How many public pension plans does Washington have?

Washington has 2 public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database (PPD), covering 671,134 total members. These plans include state-level and local government retirement systems for teachers, police, firefighters, and general employees.

Is Washington's pension system in crisis?

Washington's tracked plans carry $105.48B in combined unfunded liability (#6 of 50) at an average funded ratio of 72.4%. That heavier liability book is the lead signal here, not a benefit forecast. Data is sourced from the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.

What is the average funded ratio in Washington?

The average funded ratio across all 2 public pension plans in Washington is 72.4% (#31 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 Washington vary; browse the table above to compare specific plans.

Public Plans Database

Washington Public Pension Plans

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

2 plans · top-third unfunded liability (#6 of 50)

Heavier unfunded book. Washington ranks #6 of 50 by combined unfunded liability ($105.48B), top-third liability book among states.

Avg funded ratio: 72.4%
Total unfunded: $105.48B
Total members: 671,134
Plans tracked: 2

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Washington’s 2 tracked plans carry a combined unfunded liability of $105.48B at an average funded ratio of 72.4%. 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 WA Washington

Washington: avg 72.4% funded (3.1 points below the national average) · 1 D/F grades · unfunded $105.48B

AVG 72.4%
UNF $105.48B
MEM 671,134
N 2
DF 1
VS -3.1pt
BEST 87.0%
LOW 57.9%

Funded-ratio peers

Nearest funded-ratio peer: Virginia (71.9%)

Average funded ratio neighbourhood vs Washington (FY2023 plan cards)

1 of 2 published-ratio plans sit under 60% actuarial assets; 1 of 2 carry a D or F health grade. How this roster is sourced →

Washington grade mix with a heavier unfunded book

Health grades against a $105.48B combined unfunded book (#6 of 50) 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 2 Washington plans (FY2023 plan cards)

Every tracked plan in Washington

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
Seattle Employees Retirement System	General State	87.0%	B	$4.01B	$599M	21,023	100.5%	8.9%
Washington Department of Retirement Systems	General State	57.9%	D	$144.21B	$104.88B	650,111	99.1%	6.8%

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

Compare inside Washington’s heavier-liability 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 · Washington roster FY2023

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