Years of service credit x final average compensation (FAC) x benefit factor (2.0% or 2.5%) = Maximum Option yearly benefit. Member Handbook p. 7, What will my monthly retirement benefit be?; p. 9, What is a benefit factor?; R.S. 11:768
Your benefit factor
- 2.5% for Regular Plan members who joined on or after July 1, 1999, at every retirement age.
- 2.5% or 2% for members who joined before July 1, 1999, depending on age and service when you retire. More on retiring early.
- 2% in Plan B.
Member Handbook p. 13, Membership prior to July 1, 1999 (2.5% benefit factor); R.S. 11:768(A)(2); Member Handbook p. 13, Membership between July 1, 1999 - December 31, 2010; R.S. 11:761(A)(2)(a); R.S. 11:768(B)(1); Member Handbook p. 14; p. 23; R.S. 11:802(A); R.S. 11:803(A)
Final average compensation
Average of the highest 3 (first joined a state system before Jan. 1, 2011) or 5 (on or after Jan. 1, 2011) years of salary consecutively earned. Each year used may not exceed the year before by more than 10% (before 2011) or 15% (2011 or later); the base year is the year before the highest 3 or 5. For 5-year FAC, years 4 and 5 are capped at 15% in statute. The cap does not apply when the increase was solely from a legislative act or a system-wide raise. A 25% limit applies in the 12 months after a classroom teacher moves to a classroom job in another parish. Overtime, differential pay, contract pay and grants count. Member Handbook pp. 8-9, What is final average compensation (FAC)?; Returning to Work booklet p. 13, How is the FAC calculated?; R.S. 11:701(5)(a)-(d)
Each year in the average can be at most 10% (first joined before 2011) or 15% (2011 or later) higher than the year before. Pay above that doesn't count.
State law words the salary cap for years 4 and 5 of a five-year average a little differently from TRSL's handbook.
We apply your group's cap (10% or 15%) to every year when we explain it. The calculator uses the average you enter.
R.S. 11:701(5)(a); Member Handbook p. 9Service credit
One year for each full year worked; no more than one year in a July 1-June 30 fiscal year; partial years based on salary paid vs. full-year salary. Part-time or sabbatical members may get full credit for eligibility but partial credit for the benefit. Unused sick and annual leave count only in the benefit, never for eligibility. Member Handbook pp. 7-8, What is service credit?; How do I earn service credit?; R.S. 11:761(A)(2)(b)
Unused sick leave adds credit for the formula only. Buying service and sick leave →
The 100% limit
Benefits may not exceed 100% of average compensation (typically reached at 40 years for Regular Plan members). R.S. 11:768(C); R.S. 11:803(B); DROP Handbook p. 4 ('Some members may work long enough to earn 100% of their average salary (typically 40 years of service for Regular Plan members)')
Joined before July 1, 1986?
State law adds $300 a year to the benefit of members who joined before July 1, 1986. R.S. 11:768(A)(1), (A)(2)
State law adds $300 a year for members who joined before July 1, 1986. TRSL's handbook doesn't mention it.
We add $300 a year for those members and say so on the result.
R.S. 11:768(A)(1)-(2)One year of service is worth
At 2.5% on a $50,000 FAC, each year of service adds $1,250 a year to your Maximum Option benefit ($104.17 a month). What one more year is worth →
From the sources
- Your yearly benefit is years of service credit x final average compensation (FAC) x a benefit factor of 2.0% or 2.5%. Example: 30 years x $58,000 x 2.5% = $43,500 a year ($3,625 a month).Member Handbook p. 7, Benefit formula example
- Regular Plan members who joined on or after July 1, 1999 always use 2.5%. Those who joined earlier get 2.0% or 2.5% depending on age and service. Plan B uses 2.0%.Member Handbook p. 9, What is a benefit factor?
- The benefit can't be more than 100% of your final average compensation; for Regular Plan members that is typically reached at 40 years.R.S. 11:768(C); DROP Handbook p. 4
- Check with TRSLState law adds $300 a year to the benefit of members who joined before July 1, 1986. TRSL's handbook doesn't mention it, so check with TRSL.R.S. 11:768(A)(1)-(2)
- FAC is the average of your highest 3 consecutive years of salary if you first joined a Louisiana state system before Jan. 1, 2011, or your highest 5 consecutive years if you joined on or after that date.Member Handbook p. 8; Returning to Work booklet p. 13; R.S. 11:701(5)(a)
- Each year in the FAC can be at most 10% (joined before 2011) or 15% (joined 2011 or later) higher than the year before. The year just before your highest years is the base year. Raises from a legislative act or a system-wide raise are not capped.Member Handbook p. 9
- Overtime, differential pay, contract pay and grants count as salary for retirement.Member Handbook p. 9, Does overtime count toward my FAC?
Questions
What is final average compensation (FAC)?
The average of your highest 3 years of pay in a row if you first joined a Louisiana state system before Jan. 1, 2011, or your highest 5 years if you joined on or after that date.
Is there a limit on my TRSL benefit?
Yes. Benefits may not exceed 100% of average compensation (typically reached at 40 years for Regular Plan members).
Does unused sick leave raise my benefit?
Yes. TRSL converts it to service credit when you retire, and that credit counts in the formula. It never counts toward when you can retire.
Source: TRSL Member Handbook: Regular Plan & Plan B, Last revised April 2026, pp. 7, 7-8, 8, 8-9, 9. Also: Returning to Work booklet p. 13; DROP Handbook p. 4; La. R.S. 11:701, 11:761, 11:768, 11:803. Last reviewed .