The Employees' Retirement System (ERS) was established in 1955 as what was then called the Supplemental Retirement System, to be the retirement system for general county employees, Subsequently, cerain employees of the school system (Fairfax County Public Schools) have become members of the ERS. The schools employee members of ERS are, in general, all non-teacher and non-administrator positions. These include:
- school bus drivers
- cafeteria workers
- clerical staff
- custodians
- trades employees
There are number of retirement benefits available to members of the ERS, as summarized below.