Member Account

Annual Statement

Each September, STRS Ohio posts your Annual Statement to your Online Personal Account. The statement reflects your service credit, earnings and contributions as of the preceding June 30 (end of the fiscal year) as well as the current value of your account.

The statement also includes:

  • Your retirement date and age eligibility and projected benefit amount;
  • Survivor and disability benefit estimates; and
  • Service credit eligible for purchase.

The statement does not include credit in other Ohio retirement systems, if applicable. Your complete service credit history for STRS Ohio-covered employment is available in your Online Personal Account.

Click here to view a sample of the Annual Statement.

Contribution Rate

As an STRS Ohio member, you are required to contribute 14% of earned salary through payroll deduction. In addition, employers contribute 14% of total faculty payroll annually to STRS Ohio for deposit to the Employers Trust Fund. Member contributions may be made on a taxed or tax-deferred basis.

Tax-Deferred (Picked-Up) Contributions

Includes the amount of your contributions on earned compensation during the STRS Ohio fiscal year that were tax-deferred by your employer. Contributions picked up by your employer are not taxed during your employment. This amount is refundable and is included in your total accumulated member contributions. Also included in this amount are tax-deferred payments for purchased service credit.

Taxed (Employee) Contributions

Includes the amount of your contributions on earned compensation during the STRS Ohio fiscal year that were not tax-deferred by your employer. Also included are after-tax payments to STRS Ohio to purchase credit. This amount is refundable if your account is withdrawn and is not subject to federal, state or local taxation. Any interest credited to your account before September 1, 1959, is subject to federal and state income tax.

Total Accumulated Contributions

Includes the sum of your taxed contributions, tax-deferred contributions and your total payments for purchased credit. The total amount is refundable if your account is withdrawn.

Service Credit

Service credit helps determine your eligibility for retirement and the amount of your monthly retirement benefit.

As an STRS Ohio member enrolled in the Defined Benefit Plan, you qualify for lifetime benefits after meeting one of the eligibility requirements indicated in the table below.

Retirement Dates Unreduced Benefit
(Minimum Age and Years of Service)
Reduced Benefit
(Minimum Age and Years of Service)
8/1/2021–7/1/2023 Any age and 34 yrs.; or age 65 and 5 yrs.* Any age and 30 yrs.; or age 55 and 29 years.; or age 60 and 5 yrs.*
8/1/2023–7/1/2028 Any age and 34 yrs.; or age 65 and 5 yrs.* Any age and 30 yrs.; or age 60 and 5 yrs.*
On or after 8/1/2028 Any age and 35 yrs.; or age 65 and 5 yrs.* Any age and 30 yrs.; or age 60 and 5 yrs.*

If you leave Ohio public service and do not withdraw your STRS Ohio account, you will be eligible to receive a benefit when you meet one of the age and service requirements listed above.

*Must have 5.00 years of qualifying service credit, which includes: earned credit with STRS Ohio, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement System (SERS); restored withdrawn credit with STRS Ohio, OPERS or SERS; interrupted Ohio public service due to military service; and earned and restored credit that transfers from Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, Highway Patrol Retirement System or Cincinnati Retirement System.

Service Credit Years

Contributing Service Credit — Contributing service credit includes contributing service (for which contributions were made to STRS Ohio, OPERS or SERS at the time of employment) and withdrawn service that has been restored in one of those systems. Also included is credit purchased for public teaching in Ohio after July 1978; military service; police, fire or highway patrol service; leaves of absence pursuant to Section 3307.77, Revised Code (R.C.); Cincinnati Retirement System service acquired under 3307.763, R.C.; and service purchased as a result of resignation due to pregnancy.

Noncontributing Service Credit — Purchased service credit that does not contribute toward the enhanced benefit calculation for service retirement. Noncontributing service credit is calculated at 2.2% of the final average salary. Benefits are reduced if the member retires before age 65 and with less than 30 years of service.

