I have CalSTRS. I pay just under 10% per paycheck and my employer contributes just over 10%. If I retire at 55 after 31 years of service, I'll get about 30% of my pay for life. If I work until 62, it's closer to 50% of my pay. No overtime, hourly, or stipend pay is calculated into that, so I can't just teach sumner school, be department head, and teach Saturday school my last year and get a crazy windfall; it's based off our base salary on the salary schedule only. People younger than me get less of a deal and hit 50%-ish at 64. I am not eligible for social security, even though I contributed to it for a while, and I can't collect any of my husband's social security.
Everyone at my work also contributes to a 403(b), though the amount varies. We are well aware we won't be getting anywhere near 100% of our pay. We also know pensions have been abolished in other states, so while our personal contributions are safe, the growth on them and our employer's contributions on our behalf could disappear with one session of the state congress. I also have a 457 and am trying to encourage my colleagues to do the same.
I think my pension program is great, honestly, but it certainly doesn't sound as exciting as some of the pensions mentioned here!
Considering the 60+ hours a week we teachers put in while only getting compensated for 40 and the sumner work we rarely get paid for, I see my employer's contribution to the pension fund as fair. I like that I am forced to contribute a good chunk of my paycheck towards my future.
I think it would be wise for employers to have an opt-out system for 401(k) contributions rather than making people opt-in, but I suppose that's a topic for another thread.