Essential to Public Education
Classified school employees - including office, facilities, food service, transportation, instructional support, and many other roles - are essential to how California public schools operate every day. Their retirement planning deserves the same attention as any other education employee's.
A Different Starting Point Than Classroom Teachers
Retirement planning questions for classified employees can differ from those facing classroom teachers, in part because the applicable retirement system is often different. Depending on role and employer, a classified employee's pension may not be CalSTRS - it may be CalPERS or another public retirement system. See our CalSTRS vs. CalPERS overview for the general distinction.
The Same Core Questions Still Apply
Regardless of which system covers you, pension income, retirement timing, survivor protection, and supplemental savings are still worth understanding well before you plan to retire. A gap between your projected pension and your retirement needs is just as relevant a question for classified staff as for any other public education employee.
Where to Learn More
For a broader look at CalPERS-covered education roles generally, see our CalPERS education employees guide. For what a complimentary review actually covers, see our public education retirement review page.