- Each extra year of service adds 2% of your final average salary to your yearly benefit. In Tier I, reaching 55 with 30 years, or 35 years at any age, removes the early reduction; in Tier II, reaching 62 does.W. Va. Code §18-7A-25, -25b, -26(c)
Tier I: 54 with 30 years
Born June 1972, with 30 years by July 2026 and a $60,000 final average salary. At 54, retiring is early (reduced to the age-55 amount). One more year makes 55 with 31 years: a full benefit.
| Start | Service | Same pay | 2% raises |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026age 54 · reduced | 30 | up to $3,000.00Check with CPRB | up to $3,000.00 |
| July 2027age 55 | 31 | $3,100.00 | $3,162.00 |
| July 2028age 56 | 32 | $3,200.00 | $3,329.28 |
| July 2029age 57 | 33 | $3,300.00 | $3,501.99 |
Our engine on CPRB's rules. "Up to" is the formula amount before the early reduction, which CPRB doesn't publish. 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)
Tier II: 60 with 10.75 years
Born March 1966, joined in August 2015, on $52,000. Retiring at 60 or 61 is early (reduced to the age-62 amount). At 62 the reduction is gone.
| Start | Service | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026age 60 · reduced | 10.75 | up to $931.67Check with CPRB |
| April 2027age 61 · reduced | 11.75 | up to $1,018.34Check with CPRB |
| April 2028age 62 | 12.75 | $1,105.00 |
Our engine on CPRB's rules. West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023), p. 1, Tier II Retirement Benefits; W. Va. Code §18-7A-25b(a)-(f)
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.
Other things to weigh
- Your health insurance: PEIA's retiree premium before Medicare drops as your years of service rise, if you were hired before July 1, 2010. See retiree health.
- There's no automatic cost-of-living raise, so the amount you start with is likely the amount you keep. See COLA.
- Retiring and coming back to work has a 60-day wait. See working after retirement.
Questions
How much does one more year add to a West Virginia TRS pension?
2% of your final average salary a year: $1,200 a year ($100 a month) on $60,000. A raise adds more, because it lifts your average too.
Can one more year remove an early-retirement reduction?
Yes. In Tier I, reaching 55 with 30 years (or 35 years at any age) means a full benefit. In Tier II, reaching 62 does.
Source: West Virginia TRS Tier I brochure (CPRB), September 2023, p. 1. Also: West Virginia TRS Tier II brochure (2023); CPRB annual report FY2025; W. Va. Code §§ 18-7A-23, 18-7A-25, 18-7A-25b, 18-7A-26; CPRB rule 162 CSR 4. Last reviewed .