Teacher Pension CalculatorPlain-English estimates for West Virginia teachersUnofficial
West Virginia TRS · Methods

How we estimate West Virginia TRS pensions

Every number on the West Virginia pages comes from the brochures, forms and web pages of CPRB (the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board, which runs West Virginia TRS), West Virginia law (W. Va. Code chapter 18, article 7A), CPRB's rules (162 CSR 4 and 8), PEIA's benefits guide or West Virginia's tax instructions. Here's what the calculator does, and what it leaves out.

  1. 1

    Find your tier

    From the date you first joined: before July 1, 2015 is Tier I, on or after is Tier II.

    West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1; West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25(a), §18-7A-25b
  2. 2

    Count your service

    We add a year of service for each year from today to your start date (none if you've left school employment). Unused leave (Tier I) is added to the benefit but not to eligibility.

    162 CSR 4 §§ 4.12-4.12.2, pp. 5-6; 162 CSR 8 §§ 5.1-5.4, pp. 2-3; W. Va. Code §5-16-13(f); West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 2, Sick and Annual Leave At Retirement; West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1, Sick and Annual Leave Upon Retirement
  3. 3

    Check eligibility

    Your age in completed years on the date benefits start, and your eligibility years, against your tier's rules: full, early (reduced) or, if you've left, deferred.

    West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1, Retirement Benefits; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25(a)-(c); §18-7A-23(a)(2); CPRB annual report FY2025, p. 36, Note 2 (West Virginia TRS); West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1, Tier II Retirement Benefits; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25b(a)-(f)
  4. 4

    Apply the formula

    2% × the final average salary you enter × your service credit, divided into 12 payments, with fractions of a cent rounded up.

    West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1, Final Average Salary x Years of Service x 2%; West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1; W. Va. Code §18-7A-26(c), (f); 162 CSR 4 § 5.3, p. 7; West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1; W. Va. Code §18-7A-26(c); §18-7A-3 ('Average final salary', 'Gross salary'); §18-7A-17(b); 162 CSR 8 § 5.4, p. 3
  5. 5

    Label early retirement

    CPRB publishes no reduction factors, so for an early start we show the formula amount as "up to" with the years early, never a reduced dollar figure.

    W. Va. Code §18-7A-25(c); §18-7A-25b(d)-(f); §18-7A-3 ('Actuarially equivalent'); West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1
  6. 6

    Show the options

    Straight Life in dollars, since it's the formula amount. The other three options are described with no dollar figure, because CPRB publishes no option factors.

    West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1; West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1; 162 CSR 4 § 5.1, p. 6

What the calculator doesn't cover

How we check the math

The calculator runs on a small engine that reads every rule from one data file, with a source for each. CPRB publishes no worked examples, so we can't test against CPRB's own figures. Instead, automated tests check each rule against the wording of the brochures, the law and the rules, and check that every example on these pages is what the engine gives. The tests run every time the site is built. The examples below are our engine's, not CPRB's.

How we check the math (West Virginia TRS)
ExampleRuleOur engine
30 years on $60,000West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1, Final Average Salary x Years of Service x 2%; West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1; W. Va. Code §18-7A-26(c), (f); 162 CSR 4 § 5.3, p. 72% × $60,000 × 30$36,000 a year, $3,000 a month
Final average salary, 15 years with a dipWest Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1; W. Va. Code §18-7A-26(c); §18-7A-3 ('Average final salary', 'Gross salary'); §18-7A-17(b); 162 CSR 8 § 5.4, p. 35 highest of the last 15$56,680
Tier I at 50 with 30 yearsWest Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1, Retirement Benefits; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25(a)-(c); §18-7A-23(a)(2); CPRB annual report FY2025, p. 36, Note 2 (West Virginia TRS)reduced to the age-55 amount5 years early, up to $3,000
Tier II at 57 with 20 yearsWest Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1, Tier II Retirement Benefits; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25b(a)-(f)reduced to the age-62 amount5 years early, up to $2,000
Tier I one more year: 55 with 31West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 1, Retirement Benefits; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25(a)-(c); §18-7A-23(a)(2); CPRB annual report FY2025, p. 36, Note 2 (West Virginia TRS)full benefit$3,100
90 days of leave, 10-month contract162 CSR 4 §§ 4.12-4.12.2, pp. 5-6; 162 CSR 8 §§ 5.1-5.4, pp. 2-3; W. Va. Code §5-16-13(f); West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 2, Sick and Annual Leave At Retirement; West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1, Sick and Annual Leave Upon Retirement90 × 2 ÷ 1801 year
Retire August 1, 2025W. Va. Code §18-7A-3 ('Bona fide separation from service upon retirement'); §18-7A-13a(f); CPRB SB 712 notice (2025), p. 1; CPRB form WVTF0255 (June 15, 2026), p. 160 days, retirement date as day 1September 30, 2025
Day limit162 CSR 4 §§ 6.2, 6.2.3, pp. 7-8; W. Va. Code §18-7A-38; CPRB form WVTF0255 (June 15, 2026), p. 1, Section 2; West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (2023), p. 2, Working After Retirement140 days a fiscal yearday 141 is over
$30,000 pension, state taxW. Va. Code §11-21-12(c)(5), (8), (9); WV IT-140 Instructions 2025, pp. 20, 26, Line 33 Other Retirement Modifications; WV Schedule M 2025, p. 3, line 33subtraction cap$2,000
PEIA, hired 1998 with 28 yearsW. Va. Code §5-16-13(d), (e), (h), (l); 162 CSR 4 § 6.1.1, p. 7; PEIA Benefits Guide Plan Year 2027, pp. 43-44, Non-Medicare PEIA PPB Plan PremiumsPlan Year 2027, 25+$368 a month

Try any of these in the calculator, or read how the formula and retirement ages work.

