Teacher Pensions by State: Compare the Rules in 50 States

Teacher pensions differ a lot from state to state: whether the job also earns Social Security, the percent you earn for each year, when you can retire with a full benefit, how retiree raises work, whether there's a DROP, and whether your state taxes the pension. Pick a topic for the full table with sources, or scan them all below.

Unofficial · Last checked Nov. 12, 2026

This is an independent summary, not affiliated with or endorsed by any retirement system. Each answer comes from that state's own published sources, cited in the table. It covers the main teacher plan in each state; your own tier or employer can change the answer. Always confirm with your retirement system before you decide anything.

Covers all 50 states. "Not covered yet" means our data for that state doesn't settle the question yet. "Check with" means the sources leave a point open.

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Tap any answer to see that state's source and its guide. Swipe the table sideways on a phone.

Teacher pension rules by state (50 states, last checked Nov. 12, 2026)
State	Social Security	Multiplier	Full benefit	COLA	DROP	State tax
AlabamaTRS of Alabama	Check with TRS of Alabama	1.65%-2.0125% by tier	60 with 10 yrs, or 25 yrs	Only if granted	Closed in 2011	Not taxed
AlaskaAlaska TRS	No	2%-2.5% by years	55 or 60, or 20 yrs	None for Tier III	No	No income tax
ArizonaASRS	Varies by employer	2.1%-2.3% by years	Rule of 80 (pre-2011)	Check with ASRS	No	Up to $2,500 a year excluded
ArkansasATRS	Not covered yet	1.0%-2.15% by service type	28 yrs, or 60 vested	3% a year	Yes, up to 10 years	$6,000 excluded at 59 1/2+
CaliforniaCalSTRS	No	Age-factor table	60 or 62	2% a year	Not covered yet	Taxed
ColoradoColorado PERA	Mostly no; varies	2.5%	Rules of 80 to 90; varies	0.5% to 2% a year	Check with Colorado PERA	Up to $24,000 excluded at 65+
ConnecticutConnecticut TRB	No	2.0%	60 with 20 yrs, or 35 yrs	Tied to Social Security	Check with Connecticut TRB	50% excluded
DelawareSEPP	Not covered yet	1.85%-2.0% by service date	30 yrs, or 60 with 15-20	Only if granted	No	Up to $12,500 excluded at 60+
FloridaFRS	Yes	1.6%-1.68% by age/years	62 or 30 yrs; 65 or 33 yrs	None if joined 2011 or later	Yes, up to 96 months	Not taxed
GeorgiaTRS of Georgia	Not covered yet	2.0%	30 yrs, or 60 with 10 yrs	1.5% twice a year, if CPI ok	No	Check with TRS of Georgia
HawaiiHawaii ERS	Yes	1.25%-2.0% by plan/date	65 with 10, or 60 with 30	1.5% a year	No	Check with Hawaii ERS
IdahoPERSI	Yes	Check with PERSI	Rule of 90	1% a year if CPI rises 1%+	Not covered yet	Taxed
IllinoisTRS Illinois	No	2.2% (older service varies)	Tier 2: 67 with 10 yrs	Up to 3% a year	Not covered yet	Not taxed
IndianaTRF	Check with TRF	1.1%	Rule of 85	Only if granted	No	Not covered yet
IowaIPERS	Yes	2% (1% after 30 years)	Rule of 88	No COLA	No	Not taxed at 55+
KansasKPERS	Check with KPERS	1.75%-1.85%, or cash balance	85 points (KPERS 1)	Only if granted	No	Not taxed
KentuckyTRS of Kentucky	No (school districts)	1.7%-3.0% by tier	27 yrs, or age 60	1.5% a year	No	Check with TRS of Kentucky
LouisianaTRSL	No	2.0%-2.5% by plan	Newest: 62 with 5 yrs	Only if granted	Yes, up to 36 months	Not taxed
MaineMainePERS	No	2.0%	60, 62 or 65	Up to 3% a year	No	Check with MainePERS
MarylandTPS	Not covered yet	1.2%-1.8% by plan	Age + years = 90 (RCPB)	Up to 2.5% a year	No	Check with TPS
MassachusettsMTRS	No	Age-factor table	Top factor at 65 or 67	Voted yearly, up to 3%	No	Not taxed
MichiganMPSERS	Not covered yet	1.25%-1.5% by plan	30 yrs, or 60 with 10 yrs	None for newer hires	No	Taxed
