: Service Credit x Age Factor x Final Compensation. At age 62, the age factor is 2%, so a teacher with 30 years and $90,000 final compensation gets about $54,000 per year. Most CalSTRS members do not receive Social Security from teaching, making this pension your primary retirement income.
- CalSTRS age factor ranges from 1.16% at age 55 to 2.4% at age 65+
- The standard formula provides 2% at age 62 for career California teachers
- Most CalSTRS teachers do not earn Social Security credits while teaching
- CalSTRS also has a Defined Benefit Supplement (DBS) account separate from the main pension
Key Takeaways
- 1CalSTRS serves California public school educators
- 2Standard formula is 2% at 62 for career teachers
- 3Service credit × benefit factor × final compensation = pension
- 4Use myCalSTRS portal for personalized estimates
- 5Most California teachers don't receive Social Security
- 6Supplement your pension with 403(b) or 457 savings
- 7Consider diversification beyond your CalSTRS pension
What Is CalSTRS?
The California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) is the nation's largest educator-only pension fund, serving over 975,000 California public school educators.
- $300+ billion in assets under management
- Serves K-12 teachers, community college instructors, school administrators
- Defined benefit pension - guaranteed by formula
- Most members don't participate in Social Security
- Funded by member contributions, employer contributions, and state
No Social Security
Most CalSTRS members don't contribute to Social Security. Your CalSTRS pension may be your primary retirement income, making additional savings important.
CalSTRS Pension Formula
The CalSTRS Defined Benefit formula is: Service Credit × Age Factor × Final Compensation.
| Retirement Age | Benefit Factor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 1.16% | Earliest normal retirement |
| 58 | 1.46% | Increasing factor |
| 60 | 1.76% | Increasing factor |
| 62 | 2.00% | Career educator standard |
| 63 | 2.20% | Maximum factor |
| 65+ | 2.40% | Highest possible factor |
Example Calculation
Teacher with 30 years of service, retiring at 62 with $90,000 final compensation: 30 × 2.0% × $90,000 = $54,000 annual pension (60% of final salary).
How to Calculate Your CalSTRS Pension
Follow these steps to estimate your CalSTRS defined benefit.
- **Service Credit**: Years and fractions of CalSTRS employment
- **Age Factor**: Percentage based on your retirement age (1.16% to 2.4%)
- **Final Compensation**: Highest average salary (1 or 3 years)
- 1Log into myCalSTRS at myCalSTRS.com
- 2Access the Retirement Benefits Calculator
- 3Review your service credit history
- 4Identify your projected final compensation
- 5Select your anticipated retirement age
- 6Calculate: Years × Age Factor × Final Comp
- 7Consider your beneficiary/survivor options
- 8Factor in any Cash Balance or Defined Benefit Supplement
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CalSTRS Retirement Options
Choose a benefit option that balances your income needs with protection for loved ones.
- **Member-Only**: Highest payment, no survivor benefits
- **100% Beneficiary**: Spouse receives 100% after your death
- **75% Beneficiary**: Spouse receives 75% after your death
- **50% Beneficiary**: Spouse receives 50% after your death
- **Compound Option**: Multiple beneficiaries with custom percentages
WEP/GPO Impact
If you have Social Security from other employment, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO) may reduce those benefits.
Supplementing Your CalSTRS Pension
Many California teachers rely solely on CalSTRS for retirement. But with no Social Security and a 2% COLA that may not keep pace with inflation, additional savings provides security.
- 403(b) and 457 plans available to educators
- Can contribute to both plans simultaneously
- 457 plans have no 10% early withdrawal penalty
- Roll to IRA when you leave or retire
- Gold IRA provides inflation protection
- Diversify beyond a pension tied to California's budget
- Augusta Precious Metals assists with 403(b)/457 rollovers
Frequently Asked Questions
1When can I retire from CalSTRS?
You can retire as early as age 55 with at least 5 years of service. At 55, the age factor is 1.16%. The age factor increases until age 65+ when it reaches 2.4%.
2Does CalSTRS provide cost-of-living increases?
CalSTRS provides a 2% simple annual COLA on the base benefit. However, purchasing power protection may apply if cumulative inflation exceeds cumulative COLAs.
3Can I buy additional service credit?
Yes, you can purchase additional service credit for periods like maternity leave, sabbaticals, or out-of-state teaching. This increases your pension.
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