Many employers provide employees with various retirement benefits in the form of retirement and investment accounts or plans—including 401k plans, pension plans, and thrift savings plans (for federal employees)—sometimes with employer-matching of employee contributions.

Retirement benefits are generally discretionary and private employers are not obligated to provide them—or any other employee benefits. Most employees are also covered by Social Security—a retirement benefit administered by by the federal government—with eligibility for benefits beginning at age 62.

In Washington state, as in the rest of the United States, employers may offer various retirement benefits such as 401(k) plans, pension plans, and thrift savings plans (specific to federal employees), often with options for employer-matching contributions. However, providing these retirement benefits is typically at the discretion of the employer, and private employers are not legally required to offer them. Most employees, regardless of whether they receive employer-provided benefits, are covered by Social Security, which is a federal retirement program. Social Security benefits become available starting at age 62, although the full retirement age for receiving full benefits depends on the year of birth. It's important to note that while employers are not obligated to provide retirement benefits, if they choose to do so, they must comply with federal regulations such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to ensure the proper management and protection of these benefits.