The District government's primary retirement plan for eligible employees first hired on or after October 1, 1987, is a "defined contribution" plan, with benefits based on 100% employer-provided contributions plus earnings over the course of the participant's working years. The District funds this plan; there is no employee contribution. The current employer-paid contribution is 5% of the base salary (5 .5% for Corrections Officers).

Employees must have one year of continuous service to participate, and they are fully vested in the Defined Contribution Pension Plan after five years of continuous service.