Things to check with CPRB

The sources don't settle these points. Each is labeled "Check with CPRB" where it shows up on the site.

Check with CPRB

How much early retirement reduces the benefit. The statute says only 'reduced actuarial equivalent' of the age-55 (Tier I) or age-62 (Tier II) annuity. No CPRB source publishes factors or a table.

We show the unreduced amount and how many years early, but no reduced dollar figure. Check with CPRB.

What would settle it: A CPRB early-retirement factor table or a CPRB benefit estimate for an early retiree.

Check with CPRB

Joint & Survivor and 10-year certain amounts. Option factors aren't published; CPRB gives estimates under all 4 options on request.

Straight Life amount only; other options shown without a dollar figure.

What would settle it: CPRB's option factor tables or a sample estimate.

Check with CPRB

No automatic COLA. No source states it directly; we infer it from the absence of any automatic increase in article 18-7A, the ad hoc supplements in §§18-7A-26a to -26y, the §18-7A-28e limit, and the actuary's assumptions.

We say there is no automatic COLA. Check with CPRB.

What would settle it: A CPRB statement or the West Virginia TRS actuarial valuation's plan-provision summary.

Check with CPRB

Whether West Virginia teachers pay into Social Security. None of the West Virginia TRS sources mentions Social Security coverage for teachers; §5-7 only authorizes coverage agreements.

We make no claim. Check with CPRB.

What would settle it: West Virginia's Section 218 agreement summary or a CPRB/WVDE statement.

Check with CPRB

Can a Tier I member who left employment retire at 55/30 or with 35 years?. §18-7A-25(b) and (c) and the 35-year rule in (a) say 'any member', but the brochure lists them for members working at retirement and gives only age 62 (5 years) or 60 (20 years) for those who left.

For members who left covered employment we use only the brochure's deferred ages (62 with 5, 60 with 20). Check with CPRB.

What would settle it: CPRB confirmation or rule text.

Check with CPRB

Salary average with less than 15 years. See conflict fas-short-service.

The 5 highest years among all years.

What would settle it: CPRB confirmation.

Check with CPRB

First day a retiree can return to work. The law requires 'at least 60 consecutive days from the effective date of retirement'; it doesn't say whether the effective date is day 1.

We count the effective date as day 1, so the earliest return is 60 days after it (e.g. retire Aug. 1, return Sept. 30). Check with CPRB.

What would settle it: CPRB guidance with a date example.

Check with CPRB

Age on the retirement date. The sources say 'attained the age'; they don't address partial months.

Completed years on the effective retirement date.

What would settle it: CPRB confirmation.

Check with CPRB

Projected service for future dates. We assume one year of service per year of continued full-time work.

One year per year while still employed; none after leaving.

What would settle it: A member's CPRB statement.

Check with CPRB

PEIA retiree premiums. Premiums change every plan year and depend on plan, tier and tobacco status.

Plan Year 2027 PPB Gold, policyholder-only figures, labelled with the plan year.

What would settle it: The current PEIA Benefits Guide.

Check with CPRB

Employer contribution rate wording. The brochure says employers pay 15% for members 'prior to July 1, 1991'; §18-7A-14(c) says 15% generally and 7.5% for first-time members on or after July 1, 2005 or TDC transfers.

Shown for information only; not used in any calculation.

What would settle it: CPRB confirmation.

Where sources disagreed

Sources

The brochures say the law and CPRB's rules win if they disagree with the brochure. We cite the brochures by page, the law by section and the rules by section and page. Last reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.

Found a mistake?Email hello@teacherpensioncalculator.com with the page, what you entered, and what CPRB told you. We fix confirmed errors and note the change.
The official numbersOnly CPRB can tell you your actual West Virginia TRS benefit. Ask CPRB for a benefit estimate, or call 800-654-4406.

Source: West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (CPRB), September 2023, pp. 1-2. Also: West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023); CPRB annual report FY2025; CPRB SB 712 notice (2025); CPRB form WVTF0255; WV IT-140 instructions (2025); WV Schedule M (2025); PEIA Benefits Guide, Plan Year 2027; W. Va. Code §§ 5-16-13, 11-21-12, 18-7A-3, 18-7A-13a, 18-7A-17, 18-7A-23, 18-7A-25, 18-7A-25b, 18-7A-26, 18-7A-38; CPRB rules 162 CSR 4, 162 CSR 8. Last reviewed .