Industry · Form 5500 business code 211130
Natural Gas Extraction: retirement plans
Plans whose sponsor entered this principal business activity code 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.
45 retirement plans in natural gas extraction with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (43 defined contribution, 2 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 45,122 participant records and $7.62B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $147,890 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $7,237 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $137 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $259M and participants $306M during the year, and the plans paid out $794M in benefits.
In 2018 the same group numbered 32 plans with $4.10B; by 2024 it was 45 plans (up 41%) and $7.62B (up 86%). 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 | $147,890 | $53,031 | $246,239 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $7,237 | $2,174 | $26,397 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $137 | $123 | $959 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.12% | 0.26% | 0.39% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $126 | $116 | $1,712 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (40 DC and 2 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 | $64,871 | $147,890 | $202,280 | 40 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $4,629 | $7,237 | $10,312 | 38 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $81.24 | $137 | $237 | 38 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $72.94 | $126 | $246 | 40 |
Trend by plan year
| Plan year | Plans 100+ | Participants | Net assets | Employer contributions | Participant contributions | Median DC assets / participant | Median DC Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45 | 45,122 | $7.62B | $259M | $306M | $147,890 | $137 |
| 2023 | 45 | 41,720 | $6.42B | $220M | $259M | $125,595 | $115 |
| 2022 | 45 | 41,626 | $5.49B | $191M | $228M | $85,022 | $112 |
| 2021 | 42 | 37,102 | $5.62B | $161M | $186M | $84,049 | $94.15 |
| 2020 | 38 | 35,284 | $4.61B | $133M | $156M | $63,485 | $82.22 |
| 2019 | 37 | 37,096 | $4.40B | $196M | $173M | $51,570 | $70.86 |
| 2018 | 32 | 37,833 | $4.10B | $190M | $170M | $60,538 | $87.65 |
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 45 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 45 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Transfer LP 401(k) Plan | Energy Transfer LP | TX | DC | 16,426 | $2.79B | $169,915 | $7,152 | — |
| Totalenergies Finance USA, Inc. Employee Savings Plan | Totalenergies Finance USA, Inc. | TX | DC | 3,163 | $788M | $249,261 | $8,839 | $50.76 |
| Noble Services Company LLC 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan | Noble Services Company LLC | TX | DC | 2,219 | $344M | $155,118 | $7,024 | $100 |
| Eqt Corporation Employee Savings Plan | Eqt Corporation | PA | DC | 2,103 | $550M | $261,460 | $11,917 | $43.27 |
| Superior Energy 401(k) Plan | Superior Energy Services, Inc. | TX | DC | 1,929 | $202M | $104,861 | $3,375 | $125 |
| Western Midstream Savings Plan | Western Midstream Services, LLC | TX | DC | 1,719 | $269M | $156,585 | $18,074 | $150 |
| CNX Resources Corporation Investment Plan for Salaried Employees | CNX Resources Corporation | PA | DC | 1,639 | $446M | $272,304 | $8,084 | $134 |
| Calfrac Well Services Corp. 401(k) Plan and Trust | Calfrac Well Services Corp. | CO | DC | 1,201 | $50.6M | $42,123 | $4,823 | $195 |
| Hunt Consolidated, Inc. Fidelity Thrift Plan | Hunt Consolidated, Inc. | TX | DC | 1,177 | $415M | $352,567 | $19,730 | $212 |
| Merit Energy Company Savings Trust | Merit Energy Company, LLC | TX | DC | 1,041 | $331M | $318,024 | $13,098 | $109 |
| Hunt Consolidated, Inc. Fidelity Pension Plan | Hunt Consolidated, Inc. | TX | DB | 906 | $222M | $245,205 | — | $1,233 |
| Newpark Resources, Inc. Savings & Investment Plan | NPK International Inc. | TX | DC | 893 | $44.9M | $50,246 | $4,572 | $131 |
| Enervest Employee Services, LLC 401(k) Savings Plan | Enervest Employee Services, LLC | TX | DC | 773 | $166M | $214,569 | $8,594 | $265 |
