Washington DRS Retirement Calculator
Estimate your Washington Department of Retirement Systems pension for PERS and TRS Plans 2 and 3. Enter your service and average final compensation and see what DRS would pay at the age you pick, including the early retirement factor.
How this calculator works and the math behind itGet retirement alerts
We track IRS rule changes, rate updates, and retirement law changes. One email when something moves enough to affect your math.
The formula
Plan 2: 2% x service credit years x AFC x early retirement factor
Plan 3: 1% x service credit years x AFC x early retirement factor
AFC is the average of your 60 highest-paid consecutive months, from any point in your career. DRS's example: 2% x 23 years x $5,400 = $2,484 a month at 65. Plan 3 pays half the pension rate because it also has an investment account you own.
Early retirement costs more than most people think
Full retirement age in Plans 2 and 3 is 65. You can go at 55, but how much you lose depends on your service and your hire date.
With 20 to 29 years in Plan 2 (10 to 29 in Plan 3), DRS applies an actuarial factor. It isn't 3% a year. Under the 2026 table you keep 40.92% of your pension at 55, 62.92% at 60 and 75.38% at 62. DRS's own example: retire at 55 with 22 years and a $3,600 AFC, and you get $648.17 a month instead of $1,584. A new table starts January 1, 2027 that's slightly lower (40.18% at 55).
Thirty years softens it, but 55 with 30 is still reduced. If you were hired before May 1, 2013, the 2008 ERF in RCW 41.40.630 applies: 20% off at 55, 11% at 58, 5% at 60, 2% at 61 and nothing from 62. If you were hired on or after May 1, 2013, it's 5% for each year before 65, prorated by month: 50% off at 55, 25% at 60, 15% at 62. DRS's example: 62 with 30 years and a $4,400 AFC pays 85% of $2,640.
Vesting
Plan 2 vests at 5 years. Plan 3 vests at 10 years, or at 5 if at least 12 months were earned after age 44. A vested member who leaves early can start the full pension at 65, or a reduced one from 55 with enough service.
COLA
Plan 2 and Plan 3 pensions adjust each July once you've been retired a year. The adjustment follows the Seattle-area CPI and can't exceed 3% a year (RCW 41.40.640). When inflation runs over 3%, the extra is banked and paid out in years when it runs under. For July 2026, members retired before January 1, 2025 got 3.00% and those who retired January 1 to July 1, 2025 got 2.55%.
For high-stakes decisions
Running six-figure numbers? Get a second opinion.
A fee-only fiduciary can model your specific situation. No products sold. No commissions. Most charge $200-500 for a one-time analysis.
Find a fee-only advisorPensionMath earns no referral fee from NAPFA. We link there because it is the most trusted source for fee-only advisors.
Frequently asked questions
How is a Washington PERS 2 or TRS 2 pension calculated?
2% x service credit years x average final compensation (AFC), where AFC is your 60 highest-paid consecutive months. DRS's example: 2% x 23 years x $5,400 = $2,484 a month. Plan 3 uses 1% instead of 2%.
Can I retire at 55 with 30 years without a reduction?
No. Under RCW 41.40.630, 30 years at 55 still means a reduction. If you were hired before May 1, 2013, the 2008 ERF cuts 20% at 55, 5% at 60 and 2% at 61, with no cut from 62. If you were hired on or after May 1, 2013, it is 5% for each year before 65, so 50% at 55 and 15% at 62.
What if I retire early with 20 to 29 years?
Plan 2 members with at least 20 years (Plan 3 with 10) can retire from 55, but the pension is cut by an actuarial factor. Under DRS's 2026 table you keep 40.92% at 55, 62.92% at 60 and 90.85% at 64. DRS's example: 55 with 22 years and a $3,600 AFC pays $648.17 a month instead of $1,584. A new table takes effect January 1, 2027 (40.18% at 55).
When can I retire without any reduction?
At 65 with 5 years in Plan 2 (Plan 3: vested, which is 10 years or 5 years with 12 months after age 44). With 30 years and a hire date before May 1, 2013, you are also unreduced from 62.
What if I leave public employment before 55?
If you leave your contributions in the plan, you keep the same age and service options. RCW 41.40.630 and 41.32.765 tie them to your service credit and age, not to still being employed. A Plan 2 member with 20 years (Plan 3: 10) can start a reduced pension at 55. With 30 years and a hire date before May 1, 2013, the pension is unreduced from 62, or 20% less from 55. Example: PERS 2, 30 years, $6,000 AFC, leaves at 54: $3,600 a month from 62, or $2,880 from 55. Hired on or after May 1, 2013, 30 years means 50% less at 55 and no cut only at 65.
How does the DRS COLA work?
After you have been retired a year, the pension adjusts each July by the change in the Seattle-area CPI, capped at 3% a year. Inflation above 3% is banked and used in later years when inflation runs under 3%.