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.
| Employee | Employer | Total |
| 3.5% | 16.5% | 20% |
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.