Note: Even if you have multiple employers, you cannot earn more than one year of credit during a one-year period.

Full-time public teaching service (K–12) — For STRS Ohio purposes, a member is considered to be full time when the member’s contract:

  • Begins and ends on the first and last day of a 365-day calendar year or the first and last day of the normal academic school year; and
  • Provides compensation equal to 100% of the full-time salary as defined by the employer’s salary schedule for an individual teaching all day, every day of the school year.

Full-time service occurring on or after Sept. 1, 1971

In determining total credit for benefit purposes, 120 or more days of full-time contributing service as a teacher or administrator for a single employer constitutes 1.00 year of service credit. (Employment must begin no later than the beginning of the academic school year and all 120 or more days must be paid at the full-time daily rate under contract.)

If fewer than 120 full-time days of teaching occur or employment begins after the school year starts, the annual service credit is determined using the part-time service rules.

Examples:

A full-time teacher who began work on the first day of school and received compensation for 120 or more full-time days during the year (July 1–June 30) would receive 1.00 year of service credit. Assuming all 120 days were completed by the end of February in the final year of teaching, the member could retire on the first day of March with a full year of credit.

A full-time administrator who began work on July 1 and received compensation for 120 or more full-time days during the year (July 1–June 30) would receive 1.00 year of service credit. Assuming all 120 days were completed by the end of December in the final year of service, the member could retire on the first day of January with a full year of credit.

K–12 Part-Time Service — “Part-time” service means employment on any basis other than full time.

Part-time service occurring on or after Sept. 1, 1971

A full year of service credit is earned if a part-time teacher has met the following requirement:

  • Taught for one employer for at least 90 days in a fiscal year (or 500 hours if the actual number of days of service is not available from the employer’s records).
  • Employment relationship has been in effect for a period of time at least equal to 120 days during the academic year.
  • Total compensation for the year is an amount at least equal to the first step of the state minimum salary schedule. (Click here to view a chart with a year-by-year listing of state minimum salaries.)

Example:

A teacher is employed Aug. 26, 2022, through Feb. 24, 2023, which spans at least 120 workdays, and worked 115 days. The teacher earned $32,000 and the state minimum salary was $30,000. Service credit = 1.00 year.

  • Beginning July 1, 2019,* if the requirements above are not met, annual service credit is the lesser of the following:

    — Actual days or partial days of service divided by 180; or

    — Hours of service divided by 1,000, if actual number of days is not available from the records; or

    — Actual compensation divided by $12,000.

    *Prior to July 1, 2019, if total compensation is less than the first step of the state minimum salary schedule, annual service credit is the greater of:

    • Actual days or partial days of service divided by 180; or
    • Hours of service divided by 1,000 if actual number of days of service is not available from the employer’s records; or
    • Actual compensation for the year divided by the amount specified as the first step of the state minimum salary schedule.

Example:

A teacher is employed Aug. 26, 2022, through Feb. 24, 2023. The teacher has had a 120-day relationship with the employer, and has worked 95 days. The teacher earned $12,000 and the state minimum salary was $30,000. Service credit is .53 of a year, which is the lesser of the following (hours do not apply):

— 95 days ÷ 180 days = .53 of a year

— $12,000 ÷ $30,000 = 1.0 of a year

Example:

A teacher worked 74 days and earned $4,500. Service credit is .38 of a year which is the lesser of the following:

74 days ÷ 180 days = .41 of a year.

$4,500 ÷ $12,000 = .38 of a year

Example:

A teacher worked 440 hours and earned $6,200. (Payroll records do not reflect the actual number of days employed.) Service credit is .44 of a year, which is the lesser of the following:

— 440 hours ÷ 1,000 hours = .44 of a year

— $6,200 ÷ $12,000 = .52 of a year

If a teacher has worked for a single employer part of a day every day, as required for full-time teachers, annual service credit is 1.00 year.

