NYSLRS Fact Sheet

Overview

The New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) administers two distinct retirement systems. They are:

  • The Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which provides benefits for State civil service officers and employees, and employees of participating public employers in non-teaching positions outside of New York City; and
  • The Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS), which provides benefits for police officers and firefighters who work for participating public employers outside of New York City.

 


Member Information

(as of March 31, 2023)

Overall membership in NYSLRS: 1,210,133

  • 695,504 employees, 74% active (currently working for a participating employer)
    • 659,750 (95%) are ERS
    • 35,754 (5%) are PFRS
  • 470,794 retirees; 43,835 beneficiaries

ERS

(as of March 31, 2023)

  • Average salary: $60,264
  • Average pension for all ERS retirees and beneficiaries: $27,227
  • Average pension for new ERS retirees: $32,267
  • Tiers of membership
    • Tier 1 joined before July 1, 1973 (0.1% of members)
    • Tier 2 joined between July 1, 1973 and July 26, 1976 (0.1% of members)
    • Tier 3 joined between July 27, 1976 and August 31, 1983 and Tier 4 joined between September 1, 1983 and December 31, 2009 (36.7% of members are in Tiers 3 & 4)
    • Tier 5 joined between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2012 (4.5% of members)
    • Tier 6 joined on or after April 1, 2012 (58.5% of members)

PFRS

(as of March 31, 2023)

  • Average salary: $123,196
  • Average pension for all PFRS retirees and beneficiaries: $60,592
  • Average pension for new PFRS retirees: $87,663
  • Tiers of membership
    • Tier 1 joined before July 31, 1973 (total of just 13 members)
    • Tier 2 joined between July 31, 1973 and June 30, 2009 (43.4% of members)
    • Tier 3 joined between July 1, 2009 and January 8, 2010 (0.3% of members)
    • Tier 5 joined between January 9, 2010 and March 31, 2012 (5.1% of members)
    • Tier 6 joined on or after April 1, 2012 (51.1% of members)

 


Benefits Paid and Contributions

(for State fiscal year end March 31, 2023)

  • Benefits paid out: $15.5 billion
  • Employer contributions: $4.4 billion
    • State government contributions: $1.56 billion
    • Local government contributions: $2.85 billion
  • Member contributions: $656.8 million

 


Employers

(as of March 31, 2023)

  • Nearly 3,000 employers participate in NYSLRS.
  • Approximately 31% of active members are state employees, 32% are local government employees and 22% are school district employees.
  • Employees of state and local public authorities and other governmental corporations make up the remaining members.

 


Rev. 9/23