Industry · Form 5500 business code 238220
Plumbing, Heating, & Air-Conditioning Contractors: 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, 765 retirement plans in plumbing, heating, & air-conditioning contractors with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 617 defined contribution and 148 defined benefit. They reported 1,132,253 participant records and $98.5B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $54,528 per participant, close to the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,473 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $157 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $5.07B and participants $1.03B during the year, and the plans paid out $6.30B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 597 plans with $25.6B; by 2024 it was 765 plans (up 28%) and $98.5B (up 284%). 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 | $54,528 | $53,031 | $120,378 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,473 | $2,174 | $15,321 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $157 | $123 | $458 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.34% | 0.26% | 0.42% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $175 | $116 | $611 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (580 DC and 148 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 | $26,886 | $54,528 | $91,686 | 580 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,281 | $2,473 | $5,397 | 565 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $86.47 | $157 | $266 | 536 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $82.07 | $175 | $274 | 561 |
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 | 81 | 62,281 | $4.69B | $188M | $129M | $65,418 | $172 |
| 2024 | 765 | 1,132,253 | $98.5B | $5.07B | $1.03B | $54,528 | $157 |
| 2023 | 743 | 1,073,541 | $88.4B | $4.69B | $879M | $51,249 | $143 |
| 2022 | 845 | 1,055,504 | $78.5B | $4.37B | $863M | $39,336 | $130 |
| 2021 | 798 | 998,925 | $83.4B | $3.98B | $734M | $48,501 | $144 |
| 2020 | 776 | 969,098 | $78.9B | $3.61B | $641M | $44,236 | $133 |
| 2019 | 758 | 932,779 | $66.1B | $3.69B | $589M | $38,280 | $126 |
| 2018 | 697 | 683,949 | $49.1B | $2.90B | $519M | $35,331 | $120 |
| 2017 | 681 | 658,118 | $49.1B | $2.68B | $460M | $37,500 | $111 |
| 2016 | 641 | 634,765 | $43.9B | $2.51B | $394M | $35,898 | $101 |
| 2015 | 616 | 613,041 | $39.5B | $2.28B | $363M | $35,196 | $99.72 |
| 2014 | 595 | 585,882 | $37.6B | $2.07B | $310M | $35,852 | $94.13 |
| 2013 | 570 | 551,203 | $33.6B | $1.87B | $286M | $34,638 | $89.86 |
| 2012 | 569 | 546,067 | $29.7B | $1.84B | $255M | $29,851 | $79.53 |
| 2011 | 568 | 547,641 | $26.5B | $1.65B | $261M | $27,429 | $75.38 |
| 2010 | 578 | 577,382 | $28.2B | $1.66B | $251M | $27,975 | $81.75 |
| 2009 | 597 | 604,916 | $25.6B | $1.66B | $256M | $22,236 | $67.92 |
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 773 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 773 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Association National Pension Fund | B/o/t United Association National Pension Fund | VA | DB | 196,837 | $7.70B | $39,122 | $5,521 | $88.19 |
| National Automatic Sprinkler Industry Pension Fund | National Automatic Sprinkler Industry Pension Fund JT Board of Trustee | MD | DB | 34,009 | $4.75B | $139,691 | $13,506 | $686 |
| Sprinkler Industry Supplemental Pension Fund | Sprinkler Industry Supplemental Pension Fund Joint Board of Trustees | MD | DC | 29,607 | $2.94B | $99,312 | $7,330 | $215 |
| Southern California Pipe Trades Retirement Fund | Southern California Pipe Trades Retirement Fund | CA | DB | 15,360 | $1.58B | $102,568 | $17,711 | $608 |
| Pipe Fitters Retirement Fund, Local 597 | Trustees of Pipe Fitters Retirement Fund Local 597 | IL | DB | 14,689 | $3.00B | $203,915 | $15,532 | $161 |
| Southern California Pipe Trades Defined Contribution Plan | Southern California Pipe Trades Defined | CA | DC | 14,179 | $404M | $28,507 | $420 | $120 |
| Pipe Fitters Association L.U. 597, U.A. 401(k) Pla | Trustees of Pipe Fitters Association Local 597 | IL | DC | 11,439 | $2.49B | $217,552 | $14,751 | $32.47 |
| Apex Service Partners LLC 401(k) Plan | Apex Services Partners LLC | FL | DC | 10,828 | $124M | $11,427 | $1,269 | $46.04 |
| Wa State Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Pension Plan | Bot, Wa State Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Pension Plan | WA | DB | 10,360 | $1.26B | $121,394 | $12,707 | $489 |
| Turnpoint 401(k) Plan | Essential Services Intermediate Holding Corporation DBA Turnpoint Serv | KY | DC | 10,030 | $170M | $16,978 | $1,075 | $67.99 |
| Pipe Trades Services MN Pension Supplement Fund | Board of Trustees of the Pipe Trades Services MN Pension Supplement TR | MN | DC | 9,838 | $1.78B | $180,721 | $10,987 | $212 |
| Pipe Trades Services MN Pension Fund | Trustees of the Pipe Trades Services MN Pension Trust | MN | DB | 9,553 | $1.57B | $164,019 | $20,157 | $432 |
| Plumbers' Pension Fund, Local 130, U.A. | Trustees of the Plumbers Pension Fund, Local 130, U.A. | IL | DB | 9,502 | $1.69B | $177,898 | $20,374 | $551 |
| Arizona Pipe Trades Defined Contribution Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Arizona Pipe Trades DC Pension Plan | AZ | DC | 9,484 | $461M | $48,574 | $3,369 | $110 |
