The only difference here is the 457 plan, which I am not dure the origin. The pension in a lot of state universities is the replacement of the SS, i.e. no pay for SS ( of course, no SS benefit in the retirement.). The state governments ask employee to contribute 5-12% of their salary, and match from 1:1 to 1:2,depending on which state you are. This is the state pension crisis--the match-up never come in, not like the private 401K match-up.
You only missed the 457. Most people don;t have enough income to contribute to 457, any way, to take the tax benefit. You don't pay SS for the part above ~110K, right? It should be those people whose pay is under 110K to cry--unfair! My SS contribution is indeed a tax! The government borrowed all the SS money, and nobody knows whethere there is SS benefit in the future! Even there is, the investment return is much lower than you rich people, who invested the money by other vehicle. :).
