Skip to main content
Contact UsContact UsEmployer LoginEmployer LoginVendor LoginVendor Login

Highest Average Salary Tables

As you plan for your financial future, Colorado PERA’s highest average salary (HAS) percentage tables help you answer two important questions: 

  1. When can I retire? 
  2. How much will I receive in retirement?

The HAS tables show you, based on your age and years of service at retirement, what percentage of your HAS will be used to calculate your monthly retirement benefit. Use the chart below to determine which table applies to you.

The shaded areas on the tables indicate reduced retirement percentages. The percentages in the shaded areas on the PERA 2, PERA 4, PERA 6, PERA 7, PERA 8, PERA 9, DPS 3, DPS 4, Safety Officers 2, and Safety Officers 3 tables ensure that, as of your effective date of retirement, your reduced retirement benefit is the actuarial equivalent of your full service retirement benefit. These percentages are subject to change based on actuarial experience.

For the purposes of PERA benefits, “Safety Officers” include the following employees:

  • Peace officers with the Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
  • County sheriffs, undersheriffs, deputy sheriffs, noncertified deputy sheriffs, and detention officers in the Local Government Division whose PERA membership began on or after January 1, 2020. 
  • Corrections officers classified as I through IV in the State Division whose PERA membership began on or after January 1, 2020.
  • Firefighters classified as I through VII employed with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, beginning with service earned on or after July 1, 2020.
  • Wildlife officers and parks and recreation officers employed with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife whose employment in these roles began on or after January 1, 2011, beginning with service earned on or after July 1, 2023.

Note: In state statute, these professionals are defined as “State Troopers.”

PERA Benefit Structure Members

Membership Date5 Years of Service Credit as of January 1, 2011Retirement EligibilityTable
On or before June 30, 2005YesEligible January 1, 2011[PERA 1](/pera-1)
On or before June 30, 2005YesNot eligible January 1, 2011[PERA 2](/pera-2)
Between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006YesEligible January 1, 2011[PERA 3](/pera-3)
Between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006YesNot eligible January 1, 2011[PERA 4](/pera-4)
Between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010N/AEligible January 1, 2011[PERA 5](/pera-5)
Between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010N/ANot eligible January 1, 2011[PERA 6](/pera-6)
On or before December 31, 2006NoN/A[PERA 6](/pera-6)
Between January 1, 2011, and December, 31, 2016N/AN/A[PERA 7](/pera-7)
Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, and the most recent 10 years of service are in the School or DPS DivisionsN/AN/A[PERA 7](/pera-7)
Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019N/AN/A[PERA 8](/pera-8)
On or after January 1, 2020N/AN/A[PERA 9](/pera-9)

DPS Benefit Structure Members

Membership Date5 Years of Service Credit as of January 1, 2011Retirement EligibilityTable
 On or before June 30, 2005YesEligible January 1, 2011[DPS 1](/dps-1)
Between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009YesEligible January 1, 2011[DPS 2](/dps-2)
On or before December 31, 2009YesNot eligible January 1, 2011[DPS 3](/dps-3)
On or before December 31, 2009NoN/A[DPS 4](/dps-4)

 Safety Officers

Membership Date5 Years of Service Credit as of January, 1, 2011Retirement EligibilityTable
On or before December 31, 2019N/AEligible January 1, 2011[Safety Officers 1](/safety-officers-1)
On or before December 31, 2019N/ANot eligible January 1, 2011[Safety Officers 2](/safety-officers-2)
On or after January 1, 2020N/AN/A[Safety Officers 3](/safety-officers-3)
Download Resources 
Calculators