Industry · Form 5500 business code 212110
Coal Mining: 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.
For plan year 2024, 72 retirement plans in coal mining with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 58 defined contribution and 14 defined benefit. They reported 174,214 participant records and $12.4B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $68,518 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $4,161 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $111 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $259M and participants $328M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.49B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 109 plans with $6.55B; by 2024 it was 72 plans (down 34%) and $12.4B (up 90%). 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 | $68,518 | $53,031 | $92,579 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $4,161 | $2,174 | $10,701 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $111 | $123 | $440 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.18% | 0.26% | 0.42% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $110 | $116 | $624 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (57 DC and 14 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 | $38,014 | $68,518 | $99,706 | 57 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,076 | $4,161 | $5,818 | 57 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $43.48 | $111 | $186 | 55 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $44.78 | $110 | $220 | 56 |
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 | 72 | 174,214 | $12.4B | $259M | $328M | $68,518 | $111 |
| 2023 | 75 | 178,108 | $11.7B | $274M | $316M | $55,005 | $125 |
| 2022 | 85 | 185,133 | $10.9B | $243M | $278M | $46,244 | $90.37 |
| 2021 | 82 | 186,229 | $12.6B | $187M | $249M | $62,280 | $108 |
| 2020 | 81 | 203,828 | $13.5B | $167M | $246M | $53,725 | $108 |
| 2019 | 79 | 201,810 | $12.4B | $251M | $277M | $50,617 | $86.62 |
| 2018 | 83 | 127,581 | $8.54B | $267M | $266M | $34,474 | $79.19 |
| 2017 | 86 | 125,109 | $9.69B | $280M | $255M | $47,404 | $67.30 |
| 2016 | 88 | 130,282 | $8.97B | $226M | $244M | $41,092 | $68.22 |
| 2015 | 90 | 135,509 | $9.20B | $217M | $304M | $48,558 | $62.96 |
| 2014 | 95 | 151,360 | $10.4B | $254M | $328M | $38,308 | $56.31 |
| 2013 | 95 | 158,711 | $10.5B | $433M | $346M | $38,051 | $43.65 |
| 2012 | 97 | 164,381 | $9.64B | $485M | $358M | $31,293 | $44.61 |
| 2011 | 98 | 152,368 | $8.01B | $508M | $336M | $27,235 | $32.22 |
| 2010 | 104 | 156,156 | $7.82B | $526M | $299M | $27,610 | $28.52 |
| 2009 | 109 | 149,565 | $6.55B | $378M | $274M | $26,586 | $24.81 |
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 73 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 73 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 |
| The Brink's Company 401(k) Plan | The Brink's Company | VA | DC | 10,890 | $508M | $46,675 | $1,198 | $40.97 |
| The Brink's Company Frozen Pension Plan | The Brink's Company | VA | DB | 10,102 | $588M | $58,181 | — | $185 |
| Alpha Legacy Company Pension Plan | Alpha Natural Resources, LLC | TN | DB | 9,033 | $368M | $40,766 | $16,422 | $261 |
| The Consol Energy Inc. Employee Retirement Plan | Core Natural Resources, Inc. | PA | DB | 7,699 | $511M | $66,391 | — | $186 |
| 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 |
| Peabody Investments Corp. Employee Retirement Account | Peabody Investments Corp. | MO | DC | 5,161 | $864M | $167,441 | $6,382 | $137 |
| 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 |
| Blackhawk Mining Retirement Savings Plan | Blackhawk Mining, LLC | KY | DC | 2,529 | $119M | $47,200 | $3,581 | $90.50 |
| Nacco Natural Resources Retirement Savings Plan | Nacco Natural Resources Corporation | TX | DC | 2,456 | $768M | $312,876 | $13,283 | $3.29 |
| Consol Energy Inc. Investment Plan | Core Natural Resources, Inc. | PA | DC | 2,350 | $270M | $115,085 | $6,400 | $111 |
| American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc. Savings and Security Plan | American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc. | OH | DC | 1,785 | $267M | $149,475 | $7,472 | $300 |
