A CalSTRS member with 30 years of service and a $70k final average salary retires on about $3,500 a month at age 62 under the “2% at 62 (first hired on or after Jan 1, 2013)” rules. That is 60.0% of salary. CalSTRS figures here use the age when the factor first reaches 2%, which is 62 for members hired since 2013 and 60 for earlier members. Waiting a few years longer raises the factor toward 2.4%, so the same 30 years can pay 60% of salary at 62 and 72% at 65. CalSTRS teachers do not earn Social Security on their teaching pay.
2% at 60 (first hired before Jan 1, 2013)
| Service | Age | % of salary | $50k | $60k | $70k | $80k | $90k | $100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yrs | 60 | 20.0% | $833 | $1,000 | $1,167 | $1,333 | $1,500 | $1,667 |
| 15 yrs | 60 | 30.0% | $1,250 | $1,500 | $1,750 | $2,000 | $2,250 | $2,500 |
| 20 yrs | 60 | 40.0% | $1,667 | $2,000 | $2,333 | $2,667 | $3,000 | $3,333 |
| 25 yrs | 60 | 50.0% | $2,083 | $2,500 | $2,917 | $3,333 | $3,750 | $4,167 |
| 30 yrs | 59 | 62.4% | $2,600 | $3,120 | $3,640 | $4,160 | $4,680 | $5,200 |
| 35 yrs | 59 | 72.8% | $3,033 | $3,640 | $4,247 | $4,853 | $5,460 | $6,067 |
2% at 62 (first hired on or after Jan 1, 2013)
| Service | Age | % of salary | $50k | $60k | $70k | $80k | $90k | $100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yrs | 62 | 20.0% | $833 | $1,000 | $1,167 | $1,333 | $1,500 | $1,667 |
| 15 yrs | 62 | 30.0% | $1,250 | $1,500 | $1,750 | $2,000 | $2,250 | $2,500 |
| 20 yrs | 62 | 40.0% | $1,667 | $2,000 | $2,333 | $2,667 | $3,000 | $3,333 |
| 25 yrs | 62 | 50.0% | $2,083 | $2,500 | $2,917 | $3,333 | $3,750 | $4,167 |
| 30 yrs | 62 | 60.0% | $2,500 | $3,000 | $3,500 | $4,000 | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| 35 yrs | 62 | 70.0% | $2,917 | $3,500 | $4,083 | $4,667 | $5,250 | $5,833 |
Monthly amounts before tax, using the single-life payout. Salary columns are final average salary, not your last paycheck. Age is the first age with no early-retirement reduction for that service.
Retiring earlier or later
Retiring before the age shown means a smaller check for life, and waiting longer usually adds both service and, in some plans, a higher factor. The CalSTRS retirement chart shows the percentage at every age from 55 to 67, and the CalSTRS calculator runs your exact numbers.
What else adds to the check
Most CalSTRS members do not pay into Social Security on this job, but any Social Security earned elsewhere now adds in full since the Fairness Act. See the pension and Social Security calculator for the combined total, and the COLA guide for how the check grows after you retire.