How many public pension plans does Tennessee have?

Tennessee has 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 564,029 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Tennessee's pension system in crisis?

Tennessee's public pension plans average 79.3% funded (#16 of 51, 3.8 points above the national average) with combined unfunded liability $25.32B. 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 Tennessee?

The average funded ratio across all 3 public pension plans in Tennessee is 79.3% (#16 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 Tennessee vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Tennessee Public Pension Plans

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

3 plans · top-third average funded ratio (#16 of 51)

Higher funded-ratio band. Tennessee ranks #16 of 51 by average actuarial funded ratio (79.3%), top-third among states with a published average.

Avg funded ratio: 79.3%
Total unfunded: $25.32B
Total members: 564,029
Plans tracked: 3

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Tennessee’s 3 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $25.32B at an average funded ratio of 79.3%. 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 TN Tennessee

Tennessee: avg 79.3% funded (3.8 points above the national average) · 0 D/F grades · unfunded $25.32B

AVG 79.3%
UNF $25.32B
MEM 564,029
N 3
DF 0
VS +3.8pt
BEST 95.8%
LOW 70.1%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Vermont (79.8%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Tennessee (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 funded ratios are calculated →

Tennessee in the higher-funded third

Health grades and the 79.3% state average (#16 of 51, 3.8 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 3 Tennessee plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Plan types in Tennessee

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	83.9%	563,670	$68.63B	$25.30B
Teachers	1	70.1%	359	$42M	$18M

Every tracked plan in Tennessee

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
Nashville-Davidson Metropolitan Employees Benefit Trust Fund	General State	95.8%	B	$3.97B	$174M	26,095	122.8%	9.4%
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System	General State	72.0%	C	$64.66B	$25.13B	537,575	105.4%	5.4%
Knox County Teachers' DB Plan	Teachers	70.1%	C	$42M	$18M	359	269.7%	10.6%

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

Compare inside Tennessee’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 · Tennessee roster FY2023

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