| Ntec 401(k) Plan II | Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC | CO | DC | 1,450 | $210M | $144,524 | $5,850 | $59.28 |
| Alliance Coal, LLC & Aff. Pension Plan for Coal Employees | Alliance Coal, LLC | OK | DB | 1,411 | $101M | $71,856 | $1,882 | $440 |
| The Potter Companies Retirement Savings Plan | Phoenix Coal Holdings, LLC | KY | DC | 1,369 | $11.8M | $8,611 | $1,040 | $29.72 |
| Wolverine Fuels Holding, LLC 401(k) Plan | Wolverine Fuels, LLC | UT | DC | 1,200 | $89.1M | $74,256 | $4,286 | $120 |
| Ramaco Resources, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Ramaco Resources, Inc. | KY | DC | 1,197 | $38.6M | $32,219 | $3,266 | $364 |
| Rosebud Mining Company 401(k) Plan | Rosebud Mining Company | PA | DC | 1,180 | $235M | $199,261 | $11,297 | $45.59 |
| Drummond Company, Inc. Revised Pension Plan | Drummond Company, Inc. | AL | DB | 1,132 | $222M | $195,708 | — | $830 |
| Ameriqual 401(k) Plan | Ameriqual Group, LLC | IN | DC | 1,083 | $51.0M | $47,131 | $2,038 | $14.62 |
| Robindale Energy Services 401(k) Plan | Robindale Energy Services, Inc. | PA | DC | 1,030 | $70.6M | $68,518 | $5,417 | $247 |
| RPFEOPWCCRBUMWOAPTTKRAO2024 | Peabody Holding Company, LLC. | MO | DB | 953 | $110M | $115,256 | $192,308 | — |
| Foresight Energy LLC 401(k) Plan | Foresight Energy LLC | MO | DC | 945 | $68.0M | $71,907 | $3,773 | $181 |
| Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC Mine Site Hourly 401(k) Plan | Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC. | AL | DC | 877 | $12.0M | $13,706 | $4,161 | $67.48 |
| United Coal Company LLC 401(k) Savings Plan | United Coal Company, LLC | TN | DC | 860 | $54.6M | $63,483 | $4,032 | $160 |
| Sunrise Coal, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Sunrise Coal, LLC | IN | DC | 787 | $52.3M | $66,398 | $2,976 | $85.21 |
| Choice Investments Savings Plan | Extra Energy, Inc. | WV | DC | 752 | $12.6M | $16,739 | $3,288 | — |
| Drummond Company, Inc. Savings Plan for Salaried Employees | Drummond Company, Inc. | AL | DC | 734 | $126M | $171,044 | $2,595 | $36.20 |
| Justice Family Group 401(k) Retirement Plan | Justice Family Group, LLC | WV | DC | 732 | $18.7M | $25,493 | $321 | $147 |
| XMV, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan | XMV, Inc. | WV | DC | 723 | $14.8M | $20,533 | $4,804 | $6.64 |
| Uswa Drummond Company Pension Agreement | Drummond Company, Inc. | AL | DB | 704 | $53.0M | $75,321 | — | $324 |
| Eagle Specialty Materials LLC 401(k) Plan | Eagle Specialty Materials LLC | KY | DC | 690 | $26.2M | $38,014 | $2,981 | $90.18 |
| Westmoreland Retirement Plan | Westmoreland Mining LLC | CO | DB | 684 | $75.1M | $109,837 | — | $979 |
| Warrior Met Coal, Inc. Salaried 401(k) Plan | Warrior Met Coal, Inc. | AL | DC | 613 | $56.0M | $91,368 | $6,586 | $55.17 |
| Westmoreland Mining Employees' Savings Plan | Westmoreland Mining LLC | CO | DC | 554 | $75.3M | $135,945 | $5,818 | $242 |
| 401(k) Plan for Umwa Represented Employees of Iron Senergy | Iron Senergy, LLC | KY | DC | 547 | $40.8M | $74,535 | $4,553 | $31.17 |
| Peabody Southeast Mining - Umwa 401(k) Plan | Peabody Southeast Mining, LLC | MO | DC | 511 | $8.8M | $17,131 | $7,259 | $39.98 |
| Corsa Coal Napp Division 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Wilson Creek Energy, LLC | PA | DC | 468 | $32.6M | $69,618 | $4,556 | $425 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in coal mining?
72 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 82 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 coal mining?
The median defined contribution plan reported $68,518 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $38,014 to $99,706); 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 coal mining?
The median defined contribution plan received $4,161 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 coal mining?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $111 per participant and 0.18% 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.