Chicago City Wire

Former firefighter and paramedic Jonathan Hodge, who retired in March 2016, saved $181,708 toward a pension over 29 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

Over 30 years of retirement, Hodge would collect as much as $3.89 million, according to a projection by Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which publishes Chicago City Wire.

The projection assumes Hodge received $81,749 in the first year of retirement, then 3 percent annual increases thereafter, compounded.

After 3 years of retirement, Hodge will have already received $252,677 in retirement benefits, or more than the sum total of the retiree's contributions to the state pension fund.