Unfunded Liability
$126M
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Chicago Municipal Employees
A full financial snapshot of Chicago Municipal Employees: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, drawn from 23 years of history in the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and verified against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Illinois · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 97.3%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $4.48B
- Members
- 65,241
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Chicago Municipal Employees is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
65,241
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
5.2%
net investment return
-5.1pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
10.3%
annualized, net of fees
How Chicago Municipal Employees Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 97.3%
National avg
A ratio of 97.3% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 101.2% |
| 2023 | 97.3% |
| 2022 | 97.5% |
| 2021 | 95.0% |
| 2020 | 97.7% |
| 2019 | 95.7% |
| 2018 | 91.4% |
| 2017 | 89.3% |
| 2016 | 87.1% |
| 2015 | 88.4% |
| 2014 | 90.0% |
| 2013 | 102.3% |
| 2012 | 111.3% |
| 2011 | 111.6% |
| 2010 | 112.7% |
| 2009 | 116.3% |
| 2008 | 118.7% |
| 2007 | 119.9% |
| 2006 | 121.3% |
| 2005 | 127.0% |
What the Data Says About Chicago Municipal Employees
Chicago Municipal Employees reports a funded ratio of 97.3% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $4.48B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $126M. As a Municipal plan operating under Illinois sponsorship, it covers 65,241 members (36,968 active contributors, 26,028 retirees drawing benefits).
Chicago Municipal Employees is one of the more fully funded plans in the Public Plans Database, 22 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 10.3% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Illinois taxpayers and plan members, the $126M unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
36,968
Active Members
26,028
Retirees
65,241
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Municipal
- State
- Illinois
- Market Assets
- $4.48B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Chicago Municipal Employees's 97.3% funded ratio.
Other Illinois Plans
- Illinois State Retirement Systems 97.2%
- Illinois State Universities Retirement System 96.6%
- Chicago Police 92.5%
- Illinois Teachers Retirement System 83.7%
- Chicago Fire 71.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chicago Municipal Employees fully funded?
Chicago Municipal Employees has a funded ratio of 97.3% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. This funded ratio is an actuarial snapshot, not a solvency prediction. Compare its valuation date, asset method, and actuarial assumptions before drawing conclusions about a plan.
What happens if Chicago Municipal Employees runs out of money?
Chicago Municipal Employees's reported financial data should be read with the plan's own actuarial valuation and governing documents. This page does not assess legal obligations or predict government action.
What does a funded ratio of 97.3% mean?
A funded ratio of 97.3% means that Chicago Municipal Employees currently has assets equal to 97.3% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $126M. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Chicago Municipal Employees compare to other public pensions?
Chicago Municipal Employees is a Municipal plan in Illinois serving 65,241 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Chicago Municipal Employees's funded ratio of 97.3% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Chicago Municipal Employees have?
Chicago Municipal Employees covers 65,241 total members, including 36,968 active employees and 26,028 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.