The number of state employees collecting both a salary and a state pension dropped pretty significantly, from 2,636 in 2015 to 1,830 in 2016. In 2013, the number was 2,800, according to data obtained from the state Comptroller’s Office.

These records reflect only retirees from the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS). There may be retirees from one of the State's six other public pension systems who are currently active on a State payroll. Additionally, this database does not include municipal employers as their payrolls are not processed by State Payroll, nor does it represent an exhaustive list of all State agencies as there are some authorities whose payrolls are also not processed by State payroll.

Also, there may be some workers whose pensions are capped, but whose limit is not reflected in the data provided by the Comptroller's Office.