| Deep Well Services 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Sun Energy Services, LLC DBA Deep Well Services | PA | DC | 723 | $15.0M | $20,813 | $1,706 | $126 |
| Gore Nitrogen Pumping Service, LLC 401(k) | Gore Nitrogen Pumping Service, LLC | OK | DC | 667 | $17.7M | $26,589 | $1,885 | $52.85 |
| Affiliated Thrift Plan | Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. | TX | DC | 650 | $225M | $345,819 | $11,589 | $137 |
| MRC Energy Company 401(k) Plan | MRC Energy Company | TX | DC | 536 | $92.9M | $173,288 | $10,800 | $214 |
| Momentum Midstream Management LLC 401(k) Plan | Momentum Midstream Management LLC | TX | DC | 401 | $45.3M | $112,888 | $6,240 | $84.37 |
| Affiliated Pension Plan | Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. | TX | DB | 387 | $95.7M | $247,273 | $26,397 | $684 |
| Encino Energy 401(k) Plan | Encino Energy, LLC | TX | DC | 352 | $52.7M | $149,837 | $12,310 | $104 |
| QB Energy 401(k) Plan | QB Energy Management, LLC | CO | DC | 331 | $36.9M | $111,616 | $8,948 | $459 |
| Finley Resources Inc. 401(k) Plan | Finley Resources Inc. | TX | DC | 318 | $22.5M | $70,827 | $4,781 | $27.00 |
| Comstock Resources, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Comstock Resources, Inc. | TX | DC | 301 | $43.9M | $145,943 | $8,239 | $355 |
| Terra Energy Partners 401(k) Plan | Terra Energy Partners Management, LLC | TX | DC | 299 | $49.9M | $166,893 | $11,001 | $389 |
| Gle Management Services, LLC 401(k) Plan | Gle Management Services, LLC | WV | DC | 297 | $44.9M | $151,196 | $4,578 | $6.66 |
| TG Natural Resources Retirement Plan | TGNR Holdco LLC | TX | DC | 282 | $24.3M | $86,150 | $6,900 | $358 |
| Exco Resources, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Exco Resources, Inc. | TX | DC | 274 | $50.4M | $183,977 | $7,967 | $450 |
| CNC Oilfield Services, L.L.C. 401(k) Plan | CNC Oilfield Services, L.L.C. | LA | DC | 265 | $1.1M | $3,970 | — | $54.20 |
| Riverside Energy Michigan LLC 401(k) Plan | Riverside Energy Michigan LLC | MI | DC | 244 | $9.6M | $39,199 | $2,520 | $136 |
| Ikav Energy Inc. 401(k) Plan | Ikav Energy Inc. | CO | DC | 240 | $15.2M | $63,323 | $3,149 | $323 |
| Purewest 401(k) Plan | Purewest Resources, Inc. | CO | DC | 238 | $49.2M | $206,765 | $18,504 | $96.93 |
| Synergen, LLC 401(k) Plan | Synergen, LLC | LA | DC | 226 | $1.7M | $7,440 | $1,115 | — |
| Sheridan Production Operating Company, LLC 401(k) Savings Plan | Sheridan Production Operating Company, LLC | TX | DC | 211 | $38.0M | $180,306 | $10,536 | $318 |
| Jetta Operating Co. 401(k) Plan | Jetta Operating Company, Inc. | TX | DC | 206 | $43.0M | $208,721 | $7,207 | $240 |
| Kirkpatrick Companies Savings Incentive & Profit Sharing Plan | Kirkpatrick Oil Company, Inc. | OK | DC | 193 | $31.8M | $164,947 | $5,991 | $9.42 |
| Excelerate Energy Retirement Income Plan | Excelerate Energy LP | TX | DC | 183 | $20.9M | $114,013 | $4,096 | $22.03 |
| Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation 401(k) Plan | Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation | TX | DC | 162 | $32.6M | $201,051 | $9,514 | $157 |
| Plants and Goodwin, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Plants and Goodwin, Inc. | PA | DC | 153 | — | — | — | — |
| Falcon Drilling Co. LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Falcon Drilling Co. LLC | PA | DC | 152 | $4.0M | $26,085 | $1,800 | $230 |
| Presidio Employee Co. LLC 401(k) Plan | Presidio Employee Co. LLC | TX | DC | 149 | $9.7M | $65,387 | $5,597 | $288 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in natural gas extraction?
45 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 68 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 natural gas extraction?
The median defined contribution plan reported $147,890 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $64,871 to $202,280); 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 natural gas extraction?
The median defined contribution plan received $7,237 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 natural gas extraction?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $137 per participant and 0.12% 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.