Full-time college or university service — For STRS Ohio purposes, a member is considered to be full time when the member’s contract:

  • Begins and ends on the first and last day of a 365-day calendar or the first and last day of a school year of at least two semesters; and
  • Provides compensation equal to 100% of the full-time salary as defined by the college or university’s compensation for full-time workload.

Full-time service (contract based on percentage of full-time equivalent workload) occurring on or after September 1, 1971

Two semesters of full-time contributing service as a faculty member for a single employer constitutes 1.00 year of service credit in determining total credit for benefit purposes. (Split summer sessions do not apply.) This rule assumes that the actual number of days employed is not available from employer payroll records.

If fewer than two semesters of teaching occur, the annual service credit is determined using the part-time service rules.

Full-time service (contract based on days) occurring on or after September 1, 1971

This generally applies to administrative service contracts where members are awarded contracts based on days.

In determining total credit for benefit purposes, 120 or more days of full-time contributing service for a single employer constitutes 1.00 year of service credit. (Employment must begin no later than the beginning of the school year.)

If fewer than 120 days of service occur, the annual service credit will be determined using the part-time service rules.

Example:

A full-time administrator who began work on July 1 and received compensation for 120 or more full-time days during the year (July 1–June 30) would receive 1.00 year of service credit. Assuming these 120 days were completed during December in the final year of service, the member could retire on the first day of January with a full year of service credit.

Part-time college or university service — “Part-time” service means employment on any basis other than full time.

Part-time service (contract based on full-time equivalent workload) occurring on or after September 1, 1971

Service credit earned on a contract, which is issued as a percentage of full-time equivalent (FTE), is determined in accordance with the actual contracted workload percentage averaged over two semesters during the year. (Assumes actual number of days employed is not available from employer payroll records.)

Semester examples:

  • Contract for 50% of FTE for two semesters: (50% x 2 semesters) ÷ 2 semesters = .50 of a year of service credit.
  • Contract for 75% of FTE for two semesters: (75% x 2 semesters) ÷ 2 semesters = (.75) = 1.00 year of service credit.*

    *Service credit earned for a year (July 1–June 30) greater than .66 equals 1.00.

Part-time service (contract based on days) occurring on or after September 1, 1971

A full year of service credit is earned if a part-time professor has met the following requirements:

  • Taught for one employer for at least 90 days in a fiscal year (or 500 hours if the actual number of days of service is not available from the employer’s records).
  • Employment relationship has been in effect for a period of time at least equal to 120 days during the academic year.
  • Total compensation for the year is an amount at least equal to the first step of the state minimum salary schedule. (Click here to view a chart with a year-by-year listing of state minimum salaries.):

Example:

A professor is employed Aug. 26, 2022, through Feb. 24, 2023, which spans at least 120 workdays, and worked 115 days. The professor earned $32,000 and the state minimum salary was $30,000. Service credit = 1.00 year.

  • Beginning July 1, 2019* if the requirements above are not met annual service credit is the lesser of:

    — Actual days or partial days of service divided by 180; or

    — Hours of service divided by 1,000, if actual number of days is not available from the records; or

    — Actual compensation divided by $12,000.

*Prior to July 1, 2019, if total compensation is less than the first step of the state minimum salary schedule, annual service credit is the greater of:

  • Actual days or partial days of service divided by 180; or
  • Hours of service divided by 1,000, but only if the actual number of days of service is not available from the employer’s records; or
  • Actual compensation for the year divided by the amount specified as the first step of the state minimum salary schedule.

Example:

A professor is employed Aug. 26, 2022, through Feb. 24, 2023, which spans at least 120 workdays, and worked 99 days. The professor earned $13,200 and the state minimum salary was $30,000. Service credit is .44 of a year, which is the lesser of the following (hours do not apply):

— 99 days ÷ 180 days = .55 of a year

— $13,200 ÷ $30,000 = .44 of a year

Example:

A professor worked 75 days and earned $7,500. Service credit is .42 of a year, which is the lesser of the following.

