Chicago City Wire

Former paramedic Mercedes Nowinski, who retired in July 2016, saved $199,354 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, Nowinski would collect as much as $4.89 million, according to a projection by Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which publishes Chicago City Wire.

The projection assumes Nowinski received $102,823 in the first year of retirement, then 3 percent annual increases thereafter, compounded.

After 2 years of retirement, Nowinski will have already received $208,731 in retirement benefits, or more than the sum total of the retiree's contributions to the state pension fund.