Public Pension Calculator

Public Pension Calculator

CalPERS & CalSTRS — all 34 retirement formulas

✓Official benefit factor tables · Free, instant, private

This site provides free, instant retirement pension estimates for every CalPERS and CalSTRS formula. The benefit factor tables are sourced directly from official CalPERS PDF publications and the CalSTRS Member Handbook, with every factor verified against the source. No login is required and no data is sent to any server — all calculations happen in your browser.

CalPERS Calculator →

All 32 CalPERS retirement formulas — School, State Miscellaneous, State Safety, Local Miscellaneous, and Local Safety. Classic and PEPRA. Covers 2 million CalPERS members.

CalSTRS Calculator →

California teacher pension calculator covering 2% at 60 (Classic) and 2% at 62 (PEPRA) formulas, including the career factor for 30+ year Classic members. Covers ~900,000 CalSTRS members.

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Public Pension Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions

What is final compensation?▾
Final compensation is the average of your highest salary over a specific period, typically your highest 12 or 36 consecutive months depending on your formula. PEPRA members use a 36-month average; classic members typically use a 12-month average.
Am I in CalSTRS or CalPERS?▾
If you are a certificated K-12 teacher, community college instructor, or certain administrator, you are likely a CalSTRS member. Most other California public employees — including school classified staff, state workers, and city/county employees — are CalPERS members. Some careers (e.g., switching from teaching to administration) may build credit in both systems; reciprocity rules then apply at retirement.
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.
Does CalPERS affect my Social Security benefits?▾
Some CalPERS formulas are Social Security covered, meaning you pay into both CalPERS and Social Security. Others are not covered, meaning you do not pay Social Security taxes and may be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) if you have Social Security credits from other employment.
What is the CalSTRS career factor?▾
Classic CalSTRS members (2% at 60) who retire with at least 30 years of service credit earn an additional 0.2% added to their benefit factor — known as the career factor — up to a maximum benefit factor of 2.4%. PEPRA CalSTRS members (2% at 62) do not have a career factor.

Background Guides

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All 32 CalPERS Benefit Factor Charts

Interactive viewer for every CalPERS benefit factor table

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2% at 62 — Deep Explainer

The most common PEPRA formula explained

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2% at 55 — Deep Explainer

The most common Classic formula explained

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How the CalPERS Retirement Formula Works

Benefit factor × years × final compensation

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Final Compensation Explained

Highest 12 months vs highest 36 months

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CalPERS Calculator Hub

All 32 CalPERS formulas

Disclaimer: Estimates only. For official benefit estimates, log in to myCalPERS or contact CalSTRS directly. Not financial, tax, or legal advice.