Funded Ratio
59.6%
actuarial assets / liabilities
Plan
Washington Department of Retirement Systems
State
Washington
Funded Ratio
59.6%
Assets
$144.21B
Members
650,111
Health Grade: D — Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis
FY2023 data Grade D Public Plans Database
Washington Department of Retirement Systems
Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Washington Department of Retirement Systems — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.
D
Financial Health Grade
Severely underfunded — facing funding crisis
Unfunded Liability
$97.88B
actuarial shortfall
Total Members
650,111
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
10.5%
net investment return
1.8pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
8.7%
annualized, net of fees
ARC Payment
23.1%
of actuarially required contribution
How Washington Department of Retirement Systems Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 59.6%
National avg
A ratio of 59.6% compared against the national public-pension average of 73.5%.
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 Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. 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 | 59.6% |
| 2023 | 57.9% |
| 2022 | 56.7% |
| 2021 | 55.2% |
| 2020 | 54.1% |
| 2019 | 54.4% |
| 2018 | 55.0% |
| 2017 | 56.3% |
| 2016 | 59.5% |
| 2015 | 62.0% |
| 2014 | 62.7% |
| 2013 | 62.5% |
| 2012 | 64.7% |
| 2011 | 67.4% |
| 2010 | 65.5% |
| 2009 | 67.8% |
| 2008 | 69.3% |
| 2007 | 69.7% |
| 2006 | 69.6% |
| 2005 | 71.6% |
What the Data Says About Washington Department of Retirement Systems
Washington Department of Retirement Systems reports a funded ratio of 59.6% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of D in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $144.21B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $97.88B. As a General State plan operating under Washington sponsorship, it covers 650,111 members (352,753 active contributors, 225,572 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.
A funded ratio below 60% reflects significant underfunding relative to the national average of 72–75%, which typically triggers escalating employer contributions or legislative reform conversations. Employer contributions covered 23.1% of the Annual Required Contribution in the most recent reporting cycle, while the plan posted a 5-year average investment return of 8.7%. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.
For Washington taxpayers and plan members, the $97.88B unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Washington Department of Retirement Systems rely on the full faith and credit of Washington — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.
Membership
352,753
Active Members
225,572
Retirees
650,111
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- General State
- State
- Washington
- Market Assets
- $144.21B
- ARC Payment
- 23.1%
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington Department of Retirement Systems fully funded?
Washington Department of Retirement Systems has a funded ratio of 59.6% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of D. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.
What happens if Washington Department of Retirement Systems runs out of money?
Public pension plans like Washington Department of Retirement Systems are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Washington. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.
What does a funded ratio of 59.6% mean?
A funded ratio of 59.6% means that Washington Department of Retirement Systems currently has assets equal to 59.6% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at $97.88B. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.
How does Washington Department of Retirement Systems compare to other public pensions?
Washington Department of Retirement Systems is a General State plan in Washington serving 650,111 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Washington Department of Retirement Systems's funded ratio of 59.6% places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.
How many members does Washington Department of Retirement Systems have?
Washington Department of Retirement Systems covers 650,111 total members, including 352,753 active employees and 225,572 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.
What is the ARC payment percentage for Washington Department of Retirement Systems?
Washington Department of Retirement Systems pays 23.1% of its Annual Required Contribution (ARC). Consistently underpaying the ARC accelerates the growth of unfunded liabilities and places future benefits at greater risk. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.
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 Kiznis Studio Editorial
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.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov