Industry sector · Form 5500 business code 21xxxx
Mining: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered a business code in this sector on Form 5500.
Form 5500 information is as filed by the plan administrator with the Department of Labor and may be amended. Figures reflect the plan year shown, not current balances. The business code is chosen by the filer from the list in the Form 5500 instructions.
For plan year 2024, 588 retirement plans in mining with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 510 defined contribution and 78 defined benefit. They reported 853,691 participant records and $97.8B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $72,393 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $4,202 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $127 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $3.12B and participants $3.37B during the year, and the plans paid out $10.7B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 715 plans with $47.2B; by 2024 it was 588 plans (down 18%) and $97.8B (up 107%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | Industry: DC | US: DC | Industry: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $72,393 | $53,031 | $88,081 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $4,202 | $2,174 | $13,585 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $127 | $123 | $409 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.20% | 0.26% | 0.43% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $127 | $116 | $591 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (487 DC and 78 DB plans with a Schedule H here). Fee medians cover plans reporting an amount. DC: defined contribution, such as 401(k) and 403(b). DB: defined benefit pension.
Distribution of DC plans
| Measure | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $40,207 | $72,393 | $139,224 | 487 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,206 | $4,202 | $7,328 | 480 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $54.20 | $127 | $256 | 473 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $53.05 | $127 | $240 | 480 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025partial | 82 | 155,160 | $24.5B | $702M | $861M | $101,191 | $114 |
| 2024 | 588 | 853,691 | $97.8B | $3.12B | $3.37B | $72,393 | $127 |
| 2023 | 609 | 893,788 | $93.4B | $3.16B | $3.17B | $65,735 | $111 |
| 2022 | 686 | 914,663 | $83.3B | $2.84B | $2.89B | $48,229 | $103 |
| 2021 | 680 | 890,772 | $99.1B | $2.30B | $2.60B | $61,137 | $106 |
| 2020 | 698 | 890,369 | $88.5B | $2.43B | $2.53B | $59,061 | $103 |
| 2019 | 731 | 982,668 | $87.2B | $3.08B | $2.96B | $51,784 | $77.83 |
| 2018 | 714 | 889,247 | $70.7B | $2.83B | $2.70B | $43,775 | $72.50 |
| 2017 | 728 | 905,562 | $80.9B | $3.18B | $2.51B | $48,921 | $70.11 |
| 2016 | 744 | 904,499 | $74.2B | $2.70B | $2.45B | $45,280 | $65.47 |
| 2015 | 771 | 961,497 | $71.8B | $2.96B | $3.13B | $39,856 | $57.77 |
| 2014 | 775 | 1,077,780 | $78.7B | $3.33B | $3.15B | $38,446 | $39.58 |
| 2013 | 744 | 1,025,127 | $73.9B | $3.46B | $2.88B | $39,880 | $32.16 |
| 2012 | 739 | 1,043,761 | $67.9B | $3.58B | $2.86B | $34,854 | $28.85 |
| 2011 | 715 | 988,257 | $58.7B | $3.43B | $2.43B | $32,803 | $27.40 |
| 2010 | 711 | 907,510 | $55.1B | $3.69B | $2.02B | $33,694 | $27.37 |
| 2009 | 715 | 875,876 | $47.2B | $2.57B | $1.90B | $29,684 | $24.14 |
Plan year is the year in which the plan year began. The drop in large plans from 2023 follows a rule change: the 100-participant line now counts participants with account balances, so many plans moved to the short form.
