Your retirement benefits are calculated based on your years of service, age at retirement and high five-year average salary. Your high five average salary is based on your gross salary. Contributions to deferred compensation, Social Security, health care premiums, etc. do not lower your high five. When calculating your high five salary, we use the highest sixty month period (5 X 12 months = 60 months), rather than a calendar year or fiscal year salary. For example, your high five could start on March 1, and run through February five years later.

For most employees, the high five is the last sixty-month period, but does not necessarily have to be your last five years of employment. For example, you may decide to work fewer hours when you get closer to retirement, or maybe you had several years where you earned overtime which will generate a higher high five average salary. Your employer reports your salary along with your retirement deduction each and every pay period. This allows us to accurately calculate your high five.

Retirement deductions are not taken on unused sick or vacation leave you receive after termination of public service. These unused leaves are not included in your high five salary. Used sick and vacation leave used before termination are included in your high five average salary.