Over 300,000 New Yorkers Receive $20K+ Annual Pension; Top Recipient Earns Over $500K

More than 300,000 people in New York state are currently collecting a pension of at least $20,000 annually, with over 12,000 receiving benefits exceeding $100,000, according to data released today by the state Comptroller’s Office.

State records, reflecting pension data as of September 30, show that 110 individuals statewide receive pensions of $200,000 or more each year. The highest pension amount in the state goes to Kara Bennorth Hubertus of Westchester Medical Center, who receives over $503,000 annually. These figures, drawn from the state Employees Retirement System and the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System, highlight the substantial financial commitments within the state’s pension system.

In Onondaga County, three of the top five pension recipients – Sharon Klaiber, Katharine Mooney, and Richard O’Shea – previously held administrative positions at Upstate Medical University or its associated hospital in Syracuse. Former Syracuse Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Cavuto also appears among the top earners, benefiting from a past union agreement allowing pension boosts through overtime in a final year of service. Notably, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been simultaneously collecting a pension exceeding $133,000 per year and his regular salary since 2020, a practice permitted under state law. You can explore SeeThroughNY for further data and analysis of public finances.

The release of this data comes as state lawmakers continue to grapple with long-term fiscal planning and the sustainability of public employee benefits. A searchable database of pension recipients is available to the public here, allowing users to search by name, employer, or county. Officials stated they will continue to monitor pension fund performance and explore options for responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.