Early career considerations
As a CalSTRS member, you participate in a hybrid retirement system consisting of traditional defined benefit (Defined Benefit Program), cash balance (Defined Benefit Supplement Program) and voluntary defined contribution (CalSTRS Pension2®) plans.
Your service retirement benefit under the Defined Benefit Program is based on your years of service credit, your age at retirement and your final compensation. The more service credit you have, the higher your monthly retirement benefit will be.
Early career checklist
Now is a great time to learn more about your CalSTRS benefits and start planning for your retirement.
- Activate your myCalSTRS account to view your account balances and service credit, update your contact information and more online.
- Watch the member education videos for a quick way to learn about your benefits.
- Start a tax-advantaged 403(b) or 457(b) account for additional money in retirement. Consider Pension2, which offers low costs and flexible investment options.
Your survivors are eligible to receive a CalSTRS one-time death benefit and survivor benefit if you should die before retirement.
- Designate a one-time death benefit recipient using myCalSTRS or by completing the Recipient Designation Form if you haven't already.
- Sign up for a CalSTRS webinar or benefits planning session for new members.
You’re eligible for a lifetime monthly retirement benefit when you retire.
- Sign up for a CalSTRS webinar tailored to your career stage.
- Consider increasing your contribution to your 403(b) or 457(b) account.
- Consider purchasing additional service credit if you're eligible to redeposit service credit to purchase permissive service credit. The earlier you purchase service credit, the lower the cost. Use the calculators to estimate the cost or submit the Redeposit or Purchase of Permissive Service Credit form.
- Estimate your retirement benefit using the Retirement Benefits Calculator.
- Look for the Learn and Discover: Early Career booklet from us in the mail. This publication includes steps to prepare for your secure future based on your career stage.