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All 32 CalPERS Benefit Factor Charts

Every official benefit factor table, organized by category

School

State Miscellaneous & Industrial

State Safety

Local Miscellaneous

Local Safety

CalPERS Benefit Factor Tables — Frequently Asked Questions

What are Local Miscellaneous and Local Safety formulas?
Local Miscellaneous formulas apply to non-safety employees of cities, counties, and special districts that contract with CalPERS. Local Safety formulas apply to law enforcement, firefighters, and other safety employees of local agencies. Safety formulas typically have higher benefit factors and earlier retirement ages.
What is service credit?
Service credit is the years (and partial years) you have worked under a CalPERS or CalSTRS covered position. One year of full-time employment equals one year of service credit. Part-time employees earn proportional service credit.
Does the PEPRA salary cap affect my pension?
Yes, if your final compensation exceeds the cap. PEPRA limits the compensation used in the pension formula to a published annual cap that is adjusted yearly. Compensation above the cap does not increase your pension benefit, regardless of years of service. Classic formulas do not have this cap, though their compensation is subject to IRS Section 401(a)(17) limits.
Is Classic or PEPRA better?
Classic formulas generally produce larger pensions at the same age and service because their benefit factors are higher and they use a 12-month final compensation period instead of 36 months. You don't get to choose — your hire date and prior CalPERS membership determine which set of formulas you fall under. PEPRA members hired on or after 1/1/2013 also contribute more of their own salary toward their pension.
Does the day I retire affect my first COLA?
Yes. CalPERS pays the annual COLA each May based on retirees with at least one full year of retirement. Retiring before April 1 generally qualifies you for the next May's COLA payment; retiring after April 1 means waiting an extra year. This single timing choice can shift your first COLA by 12 months.

Disclaimer:All benefit factors are parsed directly from official CalPERS PDF publications. Each formula's calculator page links to its source PDF.