Does working for the state as a new civil service employee make sense?

NYS currently has 6 pension tiers. In general, the higher the tier, the higher the contribution rate, higher the retirement age, and the lower the pension benefit.

The longest running pension Tier is Tier #4. This tier stemmed from 1984-2009. Tier 4 pension members are vested after 5 years and also do not make contributions after 10 years of service. The retirement age for full Tier 4 pension is 62 years old. The retirement age for full Tier 6 pension is 63 years old.

Tier 6 members are obligated to put 3% of their salaries for duration of employment. So for instance, if you are making $80,000 as a civil service employee, you would have to pay 2400.00 per year. If you remained a civil service employee for 32 years, you would have put $ 76,800 into the pension system. Also, the monthly pension amount is not the same for each tier.

Tier 3/4
Ifyouretirewithlessthan20yearsofservicecredit, your pension will equal 1/60th (1.66 percent) of your FAS for each year of service.

With20-30yearsofservicecredit,yourbenefitwill equal 1/50th (2 percent) of your FAS, multiplied by your years of credited service.

For each year of credited service beyond 30 years, you will receive 3/200ths (1.5%)


For example; a tier 3 or 4 pensioner who made 80,000 for 32 years would receive
80,000 x 30/50 =$48,000 +
2x.015 x 80,000=$ 2,400 = 50,400
50,400/12 = $4,200 per month.

Tier 6

If you retire with less than 20 years of service credit, your benefit will equal 1.66 percent of your FAS for each year of service credit.

With 20 years of service credit, your benefit will equal 1.75 percent of your FAS for each year of service credit (35 percent of your FAS).

If you retire with more than 20 years of service credit, you will receive an additional 2 percent of your FAS for each year of service credit in excess of 20 years.

For example; a tier 6 pensioner who made 80,000 for 32 years would receive
$80,000 x 20 x 1.75%=$28,000 +
$80,000 x 12 x 2%= $19,200 =
$28,000 + $19,200 = $47,200
47,200/12 = $3,933 per month.

Tier 4 for 32 years: $4,200 per month
Tier 6 for 32 years: $3,933 per month after putting $76,000 into the pension.

In other words, Tier 6 is receiving substationally less than what they put into the pension.

On top of that all state employees have to give the state 5 days from their pAy Check.

So I ask, does it make sense for a new employee to work for the state?

Does working for the state as a new civil service employee make sense?

NYS currently has 6 pension tiers. In general, the higher the tier, the higher the contribution rate, higher the retirement age, and the lower the pension benefit.

The longest running pension Tier is Tier #4. This tier stemmed from 1984-2009. Tier 4 pension members are vested after 5 years and also do not make contributions after 10 years of service. The retirement age for full Tier 4 pension is 62 years old. The retirement age for full Tier 6 pension is 63 years old.

Tier 6 members are obligated to put 3% of their salaries for duration of employment. So for instance, if you are making $80,000 as a civil service employee, you would have to pay 2400.00 per year. If you remained a civil service employee for 32 years, you would have put $ 76,800 into the pension system. Also, the monthly pension amount is not the same for each tier.

Tier 3/4
Ifyouretirewithlessthan20yearsofservicecredit, your pension will equal 1/60th (1.66 percent) of your FAS for each year of service.

With20-30yearsofservicecredit,yourbenefitwill equal 1/50th (2 percent) of your FAS, multiplied by your years of credited service.

For each year of credited service beyond 30 years, you will receive 3/200ths (1.5%)


For example; a tier 3 or 4 pensioner who made 80,000 for 32 years would receive
80,000 x 30/50 =$48,000 +
2x.015 x 80,000=$ 2,400 = 50,400
50,400/12 = $4,200 per month.

Tier 6

If you retire with less than 20 years of service credit, your benefit will equal 1.66 percent of your FAS for each year of service credit.

With 20 years of service credit, your benefit will equal 1.75 percent of your FAS for each year of service credit (35 percent of your FAS).

If you retire with more than 20 years of service credit, you will receive an additional 2 percent of your FAS for each year of service credit in excess of 20 years.

For example; a tier 6 pensioner who made 80,000 for 32 years would receive
$80,000 x 20 x 1.75%=$28,000 +
$80,000 x 12 x 2%= $19,200 =
$28,000 + $19,200 = $47,200
47,200/12 = $3,933 per month.

Tier 4 for 32 years: $4,200 per month
Tier 6 for 32 years: $3,933 per month after putting $76,000 into the pension.

In other words, Tier 6 is receiving substationally less than what they put into the pension.

On top of that all state employees have to give the state 5 days from their pAy Check.

So I ask, does it make sense for a new employee to work for the state?

...OMG! Another math problem?...


If Basha hits her head on 3 boards, and then passes out once ...Who is left to feed her 12.3 llamas???...

I will post the answer by sundown....but don't hold your breath.