Pension Payment CalendarCheck mailed April 29Direct deposit April 30

KCERA at a Glance 

The following information is current as of June 15, 2025, unless otherwise noted.

Membership

  • Active: 10,459 (General: 8,569 + Safety: 1,890)
  • Deferred: 5,174
  • Retirees and Beneficiaries: 9,414

Benefit Tiers

  • General Tier I: “3% at age 60”
  • General Tier II: “1.62% at age 65”
  • General Tier III*: “2.5% at age 67”
  • Safety Tier I: “3% at age 50”
  • Safety Tier II: “2% at age 50”

* Only applies to West Side Recreation and Park District

Plan Sponsors & Membership Totals

  • County of Kern: 7,572
  • Berrenda Mesa Water District: 3
  • Buttonwillow Recreation & Park District: 1
  • East Kern Cemetery District: 2
  • Inyokern Community Services District: 0
  • Kern County Hospital Authority: 1,897
  • Kern County Superior Court: 523
  • Kern County Water Agency: 53
  • Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District: 20
  • North of the River Sanitation District: 17
  • San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District: 352
  • Shafter Recreation and Park District: 4
  • West Side Cemetery District: 4
  • West Side Mosquito & Vector Control District: 7
  • West Side Recreation and Park District: 4

Investment Assets

  • $6.5 billion
  • Asset Allocations (Policy): Equity: 33%, Fixed Income: 15%, Commodities: 4%, Hedge Funds: 10%, Real Estate: 5%, Private Real Estate: 5%, Private Equity: 5%, Midstream Energy 5%, Private Credit: 8%, CE Alpha Pool 2.5%, Cash -4% . 

More detailed Investments information: www.kcera.org/asset-allocation

Actuarial Assumed Rate of Return

  • 7% 
Investment Rates of Return (net of fees) 
  • FY 2025: 10.9%
  • FY 2024: 9.6%
  • FY 2023: 6.4%
  • FY 2022: -4.4%
  • FY 2021: 23.9%
  • FY 2020: 3.0%
  • FY 2019: 5.3%
  • FY 2018: 6.5%
  • FY 2017: 11.8%
  • FY 2016: -0.5%
  • FY 2015: 2.4%
  • FY 2014: 15.0%
  • FY 2013: 10.4%
  • FY 2012: 1.0%
Funded Ratios 
  • FY 2025: 72.3%
  • FY 2024: 69.9%
  • FY 2023: 69.2%
  • FY 2022: 68.7%
  • FY 2021: 67.1%
  • FY 2020: 64.4%
  • FY 2019: 64.8%
  • FY 2018: 65.1%
  • FY 2017: 63.2%
  • FY 2016: 63.4%
  • FY 2015: 62.4%
  • FY 2014: 60.8%
  • FY 2013: 61.1%
  • FY 2012: 60.5%
Pension Benefits Paid to Retirees 
  • FY 2025:  $439.0 million
  • FY 2024:  $403.5 million
  • FY 2023:  $388.2 million
  • FY 2022:  $371.4 million
  • FY 2021:  $355.1 million
  • FY 2020: $338.9 million
  • FY 2019: $320.9 million
  • FY 2018: $304.8 million
  • FY 2017: $288.8 million
  • FY 2016: $272.3 million
  • FY 2015: $257.2 million
  • FY 2014: $241.5 million
  • FY 2013: $226.6 million
  • FY 2012: $207.3 million
Average Monthly Retirement Benefits 
  • FY 2025:  $3,993
  • FY 2024:  $3,865
  • FY 2023:  $3,764
  • FY 2022:  $3,662
  • FY 2021:  $3,563
  • FY 2020: $3,465
  • FY 2019: $3,363
  • FY 2018: $3,062
  • FY 2017: $2,975
  • FY 2016: $2,900
  • FY 2015: $2,829
  • FY 2014: $2,734
  • FY 2013: $2,721
  • FY 2012: $2,584
Employer Contributions 
  • FY 2025:  $406.3 million
  • FY 2024:  $358.1 million
  • FY 2023:  $316.8 million
  • FY 2022:  $287.0 million
  • FY 2021:  $268.6 million
  • FY 2020: $273.9 million
  • FY 2019: $229.1 million
  • FY 2018: $258.9 million
  • FY 2017: $241.1 million
  • FY 2016: $234.7 million
  • FY 2015: $215.5 million
  • FY 2014: $220.4 million
  • FY 2013: $211.7 million
  • FY 2012: $189.8 million
Employee Contributions 
  • FY 2025:  $74.7 million
  • FY 2024:  $65.1 million
  • FY 2023:  $59.5 million
  • FY 2022:  $54.6 million
  • FY 2021:  $53.8 million
  • FY 2020: $57.8 million
  • FY 2019: $50.1 million
  • FY 2018: $36.1 million
  • FY 2017: $34.6 million
  • FY 2016: $33.3 million
  • FY 2015: $30.3 million
  • FY 2014: $25.8 million
  • FY 2013: $20.3 million
  • FY 2012: $18.7 million