California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) vs Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund
Side-by-side pension health comparison from DOL and public plan data
California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) (B) and Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund (C) are close on the LakeQuality rubric. Funding ratios sit at 73% and 64% respectively — within a few points of each other.
With grades this close, the comparison turns on plan-specific factors: status (active vs frozen), participant maturity, sponsor financial health, and multi-year trajectory rather than the headline composite.
Verdict
California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) has a stronger Pension Health Score of 73/100 (B) compared to Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund at 56/100 (C). Funding ratios differ by 8.8 percentage points (72.9% vs 64.1%). California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) covers 985,000 participants.
| Metric | California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) | Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Health Score Composite of funding ratio, trend, and PBGC risk | 73/100 (B)* | 56/100 (C) |
| Funding Ratio Assets as % of liabilities (100%+ is fully funded) | 72.9%* | 64.1% |
| Total Assets | $318.0B | $21.0B |
| Total Liabilities | $436.0B | $32.8B* |
| Unfunded Liability | $118.0B | $11.8B* |
| Participants | 985,000 | 430,000 |
| 1-Year Investment Return | 6.2%* | 5.5% |
| Plan Type | public | multiemployer |
| PBGC Risk Level | moderate | high |
| Sponsor | State of California | United Association (UA) |
California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) has a stronger Pension Health Score of 73/100 (B) compared to Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund at 56/100 (C). Funding ratios differ by 8.8 percentage points (72.9% vs 64.1%). California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) covers 985,000 participants.