How many public pension plans does Michigan have?

Michigan has 5 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 579,149 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Michigan's pension system in crisis?

Michigan's public pension plans average 85.6% funded (#5 of 51, 10.1 points above the national average) with combined unfunded liability $10.43B. Top-third average funding still leaves 0 D/F-graded plans on the roster. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in Michigan?

The average funded ratio across all 5 public pension plans in Michigan is 85.6% (#5 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 Michigan vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Michigan Public Pension Plans

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

5 plans · top-third average funded ratio (#5 of 51)

Higher funded-ratio band. Michigan ranks #5 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (85.6%), top-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 85.6%
Total unfunded: $10.43B
Total members: 579,149
Plans tracked: 5

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Michigan’s 5 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $10.43B at an average funded ratio of 85.6%. 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 MI Michigan

Michigan: avg 85.6% funded (10.1 points above the national average) · 0 D/F grades · unfunded $10.43B

AVG 85.6%
UNF $10.43B
MEM 579,149
N 5
DF 0
VS +10.1pt
BEST 103.4%
LOW 70.6%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Nebraska (85.5%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Michigan (FY2023 plan cards)

0 of 5 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 0 of 5 carry a D or F health grade. How funded ratios are calculated →

Michigan in the higher-funded third

Health grades and the 85.6% state average (#5 of 51, 10.1 points above the national average) 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 5 Michigan plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Michigan

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	76.6%	84,575	$15.08B	$5.92B
Municipal	1	103.4%	86,029	$12.38B	$-408M
Teachers	1	93.9%	396,022	$63.72B	$4.15B
Police & Fire	1	77.4%	12,523	$2.65B	$771M

Every tracked plan in Michigan

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
Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Michigan	Municipal	103.4%	B	$12.38B	$-408M	86,029	n/a	4.7%
Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System	Teachers	93.9%	B	$63.72B	$4.15B	396,022	144.9%	4.7%
Detroit Employees General Retirement System	General State	82.6%	B	$1.73B	$364M	19,278	100.0%	11.4%
Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System	Police & Fire	77.4%	B	$2.65B	$771M	12,523	100.0%	7.2%
Michigan State Employees Retirement System	General State	70.6%	C	$13.34B	$5.55B	65,297	103.8%	3.1%

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

Compare inside Michigan’s higher-funded 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 · Michigan roster FY2023

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