Substitute Teachers Face PERS Choice, 12% Pay Cut
Substitutes who work more than 719 hours this school year may now opt into PERS, starting with December paychecks.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Retirement Planning
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Substitute teachers in Clark County who work more than 719 hours in a school year may now qualify for PERS retirement benefits, and the district says it had not yet put the 2023 state law into effect. Eligible substitutes can opt in or out, and those who participate will see roughly a 12% cut in take-home pay.
Why it matters
The Clark County School District failed to carry out a 2023 Nevada law requiring PERS eligibility for substitutes who reach the 719-hour threshold, and the district is now working with affected employees on their choices. Because mandatory contributions begin with December paychecks, the decision lands quickly for valley substitutes.
The eligibility line is 719 hours in a single school year, and participating substitutes will see take-home pay drop by about 12%. The district has not said how many substitutes meet the threshold or how many will opt in.
The players
Clark County School District
The district that failed to implement the 2023 state law and is now contacting qualifying substitute teachers about their options.
The details
Under 2023 Nevada legislation, substitute teachers who work more than 719 hours in one school year qualify for PERS benefits, but the Clark County School District had not carried out that requirement. An internal review of the district's budget procedures uncovered the gap. Eligible substitutes may choose to opt in or out, and mandatory contributions for those who participate will be deducted starting with December paychecks.
Timeline
2023: Nevada legislation requiring PERS benefits for substitute teachers passed.
December: Mandatory PERS contributions begin deducting from participating substitutes' paychecks.
Beyond the Strip
The 2023 Nevada law extended PERS eligibility to substitute teachers who reach 719 hours in a school year, a change that was on the books for nearly three years before Clark County acted. Its implementation now reaches substitutes across the valley's largest school district.
If you substitute in Clark County schools and work more than 719 hours this school year, you may be eligible for PERS and will see about 12% less take-home pay if you opt in. Decide before the December deduction starts, and ask the district how the choice affects your paycheck.
The takeaway
Substitutes who work more than 719 hours in a school year should review their PERS options now, since contributions start with December paychecks. Ask the Clark County School District to walk you through the opt-in decision before your first deduction.
What happens next
Mandatory PERS contributions will begin deducting from participating substitutes' paychecks starting with December paychecks.
Further reading
For more on how retirement plans work, see Retirement Planning.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox5vegas.
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