Utah Public Pension Plans
1 plans tracked by the Public Plans Database
- Avg funded ratio
- 82.4%
- Total unfunded
- $9.70B
- Total members
- 243,165
- Plans tracked
- 1
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Utah's 1 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $9.70B at an average funded ratio of 82.4%; PlainPension's dataset was last refreshed in May 2026, see our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
What the Data Says About Utah Public Pensions
Utah currently sponsors 1 public pension plan tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering a combined 243,165 active employees and retirees across teacher, police-and-fire, municipal, and general state systems. The weighted average funded ratio across these 1 plan is 82.4%, with a combined unfunded liability of $9.70B. These disclosures derive from each plan's CAFR and actuarial valuation, compiled by NASRA and Boston College's Center for Retirement Research.
Utah's average funded ratio above 80% places the state meaningfully above the national public-pension average of roughly 75.5%, suggesting that ongoing contribution discipline and investment returns have kept funding levels near actuarial targets. The $9.70B unfunded liability represents the actuarial shortfall between projected obligations and current assets across all 1 plan, 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), Utah's public plans rely on the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government entity. That distinction matters for the 243,165 Utah 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.
| Plan | Funded Ratio | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Retirement Systems | 82.4% | B |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public pension plans does Utah have?
Utah has 1 public pension plan tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 243,165 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.
Is Utah's pension system in crisis?
Utah's public pension plans have an average funded ratio of 82.4% and a total unfunded liability of $9.70B. An average funded ratio above 80% indicates the pension system is in relatively healthy shape. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.
What is the average funded ratio in Utah?
The average funded ratio across all 1 public pension plan in Utah is 82.4%, 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 Utah vary, browse the table above to compare specific plans.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates every tracked pension plan within this state, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.