Provider share
Service provider organisations named most often on the Schedule C of the 589 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 50 largest by participants of 589 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Mine Workers of America 1974 Pension Plan | Umwa 1974 Pension Trust Board of Trustees | DC | DB | 71,051 | $3.71B | $52,158 | $10,701 | $114 |
| CRH Americas 401(k) Plan | CRH | GA | DC | 55,484 | $4.79B | $86,312 | $2,973 | $27.75 |
| Halliburton Retirement and Savings Plan | Halliburton Company | TX | DC | 24,712 | $4.54B | $183,555 | $7,298 | $68.21 |
| Baker Hughes Company 401(k) Plan | Baker Hughes Holdings LLC | TX | DC | 21,995 | $4.01B | $182,503 | $9,062 | $67.15 |
| Freeport-McMoran Inc. Employee Capital Accumulation Program | Freeport-McMoran Inc. | AZ | DC | 18,895 | $2.67B | $141,241 | $9,352 | $19.42 |
| Energy Transfer LP 401(k) Plan | Energy Transfer LP | TX | DC | 16,426 | $2.79B | $169,915 | $7,152 | — |
| Martin Marietta Pension Plan | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | NC | DB | 16,206 | $1.26B | $77,905 | $2,889 | $281 |
| Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Thrift Plan | Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma | OK | DC | 15,144 | $425M | $28,046 | $1,941 | $22.53 |
| Conocophillips Savings Plan | Conocophillips Company | TX | DC | 14,304 | $7.84B | $548,101 | $24,188 | $103 |
| Vulcan 401(k) Plan | Vulcan Materials Company | AL | DC | 13,386 | $1.71B | $127,418 | $8,108 | $204 |
| Baker Hughes Company Pension Plan | Baker Hughes Holdings LLC | TX | DB | 13,108 | $356M | $27,162 | — | $269 |
| Occidental Petroleum Corporation Savings Plan | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | TX | DC | 12,855 | $3.54B | $275,005 | $10,738 | — |
| Occidental Petroleum Corporation Retirement Plan | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | TX | DC | 12,038 | $1.28B | $106,199 | $9,679 | — |
| Patterson-Uti Energy, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Patterson-Uti Energy, Inc. | TX | DC | 11,429 | $613M | $53,635 | $1,364 | $34.32 |
| Martin Marietta Savings and Investment Plan | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | NC | DC | 11,214 | $1.07B | $95,277 | $2,661 | $61.41 |
| The Brink's Company 401(k) Plan | The Brink's Company | VA | DC | 10,890 | $508M | $46,675 | $1,198 | $40.97 |
| The Helmerich & Payne, Inc. 401(K)/THRIFT Plan | Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | OK | DC | 10,578 | $844M | $79,818 | $4,498 | $109 |
| The Brink's Company Frozen Pension Plan | The Brink's Company | VA | DB | 10,102 | $588M | $58,181 | — | $185 |
| Conocophillips Retirement Plan | Conocophillips Company | TX | DB | 10,055 | $1.42B | $141,210 | $19,385 | $277 |
| Alpha Legacy Company Pension Plan | Alpha Natural Resources, LLC | TN | DB | 9,033 | $368M | $40,766 | $16,422 | $261 |
| Barrick Retirement Plan | Barrick Gold of North America, Inc. | NV | DC | 8,866 | $1.34B | $151,342 | $9,412 | $102 |
| The Consol Energy Inc. Employee Retirement Plan | Core Natural Resources, Inc. | PA | DB | 7,699 | $511M | $66,391 | — | $186 |
| Rio Tinto America Inc. Retirement Plan | Rio Tinto America Inc. | UT | DB | 7,443 | $638M | $85,750 | — | $483 |
| Transocean U.S. Retirement Plan | Transocean International Limited | — | DB | 7,081 | $1.16B | $163,527 | — | $205 |
| Retirement Income Plan for Hourly-Rated Employees of Asarco LLC | Asarco LLC | AZ | DB | 6,000 | $223M | $37,140 | — | $107 |
| Liberty Energy Services 401(k) Savings Plan | Liberty Energy Services LLC | CO | DC | 5,935 | $455M | $76,651 | $6,917 | $68.49 |
| Weatherford International, LLC 401(k) Savings Plan | Weatherford International, LLC | TX | DC | 5,675 | $581M | $102,448 | $3,718 | $45.78 |
| United Mine Workers of America Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988 | Board of Trustees - Umwa Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988 | DC | DC | 5,551 | $234M | $42,125 | $4,962 | $53.44 |
| Nabors Industries, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Nabors Industries, Inc. | TX | DC | 5,404 | $371M | $68,634 | $3,053 | $16.12 |
| Championx 401(k) Plan | Championx LLC | TX | DC | 5,329 | $724M | $135,883 | $7,448 | $82.02 |
| Select Water Solutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Select Water Solutions, Inc. | TX | DC | 5,261 | $126M | $23,984 | $1,568 | $50.86 |
| Peabody Investments Corp. Employee Retirement Account | Peabody Investments Corp. | MO | DC | 5,161 | $864M | $167,441 | $6,382 | $137 |
| RPC 401(k) Plan | RPC, Inc. | GA | DC | 5,104 | $273M | $53,569 | $3,970 | $83.46 |
| Alliance Coal, LLC and Affiliates Profit Sharing and Savings Plan | Alliance Coal, LLC | OK | DC | 4,723 | $639M | $135,272 | $6,776 | $123 |
