How many public pension plans does Pennsylvania have?

Pennsylvania has 7 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database, covering 850,477 total members (#10 of 51 by membership book). Types on this roster include teachers, police and fire, municipal, and general state systems where present.

Is Pennsylvania's pension system in crisis?

Pennsylvania's public pension plans have an average funded ratio of 74.9% and a total unfunded liability of $30.88B. 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 Pennsylvania?

The average funded ratio across all 7 public pension plans in Pennsylvania is 74.9% (#28 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 Pennsylvania vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Pennsylvania Public Pension Plans

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

7 plans · top-third membership book (#10 of 51)

Larger membership book. Pennsylvania ranks #10 of 51 by tracked members (850,477), top-third membership book among states.

Avg funded ratio: 74.9%
Total unfunded: $30.88B
Total members: 850,477
Plans tracked: 7

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Pennsylvania’s 7 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $30.88B at an average funded ratio of 74.9%. 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 PA Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania: avg 74.9% funded (0.6 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $30.88B

AVG 74.9%
UNF $30.88B
MEM 850,477
N 7
DF 1
VS -0.6pt
BEST 94.9%
LOW 53.9%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: North Carolina (75.1%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Pennsylvania (FY2023 plan cards)

1 of 7 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 1 of 7 carry a D or F health grade. How this roster is sourced →

Pennsylvania grade mix on a larger membership book

Health grades across 7 plans (850,477 members, #10 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 7 Pennsylvania plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Pennsylvania

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	3	73.4%	80,993	$11.09B	$3.35B
Police & Fire	2	74.4%	0	$0M	$0M
Teachers	1	88.3%	527,320	$72.11B	$9.51B
General State	1	66.9%	242,164	$36.42B	$18.01B

Every tracked plan in Pennsylvania

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
Pittsburgh Fire	Police & Fire	94.9%	B	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	9.1%
Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System	Teachers	88.3%	B	$72.11B	$9.51B	527,320	100.0%	5.3%
Philadelphia Municipal Retirement System	Municipal	78.5%	C	$7.81B	$2.14B	64,369	145.3%	13.8%
Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System	Municipal	73.0%	C	$3.29B	$1.21B	16,624	n/a	8.2%
Pittsburgh Municipal	Municipal	68.7%	C	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	9.0%
Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System	General State	66.9%	C	$36.42B	$18.01B	242,164	100.0%	8.0%
Pittsburgh Policemen's Relief and Pension Fund	Police & Fire	53.9%	D	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	13.0%

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

Compare inside Pennsylvania’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 · Pennsylvania roster FY2023

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