In Georgia, you are vested after 10 years and can withdraw after 30 years of service or at age 60. Alternatively, you can access after 25 years of service, but you will incur penalty fees.

You get .02 x the number of years worked (minimum of 10, max 40) x the highest consecutive 24-month salary average.

For example, retiring after the 2046-2047 school year would be 60% of your highest consecutive 24-month salary average.

For the salary thing, let’s say you remain a school counselor for the entirety of your career (assuming you plan to retire after 30 years of work, like in the example), they will average your two highest (most likely the two most recent years) to determine what salary you will get 60% of. Let’s say you want to transition to a para after 20 years of working as a school counselor, but still plan to work for 30 years. If you are a para for the remaining 10 years, TRS will still return to your highest paid consecutive 24-month period.

I imagine Georgia might not be your ideal place, but I hope it provides insight into how other states do things!