| Alpha Metallurgical Resources 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Alpha Metallurgical Resources, LLC | TN | DC | 4,711 | $412M | $87,430 | $1,605 | $25.42 |
| Arch Resources, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Arch Resources, Inc. | MO | DC | 4,564 | $650M | $142,509 | $6,035 | $232 |
| PF Holdings Corp. Retirement Plan | Profrac Holdings II, LLC | TX | DC | 4,353 | $104M | $23,871 | $1,970 | $68.57 |
| Hilcorp Energy Company 401(k) Savings Plan | Hilcorp Energy Company | TX | DC | 4,315 | $818M | $189,533 | $9,994 | $66.09 |
| Eog Resources, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan | Eog Resources, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,124 | $1.54B | $374,035 | $20,297 | $60.56 |
| Aramco U.S. Savings Plan | Aramco Shared Benefits Company | TX | DC | 3,703 | $2.89B | $780,267 | $19,605 | $20.52 |
| Rogers Group, Inc.& Affiliates Retirement Savings Plan | Rogers Group, Inc. | TN | DC | 3,607 | $206M | $57,084 | $3,563 | $61.63 |
| Devon Energy Corporation Incentive Savings Plan | Devon Energy Corporation | OK | DC | 3,592 | $1.07B | $298,926 | $18,100 | $300 |
| Transocean U.S. Savings Plan | Transocean International Limited | — | DC | 3,559 | $943M | $264,883 | $13,513 | $130 |
| The Rowan Pension Plan | Ensco International Incorporated | TX | DB | 3,476 | $474M | $136,330 | $60,957 | $522 |
| Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. 401(k) and Matching Plan | Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. | TX | DC | 3,340 | $849M | $254,066 | $16,147 | $171 |
| Vulcan Materials Company Pension Plan | Legacy Vulcan LLC | AL | DB | 3,303 | $471M | $142,675 | — | $167 |
| Rio Tinto America Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan and Investment Partnership Plan | Rio Tinto America Inc. | UT | DC | 3,300 | $687M | $208,180 | $13,112 | $47.62 |
| Totalenergies Finance USA, Inc. Employee Savings Plan | Totalenergies Finance USA, Inc. | TX | DC | 3,163 | $788M | $249,261 | $8,839 | $50.76 |
| Ensign United States Drilling Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Ensign United States Drilling Inc. | TX | DC | 2,982 | $103M | $34,542 | $1,340 | $36.48 |
| Pension Plan for Hourly Employees of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company and Its Associated Employers | The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company | OH | DB | 2,878 | $448M | $155,667 | $22,942 | $571 |
By plan size
By state
Business codes in this sector
| Code | Principal business activity | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 211120 | Crude Petroleum Extraction | 167 | 249,035 | $43.5B |
| 213110 | Support Activities for Mining | 117 | 135,780 | $10.8B |
| 212110 | Coal Mining | 72 | 174,214 | $12.4B |
| 212200 | Metal Ore Mining | 61 | 84,218 | $9.05B |
| 212320 | Sand, Gravel, Clay, & Ceramic & Refractory Minerals Mining, & Quarrying | 58 | 110,976 | $8.84B |
| 211130 | Natural Gas Extraction | 45 | 45,122 | $7.62B |
| 212310 | Stone Mining & Quarrying | 40 | 36,115 | $3.53B |
| 212390 | Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining & Quarrying | 28 | 18,132 | $1.98B |
Codes with 20 or more plans of 100+ participants in plan year 2024. Labels are from the official Form 5500 instructions.
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in mining?
588 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 802 pension plans on the full form. Smaller plans file Form 5500-SF and are counted separately where shown.
What is the typical 401(k) balance in mining?
The median defined contribution plan reported $72,393 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $40,207 to $139,224); nationally it was $53,031. This is a plan-level average that includes former employees, not a typical person's balance.
What do employers contribute in mining?
The median defined contribution plan received $4,202 in employer contributions per active participant, against $2,174 nationally. Plans with no employer contribution are included at zero.
What are average 401(k) fees in mining?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $127 per participant and 0.20% of net assets (nationally $123 and 0.26%). Schedule C leaves out fund expense ratios and fees the employer pays, so it understates total cost.
Where does this come from?
Form 5500 annual reports in the EBSA research files, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Medians are computed by this site across plans with 100 or more participants.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Form 5500 research files, public domain, with filings received through 24 Aug 2026. Totals count every pension plan on the full form; medians and the plan list cover plans with 100 or more participants. See the methodology.