Iowa Public Pension Plans
3 plans tracked by the Public Plans Database
- Avg funded ratio
- 57.4%
- Total unfunded
- $48.92B
- Total members
- 349,165
- Plans tracked
- 3
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Iowa’s 3 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $48.92B at an average funded ratio of 57.4%. 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.
What the Data Says About Iowa Public Pensions
Iowa currently sponsors 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering a combined 349,165 active employees and retirees across teacher, police-and-fire, municipal, and general state systems. The weighted average funded ratio across these 3 plans is 57.4%, with a combined unfunded liability of $48.92B. These disclosures derive from each plan's CAFR and actuarial valuation, compiled by NASRA and Boston College's Center for Retirement Research.
Iowa's average funded ratio falls well below the national public-pension average of 75.5%, signaling a structural funding gap that typically requires a combination of higher employer contributions, revised actuarial assumptions, and in some cases legislated benefit reforms to stabilize. The $48.92B unfunded liability represents the actuarial shortfall between projected obligations and current assets across all 3 plans, which flows through to state and local budgets over time as amortization payments.
Unlike private-sector pensions, which fall under ERISA and are backstopped by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), Iowa's public plans rely on the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government entity. That distinction matters for the 349,165 Iowa workers and retirees covered by these systems: funding shortfalls are addressed through state and local budget decisions rather than federal insurance. 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 questions about their specific benefits should consult their plan administrator directly.
| Plan | Funded Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Municipal Fire and Police | 100.0% | B |
| Iowa Public Employees Retirement System | 45.8% | D |
| Des Moines Water Works | 26.3% | F |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public pension plans does Iowa have?
Iowa has 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 349,165 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.
Is Iowa's pension system in crisis?
Iowa's public pension plans have an average funded ratio of 57.4% and a total unfunded liability of $48.92B. An average funded ratio below 60% indicates significant underfunding, which may require increased contributions, benefit reforms, or other corrective measures. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.
What is the average funded ratio in Iowa?
The average funded ratio across all 3 public pension plans in Iowa is 57.4%, 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 Iowa vary, browse the table above to compare specific plans.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
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 every tracked pension plan within this state, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.