What Is the Retirement Age in Texas? Use Our Retirement Age Calculator
POINTS
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Texas has no single retirement age because rules vary by program.
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Social Security full retirement age is 67 for those born in 1960 or later.
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Social Security starts as early as 62, with reduced benefits.
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Texas state and teacher retirement ages vary by age and service.
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City and county retirement rules vary by pension plan.
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Medicare generally begins at 65, regardless of Social Security.
Texas does not set a single retirement age for all workers.
Retirement timing and eligibility are governed by the benefit program or retirement system covering the worker, with Social Security using age-based rules for retirement benefits.
for Seniors
Not sure how much notice to give before retiring?
See what’s typical for your job—and how to leave on the right terms.
Social Security Retirement Age in Texas
Social Security is federal, so Texas residents follow the national rules.
Your Social Security benefit amount depends on when you choose to start receiving benefits.
Generally, starting earlier means a lower monthly benefit, while waiting longer can increase your benefit up to age 70.
Texas State Employee Retirement Age
Texas Employees Retirement System divides members into Groups based on hire date.
All require vesting of 5 years of service to receive a benefit. Major full-retirement rules are:
| ERS Group | State Employment Start Date | Retirement Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Before Sept. 1, 2009 | Age 60 + 5 years or Rule of 80 |
| Group 2 | Sept. 1, 2009–Aug. 31, 2013 | Age 62 + 5 years or Rule of 80 |
| Group 3 | Sept. 1, 2013–Aug. 31, 2022 | Age 65 + 10 years or Rule of 80 |
| Group 4 | Sept. 1, 2022 or later | Age 65 + 5 years or Rule of 80 |
Your Texas state retirement eligibility depends primarily on:
- When you began state employment
- Your age, and
- Your years of service.
Some employees may qualify through the Rule of 80, while others must meet a specific age and service requirement.
Texas Teacher Retirement Age
In Texas, TRS members also need at least 5 years of service.
| TRS Membership | Normal Retirement Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 / Grandfathered | Age 65 + 5 years OR Rule of 80 + 5 years |
| Tier 2 | Age 65 + 5 years OR Age 60 + Rule of 80 + 5 years |
| Tier 3 | Age 65 + 5 years OR Age 62 + Rule of 80 + 5 years |
| Tier 4 / Grandfathered | Age 65 + 5 years OR Rule of 80 + 5 years |
| Tier 5 | Age 65 + 5 years OR Age 62 + Rule of 80 + 5 years |
| Tier 6 / Grandfathered | Age 65 + 5 years OR Age 62 + Rule of 80 + 5 years |
If the teacher instead retired at age 60 and a 10% reduction applied, the estimated pension would be about $2,588 per month. TRS may also provide a cost-of-living increase of up to 5% annually on the base pension, subject to the applicable plan rules.
Major City/County Plans (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Harris County)
Local governments often join statewide systems (TMRS/TCDRS) or have their own plans.
Texas municipal retirement plans
When can you retire? 7 plans across 5 major Texas cities/counties, colored by sponsor type
Hover or tap a pin to see when you can retire under that plan
Comparison Table:
| Plan | Normal Retirement | Early Retirement | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston – HMEPS | Age 62 + 5 years or Rule of 75 | 55+, reduced benefit may apply | 5 yrs |
| Dallas – ERF Tier A | Age 60 or qualifying service/age rule | Available under qualifying rules | 5 yrs |
| Dallas – ERF Tier B | Age 65 + 5 years or qualifying service | Available under qualifying rules | 5 yrs |
| San Antonio – TMRS | 20 years of service under current city plan | — | 5 yrs |
| Austin – COAERS Group A | Age 62, or qualifying service | 55 + 20 years | 5 yrs |
| Austin – COAERS Group B | Age 65 or qualifying service | Available under qualifying rules | 5 yrs |
| Harris County – TCDRS | Depends on age + service combination | Depends on plan | 8 yrs |
Can You Retire Early in Texas?
Yes, you can absolutely retire early in Texas, and Texas can be a good state for FIRE.
But whether you can retire early depends much more on your
- Savings
- Spending
- Housing costs, and
- Access to money before traditional retirement age than on Texas itself.
Pros
- No state income tax
- No state tax on retirement income
- No state estate or inheritance tax
- Variety of affordable places to live
- Large job market for part-time work
- Homestead/property-tax exemptions available
- Warm climate
- No state tax on individual capital gains
Cons
- High property taxes
- Sales taxes can be relatively high
- Healthcare can be expensive before Medicare
- Extreme summer heat
- Home and insurance costs vary widely
- Early retirement requires substantial savings
- Federal taxes still apply to many retirement withdrawals
- Long retirement periods increase inflation and investment risk
How Much Should You Have Saved by Your Age?
See how your retirement savings compare at different ages. Check the benchmarks, spot potential gaps, and see where you may stand on the road to retirement.
CHECK YOUR RETIREMENT BENCHMARK →READY?
Retirement Age vs. Medicare Eligibility
Medicare eligibility generally begins at age 65 or earlier if disabled.
In Texas, as elsewhere, retirees should enroll 3 months before turning 65 to avoid penalties.
If you retire before 65, you must obtain interim coverage.
Texas Retirement Age FAQs
No, retiring at 62 does not usually provide full benefits. Social Security can start at 62 but is reduced if claimed before full retirement age, and most Texas defined-benefit plans require a higher retirement age for full benefits.
For people born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67.
Early retirement generally reduces your pension benefits through actuarial adjustments, often by about 5% for each year before the plan’s normal retirement age.
It depends on your retirement system, but state employees generally need at least 10 years of service and must meet age or Rule of 80 requirements, while eligibility for teachers and city employees varies by plan.
You generally should enroll in Medicare around age 65, even if you have already retired, to avoid late-enrollment penalties.
No, most Texas public school teachers do not pay into Social Security through their teaching jobs because they participate in the Teachers Retirement System instead.
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