Is one more year worth it in NYSTRS?
Often, yes, and most of all when the extra year crosses a milestone. Reaching 20 years (25 in Tier 5) raises the rate on all your years, and reaching 30 years or your tier's full-benefit age removes the age factor. Away from a milestone, a year adds one more year of service at your tier's rate.
NYSTRS's example: Eddie, Tier 4
$33,025 a year
29 years · $78,000 FAS · 58% × 73% age factor = 42.34%
$48,000 a year
30 years · $80,000 FAS · 60%, no age factor
One year adds $14,975 a year, about $1,248 a month, for life. NYSTRS prints $33,025 and $48,000. Handbook p. 42
The milestones, by tier
Pension factor before any age factor. Computed from each tier's rules.
| Tier | Before 1st milestone | At 1st milestone | Before 2nd milestone | At 2nd milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiers 3-4 | 19 yrs: 31.67% | 20 yrs: 40% | 29 yrs: 58% | 30 yrs: 60% |
| Tier 5 | 24 yrs: 40% | 25 yrs: 50% | 29 yrs: 58% | 30 yrs: 60% |
| Tier 6 | 19 yrs: 31.67% | 20 yrs: 35% | 29 yrs: 53% | 30 yrs: 55% |
Away from a milestone: Tier 6 at 63
NYSTRS's Tier 6 example: retiring at 63 with 31 years and a $100,000 final average salary pays $57,000 a year (57%). Tier 6 deck (2023) slide 30 One year earlier, at 62 with 30 years, our engine gives 55%, or $55,000, with no age factor either way. Past 20 years, each Tier 6 year adds 2% of FAS; the big jumps are the milestones.
The table uses the pension factor rules for each tier. If you're a little short of a milestone, buying service credit may close the gap. To see your own numbers at every retirement date, try the calculator (a Tier 4 example is filled in).
What NYSTRS says
- Example from NYSTRS (Tier 4): retiring at 55 with 29 years and a $78,000 FAS gives 58% x 0.73 = 42.34%, or $33,025 a year. Working until 56 to reach 30 years, with an $80,000 FAS, gives 60% with no age factor, or $48,000 a year.Handbook p. 42
- Crossing 20 years (Tiers 3, 4 and 6) or 25 years (Tier 5) raises the rate on all your years, and 30 years removes the age factor for Tiers 2-4 (and for Tier 5 at 57+, Tier 6 at 58+).Handbook pp. 16, 28, 30
- NYSTRS advises working past a milestone rather than cutting it close: falling just short can lower your benefit for life. Initial payments are based on service posted when you file and generally stay the same for at least 12 months.Handbook p. 42
Questions
Is one more year always worth it?
It adds a year of service and often a higher salary. It is worth the most when it carries you over a milestone: 20 or 25 years, 30 years, or your tier's full-benefit age.
What does NYSTRS advise?
Work a little past a milestone instead of cutting it close. Falling just short can lower your benefit for life.
Source: NYSTRS Active Members' Handbook, Updated October 2026, pp. 16, 28, 30, 31, 42. Also: Tier 6 deck slide 30, slide 28; Actuarial Valuation 2024 App. 19, pp. 83, 84. Last reviewed .