Member contribution rates are established by state law and are determined as a percent of member pay.
Under Senate Bill (SB) 18-200, member and employer contributions will automatically adjust beginning July 1, 2020, to ensure that PERA is able to pay off its unfunded liability. Both member and employer contribution rates can each increase (or decrease) by up to 0.5% per year, and cannot exceed certain limits also set in law.
Safety Officers
For the purposes of PERA benefits, “Safety Officers” include the following employees:
- Peace officers with the Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
- County sheriffs, undersheriffs, deputy sheriffs, noncertified deputy sheriffs, and detention officers in the Local Government Division whose PERA membership began on or after January 1, 2020.
- Corrections officers classified as I through IV in the State Division whose PERA membership began on or after January 1, 2020.
- Firefighters classified as I through VII employed with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, beginning with service earned on or after July 1, 2020.
Note: In state statute, these professionals are defined as “State Troopers.”
A historical overview of contribution rates can be found in the Statistical Section of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
View employer contribution rates.
Member Contribution Rate Comparison
State, School, and DPS Divisions
| Contribution | Contribution Rates Effective July 1, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Member rate | 10.00% |
| Auto adjust | 0.50% |
| TOTAL | 10.50% |
Safety Officers
| Contribution | Contribution Rates Effective July 1, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Member rate | 12.00% |
| Auto adjust | 0.50% |
| TOTAL | 12.50% |
Local Government Division
| Contribution | Contribution Rates Effective July 1, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Member rate | 8.00% |
| Auto adjust | 0.50% |
| TOTAL | 8.50% |
Judicial Division (Excluding Denver County)
| Contribution | Contribution Rates Effective July 1, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Member rate | 15.00% |
| Auto adjust | 0.50% |
| TOTAL | 15.50% |
* House Bill 20-1394 decreases the employer contribution rate and increases the member contribution rate both by 5% for the Judicial Division for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 State fiscal years. This legislation does not apply to Denver County Court Judges (see below).
Judicial Division (Denver County Court Judges)
| Contribution | Contribution Rates Effective July 1, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Member rate | 10.00% |
| Auto adjust | 0.50% |
| TOTAL | 10.50% |
