Estimate your monthly CalSTRS benefit. Supports the 2% at 60 (pre-2013) and 2% at 62 (post-2013 PEPRA-aligned) formulas, with the full age factor table and final compensation math.
CalSTRS — the California State Teachers' Retirement System — covers about 1 million K-12 and community college educators in California. Your monthly benefit follows the same Service × Age Factor × Final Compensation formula CalPERS uses, but with CalSTRS' own age factor table and tier rules.
If you were hired into CalSTRS-covered service before 1/1/2013, you're on the CalSTRS "2% at 60" formula: age factor of 2% at age 60, scaling up to 2.4% at age 63 and beyond, and scaling down to 1.1% at age 50 (with the early-retirement rule). If you were hired on or after 1/1/2013, you're on the "2% at 62" formula, with the age factor scaling reaching 2.4% only at age 65, and a higher minimum retirement age.
This calculator handles both tracks. It also covers the Defined Benefit Supplement (DBS) — your separate cash balance account funded by employer contributions on earnings above one year of service — and the career factor kicker (0.2% added to the age factor at 30+ years of service for pre-2013 members).
The calculator is built for California teachers specifically. If you've worked under another system too (CalPERS reciprocity, UCRP, out-of-state teaching), the broader pension comparison tool can model both side-by-side.
Step 1 — Find your tier. If your first CalSTRS-covered job started before 1/1/2013, you're 2% at 60. After that, you're 2% at 62. Reciprocity rules can keep you in the 2% at 60 tier even if your CalSTRS job started later, if you came directly from another California public pension system without a break.
Step 2 — Look up your age factor. 2% at 60 members: age factor is 2.0% at age 60, plus 0.033% per month thereafter, capping at 2.4% at age 63 and beyond. Career members (30+ years) get a 0.2% career factor added on top, capped at 2.4%. 2% at 62 members: 2.0% at age 62, scaling up at the same rate, capping at 2.4% at age 65.
Step 3 — Enter your final compensation. CalSTRS uses your single highest 12 consecutive months of creditable compensation (pre-2013 members) or the highest 36-month average (post-2013 members). Creditable compensation excludes overtime stipends, lump-sum cash-outs at retirement, and certain summer-school differentials.
Enter your years of service, age at retirement, and highest pay — the calculator returns your monthly CalSTRS benefit plus the supplemental Defined Benefit Supplement (DBS) and Cash Balance Benefit if applicable.
Open the calculator →Hired before 1/1/2013 = 2% at 60 (the older, richer formula). Hired on or after 1/1/2013 = 2% at 62. The newer 2% at 62 tier has a higher minimum retirement age (55 instead of 50), uses a 36-month average for final comp instead of the highest 12 months, and the age factor scaling is shifted later by 2 years. Pre-2013 members keep their 2% at 60 formula for life unless they refund their contributions.
Most CalSTRS members do NOT pay into Social Security on their teaching wages — California teachers are in a 'non-covered' employment for SS. If you have SS earnings from other jobs (private sector, summer work, etc.), the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) can reduce your SS benefit. The Social Security Fairness Act passed in late 2024 repealed both WEP and GPO; verify the current state with SSA.
DBS is your separate cash-balance account inside CalSTRS, funded by employer contributions on earnings above 1.0 years of service in a single year (typically summer school, extra-duty pay, coaching stipends). DBS pays a guaranteed minimum interest rate, plus an additional declared rate when the fund overperforms. At retirement you can take DBS as a lump sum, monthly annuity, or roll it to an IRA. It's separate from your main monthly pension.
2% at 60 members can retire as early as age 50 with at least 30 years of service. Below 30 years, the minimum is age 55. 2% at 62 members must wait until age 55 (no exception). Early retirement applies a steep age-factor reduction — the calculator shows the difference in monthly dollars between, say, retiring at 55 vs. 60.
Yes — CalSTRS pays a 2% simple (non-compounding) COLA based on the year of retirement. There's also a Supplemental Benefit Maintenance Account (SBMA) that pays an additional amount to maintain at least 85% of original purchasing power. SBMA isn't guaranteed and depends on fund performance.