North Carolina · Free tool
North Carolina Teacher Pension Calculator
The North Carolina Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) calculates your pension as 1.82% multiplied by your average final compensation multiplied by your years of creditable service. Enter your numbers below for an estimate.
Enter your numbers. The percentage is pre-filled with the North Carolina TSERS factor that fits most members; adjust it for your class or tier.
TSERS uses a 1.82% factor on average final compensation, defined as your 4 highest consecutive years (48 months) of salary. Confirm your numbers with the NC Department of State Treasurer (My NC Retirement).
Your estimated North Carolina TSERS pension
Updates as you type.
Educational estimate only, not financial advice. Uses a simplified North Carolina TSERS formula and your inputs; your real benefit varies by class, service, age, and salary rules.
How the North Carolina TSERS formula works
TSERS uses a 1.82% accrual factor for teachers and state employees: 1.82% per year of creditable service, multiplied by your average final compensation. Thirty years of service is worth about 55% of your average final compensation.
Average final compensation is the average of your four highest consecutive years of salary (48 consecutive months). North Carolina teachers also pay into Social Security, so your TSERS pension is one of three retirement income sources alongside Social Security and any 403(b) or 457(b) savings. Use the full Teacher Retirement Calculator to combine your pension with your 403(b)/457(b) and Social Security, or read what the WEP and GPO repeal means for teachers.
Questions
How is a North Carolina TSERS pension calculated?
TSERS multiplies 1.82% by your average final compensation by your years of creditable service. For example, 30 years at a $50,000 average final compensation is 1.82% × $50,000 × 30 = $27,300 per year, or about $2,275 per month.
What is average final compensation in TSERS?
It is the average of your four highest consecutive years of salary, 48 consecutive months. These are not always your last four years; TSERS uses the four-year stretch that produces the highest average.
Do North Carolina teachers get Social Security?
Yes. North Carolina teachers pay into Social Security, so most receive both a TSERS pension and a Social Security benefit. Coordinating the two, plus any supplemental 403(b) or 457(b), gives you the full retirement picture.