Industry · Form 5500 business code 212200
Metal Ore 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, 61 retirement plans in metal ore mining with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 46 defined contribution and 15 defined benefit. They reported 84,218 participant records and $9.05B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $86,806 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $5,369 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $106 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $309M and participants $306M during the year, and the plans paid out $871M in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 72 plans with $6.11B; by 2024 it was 61 plans (down 15%) and $9.05B (up 48%). 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 | $86,806 | $53,031 | $58,408 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $5,369 | $2,174 | $4,387 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $106 | $123 | $358 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.11% | 0.26% | 0.49% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $106 | $116 | $503 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (44 DC and 15 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 | $50,400 | $86,806 | $144,047 | 44 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $3,084 | $5,369 | $7,547 | 45 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $49.39 | $106 | $262 | 43 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $47.62 | $106 | $275 | 45 |
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 | 61 | 84,218 | $9.05B | $309M | $306M | $86,806 | $106 |
| 2023 | 63 | 101,320 | $9.90B | $346M | $284M | $83,949 | $87.83 |
| 2022 | 63 | 100,547 | $8.92B | $299M | $255M | $76,786 | $105 |
| 2021 | 57 | 98,862 | $11.1B | $269M | $234M | $106,004 | $120 |
| 2020 | 57 | 98,120 | $11.1B | $276M | $220M | $96,355 | $109 |
| 2019 | 61 | 105,934 | $11.3B | $349M | $252M | $98,766 | $102 |
| 2018 | 60 | 93,822 | $8.35B | $303M | $241M | $74,690 | $78.59 |
| 2017 | 61 | 110,755 | $10.4B | $354M | $224M | $70,645 | $71.81 |
| 2016 | 61 | 114,219 | $9.70B | $438M | $225M | $61,387 | $73.62 |
| 2015 | 67 | 119,024 | $9.02B | $407M | $240M | $56,578 | $61.46 |
| 2014 | 68 | 120,396 | $9.35B | $330M | $222M | $47,631 | $49.24 |
| 2013 | 66 | 118,258 | $8.39B | $396M | $222M | $42,216 | $30.40 |
| 2012 | 66 | 119,407 | $7.58B | $308M | $207M | $52,183 | $36.04 |
| 2011 | 67 | 112,981 | $6.43B | $337M | $167M | $39,861 | $30.14 |
| 2010 | 73 | 117,508 | $6.83B | $412M | $161M | $44,573 | $20.41 |
| 2009 | 72 | 117,719 | $6.11B | $322M | $163M | $39,683 | $20.07 |
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 61 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 61 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeport-McMoran Inc. Employee Capital Accumulation Program | Freeport-McMoran Inc. | AZ | DC | 18,895 | $2.67B | $141,241 | $9,352 | $19.42 |
| Rio Tinto America Inc. Retirement Plan | Rio Tinto America Inc. | UT | DB | 7,443 | $638M | $85,750 | — | $483 |
| Retirement Income Plan for Hourly-Rated Employees of Asarco LLC | Asarco LLC | AZ | DB | 6,000 | $223M | $37,140 | — | $107 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Kinross Gold Retirement Plan | Kinross Gold U.S.A., Inc. | CO | DC | 2,726 | $408M | $149,510 | $10,053 | $87.48 |
| Retirement Benefit Plan for Salaried Employees of Asarco LLC | Asarco LLC | AZ | DB | 2,626 | $139M | $52,951 | $4,387 | $132 |
| Pension Plan of Newmont | Newmont USA Limited | CO | DB | 2,176 | $271M | $124,452 | — | $628 |
| Nevada Gold Mines LLC - Bargaining Unit Pension Plan | Nevada Gold Mines LLC | NV | DB | 1,871 | $16.7M | $8,911 | $2,258 | — |
| Kennecott Utah Copper 401(k) Savings and Retirement Contribution Plan for Represented Employees | Kennecott Utah Copper LLC | UT | DC | 1,818 | $130M | $71,761 | $2,663 | $24.10 |
| Hecla Mining Company Restated Retirement Plan | Hecla Mining Company | ID | DB | 1,802 | $117M | $65,125 | — | $265 |
| Coeur Mining Defined Contribution and 401(k) Plan | Coeur Mining, Inc. | IL | DC | 1,764 | $227M | $128,426 | $6,625 | $103 |
| The 401(k) Savings Plan for Eligible Hourly-Rated Employees of Asarco LLC | Asarco LLC | AZ | DC | 1,688 | $76.4M | $45,268 | $2,111 | $10.18 |
| Ecobat 401(k) Plan | Ecobat, LLC | TX | DC | 1,682 | $56.6M | $33,663 | $7,547 | $18.47 |