MinnesotaTRA	Yes	1.7%-1.9% by service date	Check with TRA	1.3% to 1.5% a year	No	Taxed
MississippiMississippi PERS	Check with Mississippi PERS	1%-2.5% by tier	25 or 30 yrs, or 60/65	Tier 5: only if granted	No	Not taxed
MissouriPSRS	Varies (mostly no)	2.5% (2.55% at 32 years)	Rule of 80	Board decides, up to 5%	No	Check with PSRS
MontanaMontana TRS	Check with Montana TRS	Check with Montana TRS	Check with Montana TRS	0.5% to 1.5% a year	No	Taxed
NebraskaNebraska School Retirement System	Check with Nebraska School Retirement System	2.0%	Rule of 85	Up to 1% a year	No	Check with Nebraska School Retirement System
NevadaNevada PERS	Check with Nevada PERS	2.25%-2.67% by enrollment	Newest: 33 1/3 yrs or 65	2% to 3% a year	Check with Nevada PERS	No income tax
New HampshireNHRS	Almost always yes	1.667%, then 1.515%	60 or 65	Only if granted	No	Not taxed
New JerseyTPAF	Check with TPAF	1/55 or 1/60 by tier	60, 62 or 65 by tier	Suspended since 2011	No	Up to $100,000 excluded at 62+
New MexicoNMERB	Not covered yet	1.35%-3.35% by tier	Rule of 75 or 80	Tied to CPI; 1.6% in 2026	No	Check with NMERB
New YorkNYSTRS	Not covered yet	1.67%-2% by tier	Tier 6: 63, or 58 with 30	1% to 3% a year	Not covered yet	Not taxed
North CarolinaTSERS	Not covered yet	1.82%	30 yrs, or 60 with 25 yrs	Only if granted	No	Exempt with 1989 service rule
North DakotaTFFR	Not covered yet	2.0%	Rule of 85 or 90	Only if granted	No	Taxed
OhioSTRS Ohio	No	2.2%, benefit tables	32 yrs, or 65 with 5 yrs	Only if board grants	Not covered yet	Taxed
OklahomaTRS of Oklahoma	Varies by district	2.0%	Rule of 80 or 90	Only if granted	No	Check with TRS of Oklahoma
OregonOregon PERS	Varies by employer	1.5%-1.67% by tier	Check with Oregon PERS	Up to 2% a year	No	Taxed
PennsylvaniaPSERS	Not covered yet	1.0%-2.5% by class	Varies; Rule of 92 or 97	Only if granted	Check with PSERS	Not taxed
Rhode IslandERSRI	Varies by district	1% (older service more)	Check with ERSRI	1/4 COLA: 0.84% in 2026	No	Up to $50,000 excluded
South CarolinaSCRS	Not covered yet	1.82%	Rule of 90 (Class Three)	1%, up to $500 a year	No (TERI closed 2018)	Up to $10,000 deducted at 65+
South DakotaSDRS	Yes	1.55%-1.8% by plan	Rule of 85 (Foundation)	0% to 3.5% a year	No	Not taxed
TennesseeTCRS	Yes	1.0%-1.575% by plan	Rule of 90 (Hybrid)	Up to 3% a year	No	Not covered yet
TexasTRS	Not covered yet	2.3%	Rule of 80	Only if granted	Closed in 2005	Not covered yet
UtahURS	Check with URS	1.5%-2.0% by tier	65, or 30 or 35 yrs	Up to 2.5% a year	No	Taxed
VermontVSTRS	Not covered yet	1.25%-2% by group	Rule of 90 (Group C #2)	Half of CPI, up to 4%	No	Not covered yet
VirginiaVRS	Not covered yet	1.0%-1.7% by plan	Rule of 90 (Plan 2)	Up to 3% a year	No	Check with VRS
WashingtonWashington TRS	Not covered yet	1%-2% by plan	Plan 2/3: age 65	Up to 3% a year	No	Not taxed
West VirginiaWest Virginia TRS	Not covered yet	2.0%	Tier II: 62 with 10 yrs	Check with West Virginia TRS	No	Up to $2,000 excluded
WisconsinWRS	Yes	1.6%-1.765% by service date	65, or 57 with 30 yrs	Depends on returns	No	Up to $24,000 excluded at 67+
WyomingWyoming RS	Yes	2%-2.25% by tier	Rule of 85	Only if granted	No	Check with Wyoming RS

Questions

Which state has the best teacher pension?

We don't rank states. Pensions depend on your tier, salary, years and age, and each state's rules involve trade-offs. This page shows the rules side by side, with each state's sources.

Is this official?

No. It's an independent summary of each state's published rules. Your retirement system decides your actual benefit.

Sources: each state's own handbook, statute or system publication, cited on each topic page. Last checked Nov. 12, 2026. Found an error? Tell us.