50-State Pension Power Rankings

Updated April 2026

All 50 states and D.C. ranked 1–51 by employee value — what you get back for what you pay in. How we scored every state →

Scoring Criteria

Multiplier30%

Benefit accrual rate — determines replacement rate at 30 years

COLA25%

Lifetime inflation protection — compounding 3% doubles income over 24 years

Employee Cost15%

What you pay in — lower is better relative to what you get

Retire Age10%

Earlier unreduced retirement = more years collecting benefits

Legal Protection10%

Constitutional > Contract > Property > Gratuity

Retiree Health10%

Employer-subsidized health insurance in retirement

Each state receives a letter grade (S/A/B/C/D) per criterion. Grades are weighted and combined to determine tier placement. Full methodology →

Updated Apr 2026

S

S — JACKPOT

Highest payouts — elite multiplier, strong COLA, early retirement, protected by law

Salary Replaced
after 30 yrs

#1NV

Nevada

×2.50%FixedEE: 15%*

75%

#2CA

California

×2.0–3.0%CPI-linkedEE: 7–8%

60–90%

#3IL

Illinois

×2.2%FixedEE: 4–9.5%

66%

#4LA

Louisiana

×2.5–3.33%Ad hocEE: 8–10%

75–100%

#5OH

Ohio

×2.2%CPI-linkedEE: 10%

66%

#6NM

New Mexico

×2.35–3.0%CPI-linkedEE: 7–10%

70–90%

A

A — PREMIUM

Above-average returns — generous formula, real inflation protection, favorable retirement age

Salary Replaced
after 30 yrs

#7MA

Massachusetts

×2.5%FixedEE: 9–12%

75%

#8MO

Missouri

×1.7–2.5%CPI-linkedEE: 4–6.5%

51–75%

#9CO

Colorado

×2.5%FixedEE: 10.5%

75%

#10NY

New York

×1.67–2.0%FixedEE: 3–6%

50–60%

#11OR

Oregon

×1.5–1.67%CPI-linkedEE: 6%

45–50%

#12AZ

Arizona

×2.1–2.35%Plan-linkedEE: 7–12%

63–70%

#13WA

Washington

×2.0%Plan-linkedEE: 6–7%

60%

#14AR

Arkansas

×2.0–2.07%FixedEE: 5–6.5%

60–62%

#15HI

Hawaii

×1.25–2.0%FixedEE: 6–8%

38–60%

B

B — SOLID

Competitive pension with decent multiplier and some COLA — a good retirement foundation

Salary Replaced
after 30 yrs

#16TN

Tennessee

×1.5–2.5%Ad hocEE: 5%

45–75%

#17SD

South Dakota

×1.7–2.4%Plan-linkedEE: 6%

51–72%

#18WI

Wisconsin

×1.6%Plan-linkedEE: 6.9%

48%

#19DC

D.C. / Federal

×1.0–1.7%CPI-linkedEE: 0.8–4.4%

30–51%

#20NC

North Carolina

×1.82%Ad hocEE: 6%

55%

#21GA

Georgia

×2.0%FixedEE: 1.5–6%

60%

#22MN

Minnesota

×1.7–1.9%CPI-linkedEE: 6–11%

51–57%

#23NE

Nebraska

×2.0–2.4%None/SuspendedEE: 4.8–9.8%

60–72%

#24ME

Maine

×2.0%CPI-linkedEE: 7.65%

60%

#25IA

Iowa

×2.0%Plan-linkedEE: 6.29%

60%

#26WV

West Virginia

×2.0%Ad hocEE: 4.5–6%

60%

#27DE

Delaware

×2.0%Ad hocEE: 3–5%

60%

#28VA

Virginia

×1.7%CPI-linkedEE: 5%

51%

#29ID

Idaho

×2.0–2.3%CPI-linkedEE: 7.12%

60–69%

#30UT

Utah

×1.5–2.0%CPI-linkedEE: 0%*

45–60%

C

C — AVERAGE

Adequate but COLA gaps or benefit cuts dilute long-term value

Salary Replaced
after 30 yrs

#31TX

Texas

×2.0–2.3%None/SuspendedEE: 8–9.5%

60–69%

#32FL

Florida

×1.6–3.0%None/SuspendedEE: 3%

48–90%

#33PA

Pennsylvania

×2.0–2.5%None/SuspendedEE: 5–7.5%

60–75%

#34MD

Maryland

×1.2–1.8%CPI-linkedEE: 7%

36–54%

#35KS

Kansas

×1.85%Ad hocEE: 6%

56%

#36NH

New Hampshire

×1.5–2.5%CPI-linkedEE: 7%

45–75%

#37OK

Oklahoma

×2.0%None/SuspendedEE: 3.5–8.5%

60%

#38WY

Wyoming

×2.125%Ad hocEE: 9.94%

64%

#39ND

North Dakota

×2.0%Ad hocEE: 7%

60%

#40VT

Vermont

×1.25–1.67%CPI-linkedEE: 5.5–6.65%

38–50%

#41SC

South Carolina

×1.82%None/SuspendedEE: 9%

55%

#42AL

Alabama

×2.0125%Ad hocEE: 5–8.5%

60%

#43MT

Montana

×1.785%FixedEE: 7.9%

54%

#44MS

Mississippi

×2.0%FixedEE: 9%

60%

#45RI

Rhode Island

×1.0–1.6%None/SuspendedEE: 3.75%

30–48%

D

D — THIN

Low multiplier, no COLA, late retirement, or hybrid/DC dilution

Salary Replaced
after 30 yrs

#46NJ

New Jersey

×1.67%None/SuspendedEE: 7.5%

50%

#47KY

Kentucky

×1.97–2.5%None/SuspendedEE: 5–6%

59–75%

#48AK

Alaska

×DC only*None/SuspendedEE: 8%

N/A

#49IN

Indiana

×1.1%Ad hocEE: 3%

33%

#50MI

Michigan

×1.5%*FixedEE: 4–7%

45%*

#51CT

Connecticut

×1.33–2.0%FixedEE: 2–5%

40–60%

Read the full Methodology & Analysis → — scoring criteria, tier breakdowns, and deep dives on California, New York, D.C./Federal, Texas, and Florida.

Updated April 2026.