Contributions
OPERS retirement benefits are funded through member and employer contributions and the investment earnings on those contributions. You participate in OPERS by contributing a percentage of your salary each pay period into the retirement system. Your employer also pays a contribution to help fund your benefit.
State Agencies
Contributions for state agencies and their employees are given below. The rates for members who participate as hazardous duty or elected officials may be different.
| Employee | Employer |
| 3.5% | 9.5% |
Local Government Employers
Members who are employed by local government employers must contribute between 3.5% and 8.5% of their annual compensation. The local governments pay between 11.5% and 16.5% of the employee’s compensation. The total local government employer and employee contribution must equal 20%. Each government entity designates as policy how much the employee and employer pays within the given ranges.
| Employee | Employer | ||
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum |
| 3.5% | 8.5% | 11.5% | 16.5% |
NOTE: If employer contributions are paid more than 30 days after the monthly due dates, they are subject to a late charge of 3% of the unpaid balance.
2.5% Step-Up Program
The 2.5% Step-Up Program allows members to increase their retirement benefits by paying an additional member contribution each pay period. Click here for more information about the Step-Up program.