- NMERB, the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board, runs the pension plan for New Mexico public school, college and university employees. Its Defined Benefit Plan has four tiers, set by the date your NMERB membership began.Member Handbook 2025, p. 2, Welcome!; p. 12, Retirement Eligibility: Age & Benefits
- Tier 1: membership began before July 1, 2010. Tier 2: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2013. Tier 3: July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2019. Tier 4: on or after July 1, 2019.Member Handbook 2025, pp. 12-14; NMERB web page FAQ Flip Cards
- If you take a refund of your contributions, you give up your service credit and your tier. If you come back after a refund, the tier in effect when you return applies. If you leave your money in the plan and come back later, you keep your service credit and your tier.Member Handbook 2025, p. 10, Refunds and Rollovers; pp. 13-14; NMERB web page Inactive Members
- Membership is automatic and a condition of employment. Substitutes, interns, students and anyone working 25% or less of a full-time position are not members.Member Handbook 2025, p. 5, Membership
- You are vested after five years of earned (contributory) service. Service you buy (allowed service credit) does not count toward vesting.Member Handbook 2025, p. 12, When am I vested?; NMERB web page Service Credit
The four tiers
| Tier | Membership began | Retire under |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Before July 1, 2010Member Handbook 2025, p. 12, TIER 1: Membership Prior to July 1, 2010 | 25 and Out, Rule of 75, 65 and 5 |
| Tier 2 | July 1, 2010 to the day before July 1, 2013Member Handbook 2025, p. 13, TIER 2: Membership began on or after July 1, 2010, but prior to July 1, 2013 | 30 and Out, Rule of 80, 67 and 5 |
| Tier 3 | July 1, 2013 to the day before July 1, 2019Member Handbook 2025, p. 13, TIER 3: Membership began on or after July 1, 2013, but prior to July 1, 2019 | 30 and Out, Rule of 80, 67 and 5Soft minimum age 55 for 30 and Out |
| Tier 4 | On or after July 1, 2019Member Handbook 2025, p. 14, TIER 4: Membership began on or after July 1, 2019 | 30 and Out, Rule of 80, 67 and 5Soft minimum age 58 for 30 and Out |
What changes from tier to tier
| Tier | Multiplier | COLA from age |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 2.35% a year | 65 |
| Tier 2 | 2.35% a year | 65 |
| Tier 3 | 2.35% a year | 67 |
| Tier 4 | 1.35% / 2.35% / 3.35% / 2.4% by band | 67 |
The multiplier: Member Handbook 2025, p. 6, Defined Benefit Plan; p. 16, Calculating Retirement Benefits; Member Handbook 2025, p. 14, New Tiered Multipliers; p. 15 COLA age: Member Handbook 2025, p. 21, Cost of Living Adjustment; NMERB web page Cost of Living Adjustment (updated May 29, 2026)
Everyone, whatever the tier
- You're vested after 5 years of earned service. Member Handbook 2025, p. 5, Membership; p. 12, When am I vested?
- Membership is a condition of employment and automatic. Substitutes, interns, students and anyone working 25% or less of a full-time equivalent (FTE) position are not eligible. Member Handbook 2025, p. 5, Membership
- When you withdraw your contributions you forfeit your service credit and your tier status. If you refunded and have no service credit on or after July 1, 2010, reinstating withdrawn service puts you under the latest eligibility rules at the time of purchase. If you leave contributions on account and return later, you keep your service credit and tier. Member Handbook 2025, p. 10, Refunds and Rollovers; pp. 10-11, Withdrawn Service Credit; NMERB web page Inactive Members
See the formula and early retirement for what each rule pays, or try your dates in the calculator.
Questions
How do I know my NMERB tier?
By the date your NMERB membership began. Tier 1: before July 1, 2010. Tier 2: july 1, 2010 to the day before July 1, 2013. Tier 3: july 1, 2013 to the day before July 1, 2019. Tier 4: on or after July 1, 2019.
Can my tier change?
When you withdraw your contributions you forfeit your service credit and your tier status. If you refunded and have no service credit on or after July 1, 2010, reinstating withdrawn service puts you under the latest eligibility rules at the time of purchase. If you leave contributions on account and return later, you keep your service credit and tier.
Source: NMERB Member Handbook, 2025 edition, pp. 2, 5, 10, 10-11, 12, 12-14, 13, 13-14, 14, 15, 21. Also: NMERB web pages 'Cost of Living Adjustment', 'Inactive Members', 'FAQ Flip Cards', 'Service Credit'. Last reviewed .