| Northwest Sheet Metal Workers Pension Plan | B of T, Northwest Sheet Metal Workers Pension Plan | OR | DB | 9,374 | $1.69B | $180,031 | $13,886 | $292 |
| South Central Annuity Fund | South Central Annuity Fund | TX | DC | 9,320 | $142M | $15,187 | $1,642 | $77.13 |
| Heating, Piping and Refrigeration Pension FD Pension Fund | BD of Tees Heating, Piping & Refrigeration Pension Fund | MD | DB | 8,132 | $1.36B | $167,365 | $11,655 | $848 |
| Steamfitters Local Union No. 420 SRP | BD of Tees of Steamfitters Lu No 420 SRP | PA | DC | 8,006 | $727M | $90,864 | $8,358 | $142 |
| The Wrench Group Retirement Plan | The Wrench Group | GA | DC | 7,934 | $137M | $17,279 | $616 | $137 |
| Service Experts LLC 401(k) Plan | Service Experts LLC | TX | DC | 6,533 | $152M | $23,234 | $1,386 | $46.90 |
| Western Washington U.A. Supplemental Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of the Western Wa U.A. Supplemental Pension Plan | WA | DC | 6,517 | $661M | $101,421 | $8,613 | $188 |
| UA Local 290 Plumber, Steamfitter & Shipfitter Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, United Association Union Local No. | OR | DB | 6,486 | $1.26B | $195,027 | $24,264 | $712 |
| Metal Trades Branch Local 638 Pension Fund | Metal Trades Branch Local 638 Pension Fund | NY | DB | 6,271 | $1.02B | $162,632 | $15,906 | $819 |
| Plumbers' Retirement Savings Fund, Local 130, U.A. | Board of Trustees for the Plumber's Retirement Savings Fund, Local 130 | IL | DC | 6,239 | $523M | $83,855 | $4,545 | $56.80 |
| Ars Employee 401(k) Plan | Ars Acquisitions Holdings, LLC | TN | DC | 6,201 | $178M | $28,645 | $612 | $100 |
| Steamfitters Local 602 Retirement Savings Plan Savings Plan | Board of Trustees - Steamfitters Local 602 Retirement Savings Plan | MD | DC | 6,127 | $522M | $85,118 | $5,562 | $84.46 |
| Plumbers Local Union No. 1 Employee 401(k) Savings Plan | Plumbers Local Union No. 1 Employee 401(k) Savings Plan | NY | DC | 5,887 | $1.10B | $186,244 | $5,921 | $112 |
| Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Local Union 562 Pension Fund | Trustees, Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Local Pension Fund | MO | DB | 5,866 | $818M | $139,379 | $10,467 | $239 |
| U.A. Plumbers & Steamfitters Defined Contribution and 401(k) Plan of Texas | U.A. Plumbers & Steamfitters Defined Contribution and 401(k) Plan of T | TX | DC | 5,316 | $37.5M | $7,054 | $676 | $90.34 |
| Steamfitters Local Union No. 420 Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of Steamfitters Lu 420 Pension Plan | PA | DB | 5,303 | $643M | $121,289 | $24,714 | $405 |
| Arizona Pipe Trades Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Arizona Pipe Trades Pension Plan | AZ | DB | 5,112 | $412M | $80,684 | $9,100 | $344 |
| Atlanta Plumbers & Steamfitters Pension Fund | Atlanta Plumbers & Steamfitters Pension Fund | FL | DB | 5,052 | $452M | $89,422 | $6,726 | $613 |
| Tdindustries, Inc. 401K/ESOP Retirement Plan | Tdindustries, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,751 | $321M | $67,618 | $5,047 | $27.55 |
| Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No 20 Defined Contribution Pension Plan | Trustees Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 20 Defined Contribution Pension | IN | DC | 4,611 | $107M | $23,265 | $1,801 | $71.96 |
| Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486 Severance and ANNUITY/401(K) Plan | Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486 Severance and ANNUITY/401(K) Plan | MD | DC | 4,583 | $392M | $85,446 | $2,659 | $173 |
| Connecticut Pipetrades Local No. 777 Annuity Plan | Connecticut Pipetrades Local No. 777 Annuity Fund | CT | DC | 4,541 | $276M | $60,847 | $5,420 | $267 |
| International Association of Sheet Metal, Air,rail and Transportation Workers (Smart) Local Union No. | Board of Trustees of Smart Local Union No. 36 401(k) Plan | MO | DC | 4,471 | $214M | $47,855 | $636 | $42.33 |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Unions 502 & 633 Pens | Joint Board of Trustees Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Unions | MI | DB | 4,427 | $610M | $137,879 | $17,480 | $302 |
| Northern California Pipe Trades Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Northern Cali. Pipe Trades Pension Trust | CA | DB | 4,420 | $1.12B | $254,505 | $24,221 | $1,051 |
| Plumbers & Steamfitters 72 Defined Contrib Fund | Plumber & Steamfitters 72 Defined Contrib Fund | FL | DC | 4,388 | $162M | $36,972 | $2,687 | $76.62 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in plumbing, heating, & air-conditioning contractors?
765 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 1,173 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 plumbing, heating, & air-conditioning contractors?
The median defined contribution plan reported $54,528 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $26,886 to $91,686); 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 plumbing, heating, & air-conditioning contractors?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,473 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 plumbing, heating, & air-conditioning contractors?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $157 per participant and 0.34% 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.