Short answer: Wisconsin public school teachers are in the WRS, run by ETF, with one benefit structure for everyone: no tiers. The key date is July 1, 2011: if you first started on or after it, you need 5 years to vest. Service earns 1.765% a year before 2000 and 1.6% from 2000 on in the formula. See leaving teaching and early retirement, or run the calculator.
Teachers are in the WRS
Participation is optional for some public employers; others must participate, including school districts for all eligible teachers. WRS covers all publicly employed teachers. ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 2, Who Participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System
Teachers are in the "general" category, with educational support staff and most other public workers. Protective (police, fire), elected/executive and judges have other multipliers and retirement ages (ET-4107 p. 7). The calculator covers only the general/teacher category. ET-4107 (rev 3/5/2025), p. 7, Formula Multipliers
No tiers, the same formula
| Rule | For every teacher |
|---|---|
| Multiplier | 1.765% a year before 2000, 1.6% from 2000 |
| No age reduction | 65, or 57 with 30 years |
| Earliest start | 55 |
| Most the formula pays | 70% of final average earnings |
The one date that matters: July 1, 2011
- Joining: First WRS employee on or after July 1, 2011: expected to work two-thirds of full time (880 hours for teachers) for at least one year. Before July 1, 2011 (no lump sum taken): one-third of full time (440 hours for teachers). ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 2, Who is Eligible
- Vesting: If you first began WRS employment on or after July 1, 2011, you must have five years of WRS-creditable service. If you first began WRS employment after 1989 and terminated employment before April 24, 1998, you must have some WRS-creditable service in five calendar years. If neither vesting law applies, you were vested when you first began WRS employment. ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 3, When Do You Become Vested
- Purchased service does not count toward the service requirements for WRS vesting. ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 9, Buying Creditable Service
If you are not vested when you terminate all WRS employment, you are only eligible for a separation benefit (employee contributions, additional contributions and interest). You lose employer contributions and interest (about half your account). ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 3, When Do You Become Vested
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public Schools teachers
Statute defines a 'Milwaukee teacher' as any teacher employed by the board of school directors of the city of Milwaukee, and treats members of the Milwaukee teachers retirement fund before January 1, 1982 as carried into the WRS. ETF's fact sheet says the WRS covers all publicly employed teachers. So this site treats MPS teachers like other WRS teachers. Wis. Stat. s. 40.02 (41); Wis. Stat. s. 40.19 (2) and (3)
Milwaukee Public Schools teachers: no ETF booklet we used names MPS as a WRS employer. State law (Wis. Stat. s. 40.02 (41) and s. 40.19) and ETF's fact sheet ('all publicly employed teachers') point to MPS teachers being in the WRS.
What we use: MPS teachers are in the WRS, with the same rules as other teachers
City and county systems
Separate systems with limited reciprocity. Under 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, new employees of the City of Milwaukee (2024) and Milwaukee County (2025) join the WRS. ET-8901 (rev 1/9/2026), Page 1 of 2, Covered Public Employees and Employers
Limited benefit reciprocity is available between the WRS, the City of Milwaukee Employes' Retirement System and the Milwaukee County Employees' Retirement System for people not yet retired with accounts in at least two of them. ET-4133 (rev 6/12/2026), p. 11, Reciprocity
What you pay in
2026 contributions as percent of payroll, General (includes teachers), Executive and Elected: employee 7.2%, employer 7.2%. Rates are adjusted annually. ET-8901 (rev 1/9/2026), Page 1 of 2, 2026 Contributions as Percent of Payroll
Members may elect to put 50% of employee-required, employer and additional contributions in the Variable Trust Fund (stocks only, not smoothed). ET-4107 (rev 3/5/2025), p. 8, Variable Trust Fund Participation
What the sources say
- Wisconsin public school teachers are in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), run by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF). School districts must enroll all eligible teachers.ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 2, Who Participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System
- WRS has no tiers by hire date for the benefit formula. Teachers are in the 'general' category with general employees and educational support staff; protective (police, fire) and elected/executive categories have their own rules.ET-4107 (rev 3/5/2025), p. 7, Formula Multipliers
- Your first WRS hire date still matters: if you started on or after July 1, 2011 you need five years of service to be vested and must be expected to work at least 880 hours a year (two-thirds time) to be covered. Earlier hires who never took a lump sum keep the 440-hour (one-third time) standard.ET-2119 (6/18/2026), pp. 2-3, Who is Eligible / When Do You Become Vested
- Check with ETFMilwaukee teachers: the statute defines a 'Milwaukee teacher' as a teacher employed by the Milwaukee board of school directors, and members of the old Milwaukee teachers retirement fund were carried into the WRS in 1982. ETF says the WRS covers all publicly employed teachers.Wis. Stat. s. 40.02 (41) and s. 40.19 (2)-(3); ET-8901 (rev 1/9/2026), Page 1 of 2No ETF brochure in our sources names Milwaukee Public Schools directly as a WRS employer.
- The City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have their own retirement systems; new hires of the city (2024) and county (2025) now join the WRS under 2023 Wisconsin Act 12.ET-8901 (rev 1/9/2026), Page 1 of 2, Covered Public Employees and Employers
- In 2026 teachers (general category) and their employers each contribute 7.2% of pay, 14.4% in total. Rates change every year.ET-8901 (rev 1/9/2026), Page 1 of 2, 2026 Contributions as Percent of Payroll
Questions
Does the WRS have tiers?
Not for the benefit formula. Every teacher uses the same multipliers (1.765% before 2000, 1.6% from 2000), the same ages and the same 70% cap. Your first WRS hire date matters only for vesting and how many hours make you eligible.
What changed on July 1, 2011?
If you first started a WRS job on or after that date, you need 5 years of service to be vested, and you join only if you're expected to work two-thirds time (880 hours a year for teachers).
Are Milwaukee Public Schools teachers in the WRS?
State law and ETF's fact sheet point that way, so we treat them like other teachers. Check with ETF.
How much do I pay in?
In 2026, 7.2% of pay, and your employer pays 7.2%. The rates change each year.
Source: Your Benefit Handbook (ET-2119), 6/18/2026, with Calculating Your Retirement Benefits (ET-4107, rev 3/5/2025), ET-2119 pp. 2, 3; ET-3101 p. 3; ET-4107 pp. 2, 7, 8; ET-4125 p. 11; ET-8901; Wis. Stat. ss. 40.02, 40.19, 40.23. Last reviewed .