Why Nurses at UC Davis Never Quit

Did you know that nurses at UC Davis almost NEVER leave before retirement? It’s not because of job security or loyalty — it’s because of a pension so good that even nurses at the highest-paying hospitals can’t compete.

Let me break it down for you — because once you see the numbers, you might rethink where you want to work as a nurse.

💡 The UC Davis Pension Secret

Most people think nursing is just about decent pay and stable benefits. But UC Davis (and the entire UC system) has a retirement deal that’s next-level.

Here’s how the UC pension works:
✅ It's a guaranteed pension — which means it’s not tied to how the stock market performs.
✅ It’s based on a simple formula:

• Your highest average salary

• How long you’ve worked for UC

• Your age when you retire

UC nurses contribute part of their salary toward the pension, but here’s the kicker — UC matches those contributions. That’s basically free money going straight into your retirement.

👉 Let me show you exactly how it looks on paper:

In this example, if you’re 40 years old, make $160,692 per year, and work for 25 years with a 2.5% raise each year — your monthly pension at age 65 would be $15,433.27 (or $185,199.30 annually).

$15,433 per month — in retirement.
That’s more than what many full-time nurses make while working!

🏥 Now Let’s Talk About Kaiser’s Pension…

Kaiser also offers a defined benefit pension — but it’s not nearly as generous.

First of all, the pension multiplier at Kaiser is 1.45% of your final salary per year of service — compared to 2.5% at UC.
That alone makes a HUGE difference over time.

👉 Let me show you a side-by-side comparison:

In this example, if you’re working at Kaiser with a salary of $214,756, retiring at 65 after 25 years of service would give you a monthly pension of $12,027.34 (or $144,328.06 annually).

Still solid — but nearly $40,000 per year LESS than UC’s pension.
That’s like throwing away a luxury vacation every single year for the rest of your life. 😳

🛑 The Brutal Reality of Early Retirement at Kaiser

This is where things get crazy.

If you decide to retire early at Kaiser — say at 55 — Kaiser hits you with a 5% reduction per year for every year you retire before 65. That’s up to 50% of your pension gone.

Let me show you what happens if you work at Kaiser for just 5 years and retire early:

➡️ After 5 years, your pension would be $12,304.06 annually at 65 — but if you retire early at 55, you’d lose HALF of it, bringing it down to $6,152.03 per year (or $512.67 per month).

$512 a month??
That's barely enough to cover gas and groceries.

But here’s the worst part — if you leave Kaiser BEFORE hitting 5 years of service, you get nothing. No pension. Nada.

At UC, the penalties for early retirement are much more forgiving. If you retire early at 55, your pension would be reduced — but not nearly as harshly as Kaiser. Plus, UC nurses keep their health benefits in retirement.

🤔 Why Do UC Nurses Stay Until Retirement?

It’s simple:

• Higher pension multiplier.

• Better early retirement options.

• Free health benefits in retirement.

• A pension that’s nearly double what Kaiser offers.

At 25 years of service, UC nurses are looking at almost $200,000 per year in retirement income. No wonder they stay until retirement!

🎯 What This Means for You

If you’re a nurse thinking about where to work — or you’re already at a UC hospital — this should give you some serious clarity about your financial future.

Here’s the bottom line:
✔️ Kaiser is great for short-term pay — but UC is better for long-term security.
✔️ Early retirement at Kaiser could cost you HALF your pension.
✔️ UC nurses retire comfortably with free healthcare and a six-figure pension.

🔥 Want to See Exactly What YOUR Pension Would Look Like?

I built a custom pension calculator that works for every hospital in the UC system — not just UC Davis. If you’re working at UCLA, UC San Francisco, or any other UC hospital — this calculator gives you a clear picture of what your retirement could look like.

👉 If you want the calculator, it is included along with all of our other spreadsheets for members of our coaching program. Click here to join and use “LOYALTY10” to get an additional 10% off the already heavily discounted price.

If you’re thinking about switching to a UC hospital — or just want to know if you’re getting the best deal — the numbers don’t lie.

Talk soon,
Jason

P.S. Click on the video below to watch this breakdown on YouTube

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😃 Weekly Update:

1. 📺️ Watch our latest YouTube videos:

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