Which NYSTRS Tier Am I? Tiers 1-6 by Date of Membership

Find your tier

Tier 1

Before July 1, 1973

Handbook p. 7; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Tier 2

July 1, 1973 to July 26, 1976

Handbook p. 7; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Tier 3

July 27, 1976 to August 31, 1983

Handbook pp. 7, 28-29; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Tier 4

September 1, 1983 to December 31, 2009

Handbook pp. 7, 28; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Tier 5

January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2012

Handbook pp. 7, 30; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Tier 6

On or after April 1, 2012

Handbook pp. 7, 31; Tier 6 deck (2023) slide 10; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Your tier then decides your pension factor, your age factor, and whether you can take a refund if you leave teaching.

The rules that differ, side by side

Scroll sideways on a phone. Each cell cites its source.

Rule	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4	Tier 5	Tier 6
Date of membership	Before July 1, 1973Handbook p. 7; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction	July 1, 1973 to July 26, 1976Handbook p. 7; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction	July 27, 1976 to August 31, 1983Handbook pp. 7, 28-29; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction	September 1, 1983 to December 31, 2009Handbook pp. 7, 28; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction	January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2012Handbook pp. 7, 30; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction	On or after April 1, 2012Handbook pp. 7, 31; Tier 6 deck (2023) slide 10; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction
Earliest retirement	Age 55 with 2 years of NYS service, or at any age with 35 yearsActuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 82	Age 55 with 5 yearsHandbook p. 25; Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 83	Age 55 with 5 yearsHandbook pp. 16, 25	Age 55 with 5 yearsHandbook pp. 16, 25	Age 55 with 5 yearsHandbook pp. 16, 25	Age 55 with 5 yearsHandbook pp. 9, 16, 25
Full benefit (no age factor)	Age 55, or 35 years, at any ageBenefit Comparison Table 2014 pp. 2-4; Handbook p. 25 (no Tier 1 age factor listed); Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 82	Age 62, or 30 years (from age 55)Handbook pp. 16, 25	Age 62, or 30 years (from age 55)Handbook pp. 16, 25	Age 62, or 30 years (from age 55)Handbook pp. 16, 25	Age 62, or age 57 with 30 yearsHandbook pp. 16, 25, 30; NYSTRS Regulations § 5005.5	Age 63, or age 58 with 30 yearsHandbook pp. 16, 25, 31; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction
Pension factor	2.0% per year Cut 5% for each year under 20 years (at most 50%) Most you can get: 75% of FAS (79% with Article 19 credit) Handbook p. 32	2.0% per year Cut 5% for each year under 20 years (at most 50%) Most you can get: 75% of FAS (79% with Article 19 credit) Handbook p. 32	Under 20 years: 1.67% per year 20 to 30 years: 2% per year for all service 30+ years: 60% plus 1.5% for each additional year over 30 years Handbook p. 28 (Tiers 3 and 4, calculated under Tier 4 (Article 15)); Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, pp. 83-84 (1⅔% = 1/60 per year)	Under 20 years: 1.67% per year 20 to 30 years: 2% per year for all service 30+ years: 60% plus 1.5% for each additional year over 30 years Handbook pp. 16, 28; Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, pp. 83-84 (1⅔% = 1/60 per year)	Under 25 years: 1.67% per year 25 to 30 years: 2% per year for all service 30+ years: 60% plus 1.5% for each additional year over 30 years Handbook pp. 16, 30; Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, pp. 83-84 (1⅔% = 1/60 per year)	Under 20 years: 1.67% per year 20 years: 1.75% per year for all service (35%); more than 20: 35% plus 2% per year beyond 20 Handbook pp. 16, 31; Tier 6 deck (2023) slide 28; Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, pp. 83-84 (1⅔% = 1/60 per year)
Age factor before then	None. Tier 1 has no age factor.Benefit Comparison Table 2014 pp. 2-4; Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 82	73% kept at 55, rising to 100% at 62, prorated by monthActuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 83; Benefit Comparison Table 2014 pp. 2-4	73% kept at 55, rising to 100% at 62, prorated by monthHandbook p. 28 (percent prorated by month); Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 83	73% kept at 55, rising to 100% at 62, prorated by monthHandbook p. 28 (percent prorated by month); Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 83	61.67% kept at 55, rising to 100% at 62, prorated by monthNYSTRS Regulations § 5005.5	48% kept at 55, rising to 100% at 63, prorated by monthNYSTRS Regulations § 5005.6 (6.5/1200 per full month before 63)
Final average salary	Highest three consecutive school years. Yearly increases above 20% of the previous year's salary are excluded.Handbook p. 26; N.Y. Educ. Law § 501(11)(b); NYSTRS Regulations § 5003.1	Highest three consecutive school years. Yearly increases above 20% of the average of the previous two years' salaries are excluded.Handbook p. 26; NYSTRS Regulations § 5003.1	Highest three consecutive school years. Yearly increases above 10% of the average of the previous two years' salaries are excluded. IRC § 401(a)(17) limits pay counted for members who joined on or after July 1, 1996.Handbook p. 26; NYSTRS Regulations § 5003.4	Highest three consecutive school years. Yearly increases above 10% of the average of the previous two years' salaries are excluded. IRC § 401(a)(17) limits pay counted for members who joined on or after July 1, 1996.Handbook p. 26; NYSTRS Regulations § 5003.4	Highest three consecutive school years. Yearly increases above 10% of the average of the previous two years' salaries are excluded.Handbook p. 26; NYSTRS Regulations § 5003.4	Highest three consecutive school years, excluding yearly increases above 10% of the average of the previous two years. Salary above the NY governor's salary is excluded. With multiple employers, only the two highest-grossing positions per school year count.Handbook p. 26; Bulletin 2024-7 p. 2; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction; Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 81

