Short answer: wait at least 30 days after your retirement date, with no deal to come back. After that, Plans 2 and 3 retirees can work up to 867 hours a calendar year in a DRS-covered job without losing benefits. Plan 1 has its own limits, below. See retiree health, taxes and early retirement (the 2008 factor adds a restriction). Estimate your pension.
The rules
| Plans 2 and 3 | Plan 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wait | 30 days after your retirement date, with no job arranged before you retire | |
| Hour limit | 867 a calendar year, any DRS-eligible job | 867 a fiscal year (July-June), with an educational employer |
| School districts | 1,040 hours a year in non-administrative jobs until January 1, 2030 | |
Through Jan. 1, 2030, Washington TRS retirees can work up to 1,040 hours a year in a non-administrative position at a school district (also tribal or charter school per the reporting charts), and Washington TRS retirees who retired before Jan. 1, 2022 can work up to 1,040 hours as superintendent or in-school administrator in a second-class school district. Wait period 30 days.
Working in your first month: the cut in dollars
Working in the first calendar month after you retire cuts that month's pension 5.5% for every 7 hours. On DRS's $2,484 example pension:
| Hours worked | Cut | That month's pension |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5.5% | $2,347.38 |
| 14 | 11% | $2,210.76 |
| 35 | 27.5% | $1,800.90 |
| 70 | 55% | $1,117.80 |
| 105 | 82.5% | $434.70 |
| 126 | 99% | $24.84 |
Working in your first month of retirement cuts that month's pension 5.5% for every 7 hours. The law doesn't say how partial 7-hour blocks count.
What we use: whole 7-hour blocks only.
Substitutes and other employers
- Substitutes must also wait 30 days and cannot be reported as a substitute in the month of retirement (retire Sept. 1, 2025 -> earliest Oct. 1, 2025). DRS Washington TRS Plan 2 page, What do substitutes need to know?; WAC 415-112-525 (referenced)
- Work for an employer not covered by a Washington state retirement system does not affect your benefit (unless you retired for disability). DRS Returning to Work page; DRS Washington TRS Plan 2 page, Working for a non-DRS covered employer
The 2008 early retirement factor
Older application: under the 2008 ERF, returning to work in any capacity for a DRS-covered employer before age 65 stops the benefit for each month worked, except up to 867 hours a calendar year in a nonadministrative position for a qualifying employer. DRS TRS23RAPP 11/2022, p. 4, Early Retirement Factor (ERF) Selection; p. 11, What if I want to return to work after I retire?
A 2022 DRS application says people who retire under the 2008 early retirement factor lose their pension for any month they work for a DRS employer before 65, with an exception of up to 867 hours in non-administrative jobs. Current DRS pages and the law don't mention this.
What we use: nothing; the calculator doesn't apply this rule. Ask DRS before you plan to work.
What the sources say
- Wait at least 30 days after your retirement date before working for any DRS-covered employer, and don't arrange the job before you retire. Working in the first month cuts your benefit by 5.5% for every 7 hours.DRS Washington TRS Plan 2 page, You fully separate from employment; RCW 41.32.802(1)
- After that, Plan 2 and 3 retirees can work up to 867 hours per calendar year in a DRS-eligible position and keep their pension. For Plan 1, the 867-hour limit is per fiscal year (July-June) with an educational employer.DRS Washington TRS Plan 2 page and Washington TRS Plan 1 page, How many hours are you working?; Rehired Washington TRS Retiree Reporting Charts (06/2025)
- Through Jan. 1, 2030, Washington TRS retirees can work up to 1,040 hours a year in a non-administrative school district job. Those who retired before 2022 can also work up to 1,040 hours as superintendent or in-school administrator in a second-class district.DRS Returning to Work page, Exceptions for school districts; RCW 41.32.802(2)(b), 41.32.570(3)
- Working for an employer outside the Washington state retirement systems doesn't affect your pension.DRS Returning to Work page
- Check with DRSAn older application form says 2008 ERF retirees lose their benefit for any month they work for a DRS employer before 65, with an exception for up to 867 hours in non-administrative work.DRS TRS23RAPP 11/2022, p. 4Current statute and DRS plan pages don't mention this; check with DRS before relying on it.
Questions
How long do I have to wait?
At least 30 days after your retirement date before working for any DRS-covered employer. You also can't arrange the job before you retire.
How many hours can I work?
Plans 2 and 3: up to 867 hours a calendar year. Plan 1: 867 hours a fiscal year (July-June) with an educational employer. Until January 1, 2030, 1,040 hours in some school district jobs.
What if I work in my first month?
Your pension for that month is cut 5.5% for every 7 hours you work.
Can I substitute teach?
Yes, after the same 30-day wait. You can't be reported as a substitute in the month you retire.
What about jobs outside the state systems?
Work for an employer not covered by a Washington state retirement system doesn't affect your pension (unless you retired for disability).
Source: DRS plan pages for Washington TRS Plan 1, Plan 2 and Plan 3 (the DRS member handbook is now published as these web pages), retrieved Nov. 11, 2026, DRS plan pages (Plan 1, Plan 2); DRS Returning to Work page; TRS23RAPP (11/2022) pp. 4, 11; RCW 41.32.570, 41.32.802; WAC 415-112-525; DRS rehired retiree reporting charts (06/2025). Last reviewed .