2% × years of service × final average salary (monthly) = your monthly Maximum Plan benefit
Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit FormulaTRS of Georgia's own example
TRS of Georgia's sample estimate retires a member on June 1, 2025 at 59 with 30 years, including 1.333 years of sick leave. The monthly average salary is $5,833.33.
| Years of service | 30 |
| × 2% | 60% |
| × monthly average salary | $5,833.33 |
| = Maximum Plan, a month | $3,500.00 |
TRS of Georgia's estimate shows $3,500.00. Our calculator gets the same. Pre-Retirement Handout p. 4, Sample Benefit Estimate
Years of service
9 or more months of full-time service in a fiscal year (July-June) = a full year of service and a full year of salary. University System of Georgia academic faculty on a semester system: 8 months. No more than 1 year of credit per fiscal year. Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula
Unused sick leave adds service at retirement, and you can buy some kinds of service. See Buying service credit. Only 40 years count. Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula
TRS of Georgia shows service to three decimals (like 25.667 years). The sources don't say how part years are rounded in the formula.
What we use: your service years exactly as you enter them.
Final average salary
Your final average salary is your highest 2 consecutive years (24 consecutive months) of salary from membership service. It may not be your last years worked. If you don't have two years of service in the two-year period, more salaried months are added to complete two years. Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula
Raise limit (joined on or after July 1, 1984)
For members whose current date of membership is on or after July 1, 1984, salary increases used in the benefit are limited. The limit is set yearly: the General Assembly's (or Board of Regents') appropriation for salary increases plus 2.5%. TRS of Georgia sets a base year (the year before the first of the two highest years), compares year 1 to the base year and caps it at the allowed increase, then compares year 2 to year 1 and caps it. Member's Guide p. 6, Salary Increase Limitation
For fiscal 2027 the limit is 4.86% (2.5% for Board of Regents employees). Memo May 14, 2026, p. 1
The guide says your 2nd high year is compared to your 1st after the 1st is adjusted. It gives no worked example.
What we use: we don't apply the raise limit in the calculator. You enter your final average salary. Ask TRS of Georgia for yours.
Two TRS of Georgia notices give the same employer rate (22.32%) and the same raise limits for different years. That may be right, or one page may have been copied.
What we use: 22.32% and 4.86%, as published. Neither changes your pension amount.
IRS pay limit (joined on or after July 1, 1996)
For members whose current date of membership is on or after July 1, 1996, earnable compensation that can be reported or used in the benefit is limited by IRC Section 401(a)(17). Members hired before July 1, 1996 have no maximum salary limitation. The latest figure we have is $345,000 for fiscal 2025. Comp limits memo Nov. 3, 2023, p. 1
The newest TRS of Georgia figure we found for the IRS pay limit is $345,000 for fiscal 2025. Later limits weren't in the sources.
What we use: $345,000. It only matters if you joined on or after July 1, 1996 and earn more than that.
The minimum benefit
Retired members are guaranteed at least $17 a month for each year of creditable service (up to 40 years) under the Maximum Plan. Member's Guide p. 6, Minimum Retirement Benefit
The $17 a month per year minimum is described for the Maximum Plan. The sources don't say if it applies before or after an early cut.
What we use: the minimum as a floor after the early cut. It only matters at very low salaries.
What the guide says
- Your monthly benefit under the Maximum Plan is 2% x your years of service (including partial years) x your final average salary.Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula
- Example from TRS of Georgia: 30 years with a $5,833.33 monthly average salary gives $3,500.00 a month.Pre-Retirement Handout p. 4, Sample Benefit Estimate
- No more than 40 years of service counts, including unused sick leave.Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula; p. 17, Unused Sick Leave
- Nine or more months of full-time service in a fiscal year (July to June) counts as a full year. University System faculty on semesters need 8 months.Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula
- TRS of Georgia guarantees at least $17 a month for each year of service (up to 40) under the Maximum Plan.Member's Guide p. 6, Minimum Retirement Benefit
- Disability retirement uses the same 2% formula with no age requirement. You need 10 years of service and an active account.Member's Guide pp. 5-6, Disability Retirement
- Your final average salary is the average of your 2 highest consecutive years (24 months) of membership salary. They don't have to be your last 2 years.Member's Guide p. 6, Retirement Benefit Formula; trsga.com, Determining Your Retirement Benefit
- If you joined on or after July 1, 1984, big raises at the end of your career may not all count. TRS of Georgia compares your first high year with the year before it, and your second year with the first, and trims any raise above the yearly limit.Member's Guide p. 6, Salary Increase Limitation
- The yearly limit is the state's appropriated raise plus 2.5%. For fiscal 2027 it is 4.86% (2.50% for Board of Regents employees).Member's Guide p. 6, Salary Increase Limitation; TRS of Georgia memo May 14, 2026, p. 1
- If you joined on or after July 1, 1996, IRS limits apply to the pay that counts and to the yearly benefit. The pay limit was $345,000 for fiscal 2025.Member's Guide p. 4, Contribution Limitation; TRS of Georgia memo Nov. 3, 2023, p. 1
Questions
What is the TRS of Georgia formula?
2% × years of service × your final average salary (a monthly figure). That's the Maximum Plan amount, before any early cut, PLOP or survivor option.
What is my final average salary?
The monthly average of your 2 highest years in a row (24 months) of TRS of Georgia salary. They don't have to be your last two years.
Is there a maximum?
Up to 40 years of service count. TRS of Georgia also guarantees at least $17 a month for each year of service.
Source: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia Member's Guide, 06/26, pp. 4, 5, 6, 17; Pre-Retirement Handout pp. 1, 4; ACFR FY2026 p. 12; Valuation 6/30/2025 p. 34; Memo May 14, 2026 p. 1; Memo Nov. 3, 2023 p. 1; trsga.com pages. Last reviewed .