How many public pension plans does California have?

California has 15 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database, covering 3,952,546 total members (#1 of 51 by membership book). Types on this roster include teachers, police and fire, municipal, and general state systems where present.

Is California's pension system in crisis?

California's public pension plans have an average funded ratio of 77.0% and a total unfunded liability of $417.12B. An average funded ratio in the 60-80% range indicates moderate underfunding that requires attention but is not yet at crisis levels. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in California?

The average funded ratio across all 15 public pension plans in California is 77.0% (#23 of 51 among states), based on the most recent Public Plans Database data. A funded ratio of 100% means a plan has sufficient assets to meet all projected obligations. The national average for public pensions is approximately 75.5%. Individual plan ratios in California vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

California Public Pension Plans

Name: California Public Pension Plans
Creator: Boston College Center for Retirement Research
License: https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright

15 plans · top-third membership book (#1 of 51)

Larger membership book. California ranks #1 of 51 by tracked members (3,952,546), top-third membership book among states.

Avg funded ratio: 77.0%
Total unfunded: $417.12B
Total members: 3,952,546
Plans tracked: 15

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, California’s 15 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $417.12B at an average funded ratio of 77.0%. Plan cards report FY2023 valuations; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.

PPD actuarial excerpt

State roster CA California

California: avg 77.0% funded (1.5 points above the national average) · 3 D/F grades · unfunded $417.12B

AVG 77.0%
UNF $417.12B
MEM 3,952,546
N 15
DF 3
VS +1.5pt
BEST 101.7%
LOW 52.0%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Arkansas (76.6%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs California (FY2023 plan cards)

2 of 13 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 3 of 15 carry a D or F health grade. How this roster is sourced →

California grade mix on a larger membership book

Health grades across 15 plans (3,952,546 members, #1 of 51) use the same FY2023 plan-card snapshot as the hero KPIs and the table below.

Health-grade counts from the same state plan rows as the roster table

Source: Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR / NASRA) As of FY2023 plan cards; history through FY2024

Average actuarial funded ratio across 15 California plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in California

Aggregates from the same FY2023 plan-card rows as the roster below. Averages include only plans that report a funded ratio.

Type	Plans	Avg funded	Members	Assets	Unfunded
Municipal	8	82.8%	477,623	$183.86B	$47.00B
General State	5	71.5%	2,609,519	$600.37B	$251.52B
Teachers	1	75.9%	837,926	$316.92B	$100.46B
Police & Fire	1	59.3%	27,478	$26.44B	$18.14B

Every tracked plan in California

FY2023 plan-card snapshot from the Public Plans Database. ARC is the actuarially required contribution as a share of payroll where reported.

Plan	Type	Funded	Grade	Assets	Unfunded	Members	ARC	1yr return
Sacramento County ERS	Municipal	101.7%	B	$12.36B	$-212M	31,803	100.0%	5.2%
San Diego County Employees Retirement Association	Municipal	94.3%	B	$15.77B	$960M	49,310	101.3%	-4.1%
Kern County Employees Retirement Association	Municipal	93.5%	B	$5.39B	$377M	23,104	100.0%	9.4%
San Francisco City and County Retirement System	Municipal	82.9%	B	$33.69B	$6.94B	78,761	100.0%	11.3%
Alameda County Employee's Retirement Association	Municipal	81.8%	B	$10.19B	$2.27B	26,411	100.0%	10.1%
Los Angeles Water and Power	General State	81.6%	B	$16.42B	$3.70B	22,560	97.1%	6.1%
California State Teachers Retirement System	Teachers	75.9%	C	$316.92B	$100.46B	837,926	107.7%	6.3%
Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association	Municipal	73.4%	C	$73.85B	$26.71B	190,327	100.4%	7.4%
California Public Employees Retirement System	General State	71.3%	C	$467.05B	$187.88B	2,238,011	n/a	5.8%
Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System	General State	70.3%	C	$18.05B	$7.62B	59,533	100.0%	7.7%
University of California Retirement System	General State	62.8%	C	$88.26B	$52.31B	267,847	72.6%	8.9%
Los Angeles Fire and Police	Police & Fire	59.3%	C	$26.44B	$18.14B	27,478	100.0%	7.6%
Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association	Municipal	52.0%	D	$10.81B	$9.96B	25,263	100.0%	9.0%
Orange County ERS	Municipal	n/a	F	$21.80B	n/a	52,644	101.9%	n/a
San Diego City ERS	General State	n/a	F	$10.59B	n/a	21,568	109.8%	n/a

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Compare inside California’s larger membership roster

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 · California roster FY2023

Compiled by PlainPension, Pension Fund Health Editorial Process · July 23, 2026