Most NYSLRS members contribute a percentage of their earnings toward their retirement. For Tier 6 members (those who joined NYSLRS on or after April 1, 2012), your contribution rate is based on your earnings and is subject to change each year on April 1.
The minimum contribution rate is 3 percent, and the maximum is 6 percent.
How Your Tier 6 Contribution Rate is Calculated
If you are a new Tier 6 member, your contribution rate is based on a projected annualized wage provided by your employer. For new part-time employees, your employer calculates a projected annualized wage by using your part-time rate to determine what your annual wage would be if you worked full-time.
Once you have been a member for more than two full state fiscal years, your contribution rate is calculated using actual earnings reported to us by your employer(s) from two state fiscal years prior. So, contribution rates for April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 are based on what you actually earned in all public employment from April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024.
Earnings include:
- Regular pay;
- Holiday pay;
- Longevity pay; and
- Overtime pay (up to a certain limit).
Overtime Pay Temporarily Excluded from Tier 6 Contribution Rates
A new law temporarily excludes overtime pay earned from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024 from the calculation of Tier 6 contribution rates. This may lower contribution rates for some Tier 6 members from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
For more information, read our blog post, Overtime Pay Temporarily Excluded from Tier 6 Contribution Rates.
Contribution rates are set at the beginning of each fiscal year on April 1. If your contribution rate changes, we notify your employer in March so they can update their payroll system to withhold the proper amount.
For more information, visit our Member Contributions webpage.
Understanding Your NYSLRS Pension
NYSLRS pensions are defined benefit plans, also known as traditional pension plans. When you retire, you will receive a monthly pension payment for the rest of your life. Your pension will be calculated using a preset formula based on your earnings and years of service—it will not be based on the individual contributions you paid into the system. Member contributions support the benefits earned by current and future retirees and are an important asset of the Common Retirement Fund, which holds and invests the money used to pay NYSLRS benefits.
Find your NYSLRS retirement plan publication for comprehensive information about your retirement benefits and how your pension will be calculated.
I submitted an RS 5042 Application for Service Credit Purchase and was told it will take 2 years to process. I would like to know why it takes that long to process plus making those payments now, helps me to avoid paying a large lump sum later. Not to mention, it will change my status to vested…In calling to speak to someone, the menu takes you nowhere and hangs up on you. Emails are not answered as well. I also have a date of birth year to update in one of my beneficiaries and no answers on that as well.
In reading the above comments, it seems those already retired cannot even get an answer. Is there a staffing issue? This effects people’s lives/futures. I just do not understand????????
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I try to make a NYSLRS account and it keeps saying “Error: The system is unable to identify you, please contact NYSLRS.”
We’re sorry for the trouble you’re having creating an account.
For help with Retirement Online, please call our customer service representatives at 866-805-0990. Press 2, then follow the prompts. You can also message them using our secure contact form. Filling out the secure form allows them to safely contact you about your personal account information.
I applied for reinstatement 2.5 years and yet to get any replies or status update! Horrible service
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I have been waiting 5 years for my final retirement amount. Please advise me when I will receive it. Also, for some reason I am locked out of retirement online. I have called a few times and when asked to leave my na,e and number and someone will call me back I do. Unfortunately, nobody calls me back regarding this. Please help!
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Good evening, Need to find out how much will I be making if I retire at age 72 versus 65?
Most NYSLRS members can create their own pension estimates in minutes using Retirement Online. Your estimate will be based on the most up-to-date account information we have on file for you. You can enter different retirement dates and beneficiaries to see how those choices would affect your benefit.
To get started:
Sign in to Retirement Online.
Look under My Account Summary.
Click Estimate My Pension Benefit button.
Enter Retirement Date or Your Age at Retirement.
i have been waiting 5 yeats for final average salry when will it get done
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I’ve been waiting (4) yrs!!! Where’s my message?
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I am worried we may not be around to enjoy the updated benefit rates the way it goes – when you call to find out – the answer is : “we don’t know when” …
Other than this vital issue, our Comptroller, Mr. Thomas DiNapoli is doing a phenomenal job for us. Thank you Sir, and wish you continued energy, good health and success!
Waiting for my final average for 3 years now the person could be dead by the time they figure it out
When logging into my NYSLRS, I noticed that my middle initial is incorrect. How do I have this fixed? My middle name was not changed in any way, it is simply an error that I would like corrected please.
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When NYS legislation will change for Tier6 about stopping the contribution after 10 years like previews tier4 and tier5
The decision on whether to adopt benefit enhancements or pass new legislation comes from the State Legislature and the Governor. The retirement system (NYSLRS) administers legislation and programs that are signed into law.
Will Tier 5 overtime cap on FAS be increased? Such a drastic change they made. They shoulda just made every Tier contribute 3% for whole career and not put caps on 5 and 6. Not fair and not attracting talent like they used to. I’m in corrections and I see newest people use this job as a stepping stone. A shame.
The overtime limit for Tier 5 Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) members increases each calendar year by 3 percent. For 2025, the limit for Tier 5 ERS members is $23,369.51.
For more information, visit our Overtime Limits for Tier 5 page.
When will my pension be done recallculating. It has been 3 years since retirement and still no final determination.
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3 years….I have been waiting 5 years!
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