A STRS Ohio member with 30 years of service and a $70k final average salary retires on about $3,850 a month at age 65 under the “Defined Benefit Plan, retiring June 2025 – May 2035” rules. That is 66.0% of salary. Ohio teachers pay 14% of salary toward the pension and do not earn Social Security on teaching pay, so the pension carries most of the load. The age shown is 65, or the age when you reach 32 years if earlier.
Defined Benefit Plan, retiring June 2025 – May 2035
| Service | Age | % of salary | $50k | $60k | $70k | $80k | $90k | $100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 yrs | 65 | 22.0% | $917 | $1,100 | $1,283 | $1,467 | $1,650 | $1,833 |
| 15 yrs | 65 | 33.0% | $1,375 | $1,650 | $1,925 | $2,200 | $2,475 | $2,750 |
| 20 yrs | 65 | 44.0% | $1,833 | $2,200 | $2,567 | $2,933 | $3,300 | $3,667 |
| 25 yrs | 65 | 55.0% | $2,292 | $2,750 | $3,208 | $3,667 | $4,125 | $4,583 |
| 30 yrs | 65 | 66.0% | $2,750 | $3,300 | $3,850 | $4,400 | $4,950 | $5,500 |
| 35 yrs | 50 | 77.0% | $3,208 | $3,850 | $4,492 | $5,133 | $5,775 | $6,417 |
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 STRS Ohio retirement chart shows the percentage at every age from 55 to 67, and the STRS Ohio calculator runs your exact numbers.
What else adds to the check
Most STRS Ohio 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.