Average Teacher Pension in OC is $50K

Retired educators in Orange County collected an average pension of $50,046 last year, according to statistics compiled by the Orange County Register.

The 2010-11 payouts ranged from $35 to $223,286, the latter to a former community college chancellor.

About 2,100 of the retirees collected pensions while working other public education jobs, which is legal under certain circumstances.

Before retiring, teachers give 8 percent of their paychecks to the pension fund, while their employers pay 8.25 percent and the state kicks in about 2 percent, the paper said.

However, because of unrealistic assumptions about investment earnings, California's teacher pension fund is expected to run out of money "in about 30 years, a scenario that would leave taxpayers to pick up the tab," the Register said.

To look up pensions for specific teachers, click here for the Register's database.