Minnesota TRA Retirement Calculator
Estimate your Minnesota Teachers Retirement Association annuity. Enter your service, your high-five salary and when you joined, and see the formula TRA applies, any early retirement reduction, and when increases start.
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Two formulas, and which one you get
Minnesota Statutes 354.44, subdivision 6 has two TRA formulas. Everyone has the level formula. Members who first joined before July 1, 1989 also have the older Tier I step formula, and TRA pays them whichever is higher.
Level (Coordinated): 1.7% x years before July 1, 2006 + 1.9% x years after, x high-five salary
Step (pre-1989 Coordinated): 1.2% for the first 10 years, 1.7% after (1.4% and 1.9% for service after June 2006)
The high-five salary is your highest average fiscal-year salary over five successive years. TRA's own example: 20 years, all after 2006, at a $75,000 high-five is 38% of salary, $28,500 a year or $2,375 a month at 65.
Basic members, who aren't covered by Social Security, earn 2.7% a year under the level formula. Under the step formula they get 2.2% for the first 10 years and 2.7% after. Coordinated members are in Social Security and use the lower percentages.
The Rule of 90 is only for pre-1989 members
If you first joined before July 1, 1989 and your age plus service reaches 90, the step formula is paid with no early reduction. If not, the step formula is cut 1/4 of 1% for each month under 65, or each month under 62 if you have 30 years.
Join on or after July 1, 1989 and there's no Rule of 90. Age 60 with 30 years adds to 90, but you're still reduced under the level formula. Normal retirement age is 65 for everyone since July 1, 2024.
Early retirement under the level formula
You can retire at 55 with 3 years of service. The level formula is cut 4% for each year from 55 through 58 and 7% for each year from 59 to 65. Those add up fast: retire at 62 and you lose 21%, at 60 you lose 35%, at 55 you lose 58%.
The 2025 omnibus pension bill added 60-and-30. If you retire at 60 or older with 30 years, and you were active in a Minnesota public plan on May 23, 2025, the cut is 5% a year before 65, then offset by augmentation of 3% a year (if you started before July 1, 2006) or 2.5%, compounded. Education Minnesota's example: a teacher retiring at 60 with 30 years keeps nearly 87% of the full benefit instead of 65%. You can stop work with 30 years and wait until 60 to file.
Postretirement increases
TRA annuities rise every January 1, compounding: 1.3% in 2026, 1.4% in 2027 and 1.5% from 2028 on (Minn. Stat. 356.415, subd. 1d). Retire before 65 on or after June 30, 2025 and the increases wait until the January after the year you turn 65.
Vesting
Three years of service vests you. Leave earlier and you can take a refund. Leave vested before 55 and you can start the annuity anywhere from 55 (reduced) to 65 (unreduced).
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Frequently asked questions
How is a Minnesota TRA pension calculated?
Years of service x a percentage x your high-five average salary. For Coordinated members under the level formula it is 1.7% for each year before July 1, 2006 and 1.9% for each year after. TRA's own example: 20 years after 2006 x 1.9% x $75,000 = $28,500 a year, or $2,375 a month, at 65.
Who gets the Rule of 90?
Only members who first joined TRA (or a listed Minnesota teacher fund) before July 1, 1989. If age plus service reaches 90, their Tier I step formula is paid with no early reduction. Members who joined on or after July 1, 1989 have no Rule of 90; they are reduced for every year before 65.
How much is the early retirement reduction?
Under the level formula, 4% for each year from 55 through 58 and 7% for each year from 59 to 65. Retiring at 60 costs 35%. If you are 60 or older with 30 years and were active in a Minnesota public plan on May 23, 2025, the 60-and-30 rule applies instead: 5% a year, offset by augmentation of 3% (started before July 1, 2006) or 2.5% a year. That works out to about 2.5% to 3% a year, so a 60-year-old with 30 years keeps nearly 87% instead of 65%.
Are Minnesota teachers covered by Social Security?
Most are. TRA has two kinds of members. Coordinated members are covered by Social Security under the state's agreement with the federal government and earn 1.7% or 1.9% a year. Basic members are not covered by Social Security and earn 2.7% a year under the level formula.
Does TRA have a COLA?
Yes. The annuity rises each January 1 by 1.3% in 2026, 1.4% in 2027 and 1.5% from 2028 on, and the increases compound. If you retire before 65 (on or after June 30, 2025), increases start the January after the year you turn 65.