How many public pension plans does Massachusetts have?

Massachusetts has 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 370,995 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Massachusetts's pension system in crisis?

Massachusetts's tracked plans carry $28.92B in combined unfunded liability (#16 of 50) at an average funded ratio of 78.8%. That heavier liability book is the lead signal here, not a benefit forecast. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in Massachusetts?

The average funded ratio across all 3 public pension plans in Massachusetts is 78.8% (#17 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 Massachusetts vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Massachusetts Public Pension Plans

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

3 plans · top-third unfunded liability (#16 of 50)

Heavier unfunded book. Massachusetts ranks #16 of 50 by combined unfunded liability ($28.92B), top-third liability book among states.

Avg funded ratio: 78.8%
Total unfunded: $28.92B
Total members: 370,995
Plans tracked: 3

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Massachusetts’s 3 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $28.92B at an average funded ratio of 78.8%. 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 MA Massachusetts

Massachusetts: avg 78.8% funded (3.3 points above the national average) · 0 D/F grades · unfunded $28.92B

AVG 78.8%
UNF $28.92B
MEM 370,995
N 3
DF 0
VS +3.3pt
BEST 92.0%
LOW 68.5%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: West Virginia (78.7%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Massachusetts (FY2023 plan cards)

0 of 3 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 0 of 3 carry a D or F health grade. How this roster is sourced →

Massachusetts grade mix with a heavier unfunded book

Health grades against a $28.92B combined unfunded book (#16 of 50) 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 3 Massachusetts plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Massachusetts

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
General State	2	80.2%	198,940	$44.94B	$17.11B
Teachers	1	75.8%	172,055	$37.02B	$11.82B

Every tracked plan in Massachusetts

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
Boston Retirement Board	General State	92.0%	B	$9.59B	$833M	36,998	103.4%	5.2%
Massachusetts Teachers Retirement Board	Teachers	75.8%	C	$37.02B	$11.82B	172,055	100.0%	7.3%
Massachusetts State Employees' Retirement System	General State	68.5%	C	$35.36B	$16.27B	161,942	100.0%	11.7%

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

Compare inside Massachusetts’s heavier-liability 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 · Massachusetts roster FY2023

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