CalPERS Retirement Pension
You can track your retirement funds and get pension estimates by Creating a MyCalPERS
Account.
CalPERS is a defined benefit retirement plan. It provides benefits based on members' years of
service, age, and highest consecutive 12 months or consecutive 36 months compensation. In addition,
benefits are provided for disability, death, and to survivors or beneficiaries of eligible members.
Note: Some members are subject to Compensation Limits**
Cal Poly employees who are CalPERS members become fully vested for a retirement pension after
five years of credited CalPERS service. Vesting means you are entitled to a pension
once you reach retirement age (varies).
The vesting period is calculated by CalPERS and includes credit earned at any CalPERS public agency
including the State of California (including CSU) and public contracting agencies.
Considering retirement in the next year?
Please visit our Retirement
Resources webpage for timelines and more detailed planning information.
CalPERS Retirement Formulas
State Misc Tier 1 (Except State Public Safety)
|
PEPRA Membership |
Classic Membership |
Classic Membership |
| Employment and Membership |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member on or after January 1,
2013 |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member between January 15, 2011
and December 31, 2012 |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member prior to January 15,
2011 |
| Employee Contribution* |
8% of gross pay |
5% of gross pay
with $513 exclusion |
5% of gross pay
with $513 exclusion |
| CSU Contribution (FY 2025-26) |
31.42% of gross pay |
31.42% of gross pay |
31.42% of gross pay |
| Retirement Formula |
2% at 62 (2N) |
2% at 60 (2Z) |
2% at 55 (08) |
Mimimum Retirement Age |
52 years |
50 years |
50 years |
| Highest Benefit Factor |
2.5% at 67+ |
2.418% at 63+ |
2.5% at 63+ |
Pension
Vesting |
5 years |
5 years |
5 years |
Salary Used to
Calculate Pension (Subject to Cap) |
Average highest 36 consecutive months |
Average highest 36 consecutive months |
Average highest 12 consecutive months |
Compensation Limits** |
2026 - $159,733 |
2026 - $360,000 |
2026 - $360,000 |
State Public Safety
|
PEPRA Membership |
Classic Membership |
Classic Membership |
| OFFICERS Employment and Membership |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member on or after January 1,
2013 |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member on or after July 1,
2011 |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member prior to July 1,
2011 |
| MANAGEMENT Employment and Membership |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member on or after January 1,
2013 |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member on or after January 15,
2011 |
Hired by State And new CalPERS member prior to January 15,
2011 |
| Employee Contribution* |
13.25% of gross pay
|
8% of gross pay
with $238 exclusion |
8% of gross pay
with $238 exclusion |
| CSU Contribution (FY 2025-26) |
51.01% of gross pay |
51.01% of gross pay |
51.01% of gross pay |
| Retirement Formula |
2.5% at 57 |
2.5% at 55 |
3.0% at 50 |
Mimimum Retirement Age |
50 years |
50 years |
50 years |
| Highest Benefit Factor |
2.5% at 57+ |
2.5% at 55+ |
3.0% at 50+ |
Pension
Vesting |
5 years |
5 years |
5 years* |
Salary Used to
Calculate Pension (Subject to Cap) |
Average highest 36 consecutive months |
Average highest 36 consecutive months |
Average highest 12 consecutive months |
Compensation Limits** |
2026 - $191,679 |
2026 - $360,000 |
2026 - $360,000 |
*As required by PEPRA (Public Employees Pension Reform Act), reflects a portion of the current
"normal" cost rate. Normal cost rates are determined annually and subject to change.
**Compensation limits for both classic and new members do not limit the salary an employer
can pay, but rather limits the amount of compensation taken into account under the
defined benefit plan. These limits will affect your monthly pension retirement calculation.
The Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA") provides that the new pension formula be
offered to new members. The CSU's understanding is that an employee who previously worked for a
CalPERS-covered employer would be considered a "new member" if the employee changes public employers
and the separation between employers is greater than six months, unless the change of employment is
between state entities or schools.
CalPERS Retirement: Vesting Requirement for Health/Dental Benefits
In order to qualify for health/dental in retirement, you must retire from a benefit eligible
position within 120 days of separation from the CSU AND meet either the five year or ten
year vesting requirement. (see chart below).
- Retirees pay the same health contribution as active CSU employees.
- Dental Retiree plan premium is paid by CalPERS.
- The vision benefit can be continued at the retiree's expense.
In addition, benefits are provided for disability, death, and to survivors or beneficiaries
of eligible members. Exception to Ten Year Vesting Requirement: Disabled
employees would receive the full state health contribution if they separate and retire with
a disability retirement within 120 days from a benefits eligible appointment.
CalPERS Health/Dental Vesting Requirements
| Employee Group / Bargaining Unit |
First hired by CSU And new CalPERS member on or after July 1,
2018 |
First hired by CSU And new CalPERS member on or after July 1,
2017 |
Hired by CSU And new CalPERS member prior to July 1, 2017 |
| R03 |
No Change |
10 years |
5 years |
| M98, M80, C99, E99 |
10 years |
5 years |
5 years |
| R01, R02, R04, R05, R06, R07, R09 |
10 years |
5 years |
5 years |
| R08 |
No Change |
No Change |
5 years |
What is Reciprocity?
As a member of CalPERS you may be eligible for the benefits of reciprocity.
Reciprocity is an agreement among public retirement systems to allow members to move
from one public employer to another public employer within a specific time limit
without losing valuable retirement and related benefit rights.
Detailed information about establishing reciprocity can be found in the CalPERS
publication "When You Change Retirement Systems" (PUB-16)
.
Purchasing CalPERS Service Credit
As a member of CalPERS you may be eligible to purchase additional service credit such
as service prior to membership, military service, and for certain types of leaves of
absence.
More information can be found in "Service Credit Purchase Options" "PUB-12)
and "Military Service Purchase Options" (PUB-15).
SavingsPlus, Part-time, Seasonal, Temporary Employees (PST) Plan
The Federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1990 requires that
part-time, seasonal, or temporary public employees who are not members of a
retirement system be covered either by a qualified retirement plan or by Social
Security. This requirement applies to Cal Poly employees who are presently excluded
from membership in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).
Currently, all non-CalPERS eligible employees are placed into the Part-Time,
Seasonal, Temporary Employees Retirement Program – Section 457 Deferred Compensation
Plan. It is administered by the Department of Personnel Administration under the
SavingsPlus Program.
Employees contribute 7.5% of their gross pay into the SavingsPlus
PST plan. No employer contributions are made. Employees who participate in
the SavingsPlus PST retirement program do not contribute to Social Security. For
more information, see the PST Fact
Sheet.
When you become a CalPERS retirement member after belonging to the SavingsPlus
retirement plan, you have options with your PST funds:
Retiree Benefits
Learn more about the California State Unviersity (CSU) sponsored benefits available
to employees if they retire from the CSU under CalPERS and meet eligibility
requirements.
Employment After Retirement
There are no limits to working for a non-CalPERS employer after retirement. However, there
are restrictions when working for a CalPERS agency. For further information see the CalPERS
Guide, "Employment After Retirement" (PUB
33)
Retirement Funds after Separation
If you separate from Cal Poly and do not transfer to another CalPERS agency, the funds you
contributed (plus any interest earned) remain your funds.
- If you are a CalPERS member, review Leaving
CalPERS Membership to see your options.
- If you are a PST member, call SavingsPlus for instructions on how to withdraw your
funds: (855) 616-4776.
