California State Teachers Retirement Calculator
CalSTRS Retirement Benefit Calculator works out Total accrual (% of final average salary) and Gross annual annuity from Final average salary (high-3 / final compensation), Years of creditable service and Age when the annuity begins. The default figures on this page give annuity payable to you of 52,800.00; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
5 steps
- Plan: CalSTRS 2% at 60 benefit structure. Accrual: age factor 2.2% x 30 years of service credit.
- Total accrual = 66% of the 80000 final average salary = 52800 a year.
- No age reduction applies.
- No survivor annuity elected, so nothing is deducted.
- Monthly annuity = 52800 / 12 = 4400.
Figures from US public pension formulas, checked 31 August 2026. Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed · how reference data is kept current
Sources and references
4 sources
Keep this result
Save it, change one figure, then compare the two
The calculation stays free. Save this scenario, adjust one assumption, save that too, and put them side by side to see exactly what the change costs you. A free account keeps 5 scenarios and 2 comparisons; Personal makes both unlimited and adds exports and private links. Nothing is saved unless you press Save.
What the CalSTRS Retirement Benefit Calculator calculates
Estimates the annual and monthly benefit from a defined-benefit pension using the plan’s published accrual formula, age reduction, survivor election and benefit cap, covering FERS, CSRS, the uniformed services, CalSTRS and any plan whose accrual rate you supply.
How to use this CalSTRS Retirement Benefit Calculator
Enter Final average salary (high-3 / final compensation), Years of creditable service, Age when the annuity begins and Age reduction. Total accrual (% of final average salary) updates as you type. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Total accrual (% of final average salary), Gross annual annuity and Age reduction applied.
The method follows US Office of Personnel Management, FERS Information - Computation, 5 U.S.C. 8415 (FERS basic annuity), 5 U.S.C. 8339 (CSRS computation) and 5 U.S.C. 8419 / 8339(j) (survivor reductions), 10 U.S.C. 1409, Retired pay multiplier and CalSTRS, Age factor.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Total accrual (% of final average salary), Gross annual annuity and Age reduction applied. The inputs you can vary are Final average salary (high-3 / final compensation), Years of creditable service, Age when the annuity begins, Age reduction, Survivor annuity election and Year of birth.
Understanding Total accrual (% of final average salary), Gross annual annuity and Age reduction applied
An estimate only. Your actual benefit is computed by the plan administrator from your official service history, high-3 or final compensation, deposits and redeposits, unused sick leave, part-time proration and court orders. Confirm every figure with the plan before making a retirement decision.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
See something wrong? Report a problem with this calculator
Frequently asked questions
What is CalSTRS retirement formula?
Estimates the annual and monthly benefit from a defined-benefit pension using the plan’s published accrual formula, age reduction, survivor election and benefit cap, covering FERS, CSRS, the uniformed services. On this page it is computed from Final average salary (high-3 / final compensation), Years of creditable service and Age when the annuity begins and shown as Total accrual (% of final average salary), Gross annual annuity and Age reduction applied.
What is the best age to retire from CalSTRS?
On the figures this page opens with — final average salary (high-3 / final compensation) 100,000, years of creditable service 30 years and age when the annuity begins 62 years — the annuity payable to you is 52,800. No single number fits everyone: change any figure above and the answer updates as you type, with each step of the arithmetic beside it.
How do I calculate my CalSTRS retirement benefits?
Estimates the annual and monthly benefit from a defined-benefit pension using the plan’s published accrual formula, age reduction, survivor election and benefit cap, covering FERS, CSRS, the uniformed services. Open “How this is worked out” beside the result to see each step for your own figures.
How can I calculate my teacher pension in California?
It needs Final average salary (high-3 / final compensation), Years of creditable service, Age when the annuity begins, Age reduction, Survivor annuity election and Year of birth. Nothing else is required, and the figures stay in your browser.
What information do I need for the CalSTRS Retirement Benefit Calculator?
You need Final average salary (high-3 / final compensation), Years of creditable service, Age when the annuity begins, Age reduction, Survivor annuity election, Year of birth, Assumed annual cost-of-living adjustment and Years of cost-of-living adjustments to project. The page opens with default figures that give annuity payable to you of 52,800.00, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this CalSTRS Retirement Benefit Calculator show?
It shows Total accrual (% of final average salary), Gross annual annuity, Age reduction applied, Annuity after age reduction, Cost of the survivor election, Annuity payable to you, Monthly annuity payable to you and Annual survivor annuity, with the working and any warnings for your entries.