What you earn as “regular compensation” is important both for us and for you:
- For you, because it is the amount of your earnings upon which you pay retirement contributions.
- For both you and us, because only those payments that meet the definition of “regular compensation” may be used in the determination of your final salary average, which is a factor in the calculation of your retirement benefit.
It is in your best interest to understand what earnings are included and excluded as regular compensation so that, when it is time for you to retire, you don’t have any misunderstanding or false expectations as to what will be included in your final salary average.
“Regular compensation” is a complex legal term whose precise definition is often the subject of court decisions. Below are some of the most commonly asked-about payments as far as what is generally included in, or excluded from, regular compensation.
What is generally INCLUDED as regular compensation:
- Your annual base salary, which is usually set forth in your collective bargaining agreement or administrator’s contract
- Salary payable for services rendered in connection with a school lunch program
- Salary payable for services in connection with a program for physical education instruction and athletic contests such as intramural sports
- Athletic coaching
- Annual stipends for additional services set forth in your collective bargaining agreement (e.g., yearbook advisor, class advisor, department head)
- Cost-of-living adjustments that become part of base pay
- Payments for length of service (“longevity”)
- Educational step increases according to salary schedule set forth in collective bargaining agreement, which become part of base pay
What is generally EXCLUDED as regular compensation:
- Retirement incentives
- Temporary salary augmentations (i.e., ”ELBO” payments)
- Amounts paid for unused sick leave
- Payment for unused vacation
- Overtime
- Bonuses
- Special projects
- Summer school
- Reimbursement for travel or other expenses
- Travel or housing allowances
- Amounts paid on an hourly basis for additional services
- Amounts paid in addition to salary for professional development or education assistance (e.g., recertification workshops) that do not become part of your annual base salary
- Any payment made as a result of the employer’s knowledge of your retirement
- Workers’ compensation wages
- Effective July 1, 2012, all fringe benefits, including employer paid individual life and disability insurance premiums, annuities, and housing allowances. [Note: fringe benefits that were in the member’s contract in effect on May 1, 2009 may be grandfathered as regular compensation through the expiration of the term of that contract, or June 30, 2012, whichever occurs first.]
Special note for members whose most recent date of entry or re-entry into membership is after January 1, 2011: pursuant to M.G.L. c. 32, § 1, the maximum amount of regular compensation that will be used in the determination of your final average salary is 64% of the annual limit pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(17). In 2024, the 401(a)(17) limit is $345,000. Accordingly, the maximum amount of regular compensation for a member whose most recent date of membership is after 1/1/2011 is $220,800 in 2024 (64% of $345,000).