Check with Connecticut TRBEstimate only, not an official benefit amount. Confirm with Connecticut TRB (1-800-504-1102) before you decide.
Your estimated monthly check
Fill in the form and we'll show whether you'd get a normal or early benefit, your percentage of salary (up to 75%), any early retirement cut, your Plan N, C and D amounts, and what working longer would add.
Your percentage
Retire as planned, or work longer?
Your check at every age
Normal retirement: age 60 with 20 years of credited Connecticut public school service; or any age with 35 years of credited service, at least 25 in Connecticut public schools. Early retirement: any age with 25 years of credited service, at least 20 in Connecticut public schools; or age 55 with 20 years of credited service, at least 15 in Connecticut public schools. 2% a year, capped at 75%.
The handbook's own examples
Connecticut TRB's Active Teachers' Handbook works these examples on a $100,000 average salary. Our calculator gives the same percentages. Tap one to load it.
- Member Q: age 59, 35 years, 85% FTE: 35 × 2% × 85% FTE = 59.5%, $59,500 a year ($4,958.33 a month). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 24, Normal retirement examples (Member Q)
- Member B: age 64, 22.5 years: 22.5 × 2% = 45%, $45,000 a year ($3,750.00 a month). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 24, Normal retirement examples (Member B)
- Member E: age 55, 20 years: 5 years early, 20 × 1.4% = 28%, $28,000 a year ($2,333.33 a month). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member E)
- Member F: age 55, 30 years: 5 years early, 30 × 1.7% = 51%, $51,000 a year ($4,250.00 a month). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member F)
- Member Z: age 54, 30 years, 90% FTE: 5 years early, 30 × 1.7% × 90% FTE = 45.9%, $45,900 a year ($3,825.00 a month). Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 26, Early retirement examples (Member Z)
Member F shows the 30-year line: with 30 years at 55 the cut uses Table B. With 29 years it would use Table A. See early retirement.
Part-year early Check with Connecticut TRB
The early retirement tables are printed by whole years, but you can retire a part-year early. We move between the printed numbers month by month. The handbook's Member A example (5.1 years early) differs from ours in the fourth decimal place.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB's monthly early retirement tables (C.G.S. 10-183g(c) says the board adopts them).
Common questions
How is a Connecticut teacher pension calculated?
2% × years of credited service × your average annual salary (the average of your three highest salaries), reduced for part-time service. It can't be more than 75% of your average salary, which you reach at 37.5 years. That's your yearly Plan N benefit; divide by 12 for the monthly amount.
When can I retire with a full benefit?
At age 60 with 20 years of Connecticut public school service, or at any age with 35 years of service (at least 25 in Connecticut).
Can I retire early?
Yes: at any age with 25 years (20 in Connecticut), or at 55 with 20 years (15 in Connecticut). Instead of 2% a year you get a smaller percentage, from Table A (under 30 years: 1.88% at one year early down to 1% at ten years) or Table B (30 or more years: 1.94% down to 1.7% at five years).
Why does 30 years matter so much?
At 30 years the early retirement percentages switch from Table A to Table B, which cuts much less. At age 53, 29 years pays 38.28% of your salary and 30 years pays 51%.
Do Connecticut teachers get Social Security?
Not for their teaching. Connecticut Teachers' Retirement System members don't pay Social Security tax on their teaching pay. See the Social Security guide for what that means.
Is this the official Connecticut TRB calculator?
No. This is an unofficial estimate built from the Connecticut Teachers' Retirement Board's Active Teachers' Handbook, its other publications and C.G.S. chapter 167a. It isn't affiliated with Connecticut TRB, which decides your benefit. Connecticut TRB's toll-free number is 1-800-504-1102.
Compare Connecticut with other states
- States where teachers don't get Social Security: Connecticut TRB members don't pay Social Security tax on their teaching pay.
- Teacher DROP plans by state: Connecticut TRB has no DROP (a plan to keep working while your pension builds in an account).
- Teacher pension COLAs by state: Joined July 2007 or later: Social Security's COLA, capped at 1%, 3% or 5% by the fund's return. Earlier joiners: up to 6%.
- State taxes on teacher pensions, by state: Connecticut residents can subtract 50% of their TRB pension, or use a pension subtraction of up to 100% if income is under a limit.
- Teacher pension multipliers by state: 2% × years of service × average of your 3 highest salaries, up to 75% of that average.
- Teacher retirement age by state: Age 60 with 20 years of Connecticut service, or 35 years at any age (at least 25 in Connecticut).
Plain-English guides
How your pension works
One plan, and the dates that matterNo tiers. The July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2019 dates that change your COLA and option factors.→The formula: 2% a year, up to 75%2% × service × FTE × your three highest salaries, the 75% cap at 37.5 years and the $3,600 minimum.→Early retirement: Tables A and BWho can retire early, the reduction tables, the 30-year cliff and the full Retirement Percentage Chart.→Buying service creditOut-of-state teaching, military, leaves and substitute days: the 10-year limit and how to pay.→Connecticut TRB glossaryPlain-English definitions of the Connecticut TRB terms you'll run into.→
Planning your exit
Leaving teaching: refund or a pension later?Vesting at 10 years, the deferred vested benefit at 60, proratable benefits and refunds.→Taxes on your Connecticut TRB pensionThe 50% teacher subtraction, the pension and annuity phase-out, and DRS's examples.→Social Security and Connecticut TRBNo Social Security tax on teaching pay, and the 2025 end of WEP and GPO.→
After you retire
Working after retirementThe 45% earnings limit, 2026-27 shortage areas, the six-month break and substitutes. There's no DROP.→The Connecticut TRB COLASet by formula: Social Security's COLA with 6.9% and 9.9% fund-return caps, your first COLA date and the history.→Retiree health insuranceConnecticut TRB's Medicare plans and 2026-2027 costs, and the $220 / $440 district subsidy.→Death and survivor benefitsMonthly benefits for your family before you retire, the lump sum, and what each plan pays after.→
More calculators
Connecticut TRB has no DROP (deferred retirement option plan): none appears in its handbook or in C.G.S. chapter 167a. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 3-4, Table of Contents; C.G.S. ch. 167a section list (2025 rev.) Check with Connecticut TRB Retirees who go back to teaching follow the 45% earnings rule instead. The yearly minimum for a normal benefit is $3,600. Members who joined on or after July 1, 2007 have a different COLA rule.
Source: CTRS Active Teachers' Handbook, July 1, 2022, pp. 3-4, 6, 7-8, 21, 23, 23-28, 24, 25, 26. Also: Connecticut TRB webpage 'Estimate Your Benefit'; Connecticut TRB Retirement Overview p. 5; Deferring the Payment of Benefits/Terminal Leaves p. 2; Annuity Bulletin pp. 2, 4; C.G.S. §§ 10-183f, 10-183g. Last reviewed .