The latest career retirees from school districts in Westchester County and on Long Island were eligible for pensions averaging more than $90,000, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center’s government transparency website.

The new data show the 2,549 teachers, superintendents, and other school professionals in the state Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) who retired in school year 2021-2022 with 30 or more years of service were eligible for pensions averaging $74,090 (up from $73,552 for the 2020-21 retiree cohort). More than 10 percent of the new pensioners (297) were eligible for pensions over $100,000. The data do not include New York City teachers.

The largest new pension ($242,053) went to former Middletown City School District Superintendent Richard Delmoro, with a total of 297 (about one in eight) new career retirees eligible for annual payments over $100,000.

Reflecting regional salary differences, average pensions among the new career retirees were highest among those retiring from New York City suburban districts. Long Island had the highest average pension at $94,005. The top ten individual new pensions also went to retirees from downstate schools.

The average maximum pension for the entire cohort of 5,311 newly retired NYSTRS members was $53,659. That lower average includes both part- and full-time public school teachers, many of whom attained only a minimum five-year vesting requirement before leaving the system.

Average Benefit by County

These data are made public thanks to the Empire Center’s successful court challenges against efforts by public agencies to conceal information from taxpayers. The Center remains involved in litigation to protect and expand the public’s ability to examine public pensions and spending.

The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to promoting policies that can make New York a better place to live, work and raise a family.