| The Doe Run Resources Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan | The Doe Run Resources Corporation | MO | DC | 1,481 | $146M | $98,454 | $2,217 | $104 |
| Retirement Savings Plan of Newmont | Newmont USA Limited | CO | DC | 1,462 | $335M | $229,263 | $10,467 | $185 |
| Stillwater Mining Company Bargaining Unit 401(k) Plan | Stillwater Mining Company | MT | DC | 1,342 | $276M | $205,888 | $10,241 | $164 |
| Hecla Mining Company Capital Accumulation Plan | Hecla Mining Company | ID | DC | 1,244 | $234M | $188,463 | $6,630 | $40.21 |
| Teck American Incorporated Retirement Savings Plan | Teck American, Inc. & Subsidiaries | WA | DC | 1,217 | $182M | $149,505 | $8,760 | $51.15 |
| Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. & Its Associated Employers Salaried Employees Savings Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. | OH | DC | 1,165 | $241M | $207,126 | $3,872 | $64.08 |
| Robinson Holdings (USA) Ltd. 401(k) Plan | Robinson Holdings (USA) Ltd. | NV | DC | 1,037 | $89.2M | $86,017 | $5,369 | $140 |
| The Doe Run Resources Corporation Retirement Plan | The Doe Run Resources Corporation | MO | DB | 985 | $66.6M | $67,647 | — | $542 |
| Northern Star (Pogo) LLC 401(k) Plan | Northern Star (Pogo) LLC | AK | DC | 882 | $69.8M | $79,116 | $6,080 | $246 |
| Haile Gold Mine, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Romarco Minerals U.S. Inc. | SC | DC | 863 | $30.9M | $35,805 | $3,393 | $106 |
| Savings Plan for Hourly Employees of Empire Iron Mining Partnership, Tilden Mining Company,l.c. and the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company | The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company | OH | DC | 845 | $133M | $157,636 | $319 | $11.01 |
| Teck American Incorporated Retirement Plan | Teck American, Inc. & Subsidiaries | WA | DB | 836 | $93.8M | $112,224 | — | $745 |
| Nyrstar Hourly 401(k) Plan | Nyrstar Clarksville Inc. | TN | DC | 800 | $34.1M | $42,647 | $4,386 | $111 |
| Savings Plan of Asarco LLC and Participating Subsidiaries | Asarco LLC | AZ | DC | 731 | $118M | $161,743 | $4,474 | $83.97 |
| Nyrstar Clarksville Inc. Salaried Employees Retirement Plan | Nyrstar Clarksville Inc. | TN | DB | 706 | $37.2M | $52,655 | — | $207 |
| Northshore Mining Company and Silver Bay Power Company Retirement Savings Plan | Northshore Mining Company | OH | DC | 663 | $146M | $219,472 | $3,084 | $95.50 |
| Ferrous Processing and Trading Company Savings Profit Sharing Plan | Ferrous Processing and Trading Company | OH | DC | 661 | $46.5M | $70,420 | $2,206 | $18.61 |
| Stillwater Mining Company 401(k) Plan | Stillwater Mining Company | MT | DC | 648 | $154M | $238,375 | $12,679 | $201 |
| Savings Plan for Minnesota Represented Hourly Employees | Hibbing Joint Venture Cliffs Mining Co., Managing Agent | OH | DC | 595 | $52.1M | $87,594 | $702 | $22.02 |
| Small Mine Development, LLC 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Small Mine Development, LLC | ID | DC | 577 | $46.4M | $80,381 | $1,431 | $460 |
| Pinto Valley Mining Corp. Retirement Savings Plan for Union Represented Employees | Pinto Valley Mining Corp. | AZ | DC | 565 | $9.2M | $16,213 | $1,025 | $28.21 |
| U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. Hourly-Rated Retirement Plan | U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. | ID | DB | 560 | $14.5M | $25,810 | $3,292 | $122 |
| Lucky Friday Pension Plan | Hecla Limited | ID | DB | 548 | $31.7M | $57,756 | — | $334 |
| U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. 401(k) Plan | U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. | ID | DC | 461 | $18.9M | $40,912 | $3,625 | $258 |
| Small Mine Development Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Small Mine Development, LLC | ID | DC | 438 | −$10.5M | — | $5,885 | — |
| Eagle Mine LLC 401(k) Plan | Eagle Mine LLC | MI | DC | 427 | $34.2M | $80,053 | $5,698 | $6.61 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in metal ore mining?
61 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 metal ore mining?
The median defined contribution plan reported $86,806 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $50,400 to $144,047); 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 metal ore mining?
The median defined contribution plan received $5,369 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 metal ore mining?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $106 per participant and 0.11% 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.