What else to know

Your tier depends on your current date of membership, shown on your annual Benefit Profile: Tier 1 before July 1, 1973; Tier 2 from July 1, 1973 to July 26, 1976; Tier 3 from July 27, 1976 to Aug. 31, 1983; Tier 4 from Sept. 1, 1983 to Dec. 31, 2009; Tier 5 from Jan. 1, 2010 to March 31, 2012; Tier 6 on or after April 1, 2012.Handbook p. 7
Reinstating an earlier NYS public retirement membership can move you to an earlier tier. Reinstatement is irrevocable, and you can apply up to 30 days after your retirement date or until your benefit is finalized, whichever is later.Handbook pp. 9, 18
Buying credit for prior service does not change your date of membership or your tier.Handbook p. 17; Tier 6 deck (2023) slide 19
All Tier 3 members are entitled to the Tier 4 (Article 15) benefit calculation. The Tier 3 (Article 14) calculation is better only in a small number of cases, and NYSTRS pays the better one automatically when it is clear.Handbook p. 29
You are vested after five years of service credit reportable to NYSTRS. Vested members keep a right to a lifetime benefit even if they leave teaching, as long as they stay members. Before April 9, 2022, Tiers 5 and 6 needed 10 years.Handbook p. 9
A vested Tier 6 member with no NYSTRS service credit for seven years is vested-deferred. One who became vested-deferred before age 55 can't retire until 63, unless they earn at least one month of service credit in a NYSTRS-reportable position.Handbook pp. 9, 25
New York City public school teachers are in a separate system (the Teachers' Retirement System of the City of New York); NYSTRS covers teachers outside New York City.Handbook pp. 4, 8; Compilation of Laws 2026, Introduction

Tier 3: two ways to calculate Check with NYSTRS

Tier 3 members can be paid under Tier 3's own law (Article 14) or under Tier 4's (Article 15). The Article 14 amount depends on your Social Security benefit, which we don't know.

We compute the Tier 4 (Article 15) amount, which the handbook says is better in all but a small number of cases. NYSTRS pays the better one automatically when it's clear.

Handbook p. 29

Tier 1 members who joined before July 1, 1970 Check with NYSTRS

Tier 1 members who joined before July 1, 1970 are 'generally' under an older Non-Contributory Plan with a different formula. The sources don't say exactly who stays under it.

We compute the Tier 1 Career Plan (2% a year) for everyone in Tier 1 and add a note if you joined before July 1, 1970.

Actuarial Valuation 2024, App. 19, p. 82

Questions

Where do I find my date of membership?

On your annual Benefit Profile, which NYSTRS sends each fall, and in your MyNYSTRS account.

Can I move to an earlier tier?

Only by reinstating an earlier New York public retirement system membership. Buying credit for earlier service doesn't change your tier.

I teach in New York City. Is this for me?

No. The Teachers' Retirement System of the City of New York covers New York City public school teachers. NYSTRS covers public school teachers outside New York City.

Estimate your pension → See the formula and age factor tables

Source: NYSTRS Active Members' Handbook, Updated October 2026, pp. 4, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. Also: Compilation of Laws 2026 Introduction; Benefit Comparison Table 2014 pp. 2, 3, 4; Actuarial Valuation 2024 App. 19, pp. 81, 82, 83, 84; N.Y. Educ. Law; NYSTRS Regulations §§ 5003.1, 5003.4, 5005.5, 5005.6; Tier 6 deck slide 10, slide 28, slide 19; Bulletin 2024-7 p. 2. Last reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.