Retirement Benefits

Eligible Town of Bridgewater employees are generally enrolled in a Massachusetts public retirement system, administered locally through the Plymouth County Retirement Association.

Public Retirement System

Public employees who work for town, county, city, municipal, or state government, or an independent authority, are generally members of a Massachusetts G.L. c. 32 public retirement system.

For Town of Bridgewater employees, the Plymouth County Retirement Association (PCRA) administers these benefits. This is a defined benefit plan, commonly known as a pension, which provides a monthly benefit for life.

Eligible employees are automatically enrolled beginning on their first day of employment.

Save More Through Voluntary Retirement Plans

Employees may save additional money for retirement through voluntary deferred compensation plans, also known as 457(b) plans. These plans allow employees to defer income taxation on retirement savings into future years.

For 2026, the maximum contribution for a 457(b) deferred compensation plan is $24,500. Employees age 50 or older may contribute up to an additional $8,000, for a total of $32,500.

For 2026, the maximum contribution for traditional and Roth IRAs is $7,500. Employees age 50 or older may contribute up to an additional $1,100, for a total of $8,600.

Voluntary Retirement Plan Options

Benefit-eligible employees may choose from the following voluntary retirement plan vendors. Employees should review each provider’s materials and contact the vendor directly with plan-specific questions.