CalSTRS Calculator: How to Use It

What this calculator does

The CalSTRS Calculator computes your Defined Benefit pension using the correct age factor table for your tier. The formula is: age factor times years of service credit times final compensation. It applies the career factor bonus automatically if you have 30 or more years under the 2% at 60 tier, flags the 100% of final compensation cap, and shows the survivor benefit reduction if you elect one.

It also tracks eligibility, whether you can retire now, how many years until the age factor target, and how much additional benefit you would gain by waiting.

What each input means

Membership tier

First hired into a CalSTRS-covered position before January 1, 2013: you are in the 2% at 60 tier. First hired January 1, 2013 or later: 2% at 62. The tier appears on your CalSTRS member statement. If you left and returned, the rehire date and break length determine whether you retained your original tier status. Contact CalSTRS to confirm.

Current age and years of service credit

Service credit is the total credited years CalSTRS has on file, including any purchased service, military service, or service transferred in. Decimals are accepted. If you have 22 years and 4 months, entering 22.33 is reasonable. The exact count appears on your annual member statement.

Final compensation

The calculator lets you enter your salary as annual or monthly. For the 2% at 60 tier, you choose whether to use your single highest year (available if you have 25+ years of service) or the 3-year average. For the 2% at 62 tier, it always uses the 3-year average. The single-year option is disabled. Enter whichever figure is higher if you are on the 2% at 60 tier with 25+ years.

Survivor benefit option

The Standard option provides 50% of your monthly benefit to an eligible survivor after your death, with approximately a 5% reduction to your benefit. Option B provides 100% to a named beneficiary, with approximately an 8% reduction. Option A eliminates the continuance entirely, no reduction, but your benefit ends at your death. These are approximate figures. Exact reductions depend on your and your beneficiary's ages at retirement.

Understanding the outputs

The eligibility banner tells you whether you can retire at your entered age or how many years remain until eligibility. You can technically begin receiving benefits at 55 with 5 years (2% at 60 tier) or at 50 with 30 years, but the age factor at those ages is lower. Eligibility and optimality are not the same thing.

If the career factor applies (30+ years, 2% at 60 tier), the results show it separately. A green banner confirms the 0.2% bonus is included in the age factor used.

CalSTRS caps the benefit at 100% of final compensation. This requires approximately 42 or more years of service depending on your age and tier. Very few members hit this cap, but the calculator notes it if you do.

CalSTRS and Social Security

Most California public school teachers do not pay into Social Security and do not receive Social Security benefits from their teaching employment. Some teachers have Social Security credits from other jobs. Before January 2025, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduced those benefits for CalSTRS pension recipients. Congress repealed WEP in the Social Security Fairness Act, signed January 5, 2025. If you have Social Security from other work, your benefit should now be paid in full. This calculator covers only the CalSTRS DB pension.