Tennessee Public Pension Plans

What the Data Says About Tennessee Public Pensions

Tennessee currently sponsors 3 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering a combined 564,029 active employees and retirees across teacher, police-and-fire, judicial, municipal, and general state systems. The weighted average funded ratio across these 3 plans is 80.4%, with a combined unfunded liability of $24.47B. These disclosures derive from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA and Boston College's Center for Retirement Research.

Tennessee's average funded ratio above 80% places the state meaningfully above the national public-pension average of roughly 72–75%, suggesting that ongoing contribution discipline and investment returns have kept funding levels near actuarial targets. The $24.47B 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), Tennessee's public plans rely on the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government entity. That distinction matters for the 564,029 Tennessee 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.