— 75 days ÷ 180 days = .42 of a year

— $7,500 ÷ $12,000 = .63 of a year

Example:

A professor worked 440 hours and earned $8,000. (Payroll records do not reflect the actual number of days employed.) Service credit is .44 of a year, which is the lesser of the following:

— 440 hours ÷ 1,000 hours = .44 of a year

— $8,000 ÷ $12,000 = .67 of a year

Summer School Service

Members who teach during a summer session between two full-time school years ordinarily do not earn additional service credit, but they do make contributions to STRS Ohio. Some teachers who are not otherwise earning a full year of service credit for the school years before and after a summer session may be granted service credit as follows, although no more than a year of service credit can ever be earned for a year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.

Service credit for summer is based on a .50 for a semester. Split summer sessions are prorated so that the maximum credit allowed for all summer sessions is .50 for a semester. Service credit calculations are based on the university calendar rather than an individual faculty member’s schedule.

Summer service split by the fiscal year change (July 1) is prorated between the two fiscal years. Service credit earned before July 1 is credited to the previous fiscal year. Service credit earned July 1 and after is credited to the next fiscal year.

Service credit earned during summer sessions is added to service credit earned during the academic year to determine total service credit for the fiscal year. Therefore, service credit earned July 1 and after can be added to other FTE credit for that year and, if the total credit exceeds .66, the service credit for the year will be 1.00 year.

Service credit based on days for summer employment cannot be combined with service credit based on FTE for the academic year to determine total service credit.

Note: STRS Ohio has established general maximum credit limit guidelines for summer sessions which have been divided into shorter units (see the table below.) Specific situations may vary.

Session Length Maximum Credit (Cap)
9–16 weeks .50
5–8 weeks .25
3–4 weeks .12
1–2 weeks .06

Any Teaching or Administrative Service Occurring Before September 1, 1971

Service credit shall be the greater of:

  • Percentage of annual contract earned;
  • Full or partial days employed divided by 180; or
  • Hours paid divided by 1,000.

Nonteaching Periods (leaves of absence)

Service credit granted for nonteaching periods is determined by comparing the amount you earn to the amount you would have earned for full-time employment if the nonteaching period had not occurred. Contributions must be made on a full year’s salary for a full year of credit to be granted.

Nonteaching periods include unpaid sick leave, professional leaves and sabbatical leaves with partial pay. Leaves with no pay for teachers (kindergarten through 12th grade) are also included under this section of the law.

Further information about purchasing credit for leaves of absence can be found in the STRS Ohio Purchasing Service Credit brochure.

Service Credit Earned in Ohio’s Other Public Retirement Systems

This section applies only to members enrolled in the Defined Benefit Plan.

Service credit earned in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and/or the School Employees Retirement System (SERS) may be combined with STRS Ohio service credit and, in some instances, used in calculating your retirement benefits. The following rules apply to the use of joint (STRS Ohio/OPERS/SERS) service credit:

  1. You retire with the system in which you have the greatest amount of service credit.
  2. A member cannot earn more than 1.00 year of service credit in any fiscal year in one, two or all three systems combined.
  3. Service credit in OPERS or SERS that occurs in the same fiscal year that a member earns 1.00 year of credit with STRS Ohio does not provide additional service credit to a member’s account.
  4. Service credit in OPERS or SERS that is not concurrent with STRS Ohio credit may be combined to determine total years of service credit with STRS Ohio.
  5. Service credit earned in another retirement system remains in that system until you apply for a benefit.
  6. If service credit with OPERS or SERS is not combined at retirement, concurrent service credit is reduced based on the ratio of earnings in each system against the total amount of earnings in all retirement systems.
  7. If service credit was withdrawn from OPERS or SERS in November 1969 or after, but not STRS Ohio, the withdrawn service credit must be restored or the concurrent service credit is reduced as explained above.