Industry · Form 5500 business code 322100
Pulp, Paper, & Paperboard Mills: 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.
124 retirement plans in pulp, paper, & paperboard mills with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (86 defined contribution, 38 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 405,821 participant records and $39.9B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $97,181 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $3,858 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $127 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $767M and participants $931M during the year, and the plans paid out $5.22B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 243 plans with $37.2B; by 2024 it was 124 plans (down 49%) and $39.9B (up 7%). 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 | $97,181 | $53,031 | $76,603 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $3,858 | $2,174 | $5,843 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $127 | $123 | $293 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.14% | 0.26% | 0.38% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $111 | $116 | $366 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (84 DC and 38 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 | $66,107 | $97,181 | $144,868 | 84 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,829 | $3,858 | $6,072 | 83 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $67.82 | $127 | $223 | 84 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $67.60 | $111 | $198 | 83 |
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 | 16 | 82,795 | $12.6B | $331M | $453M | $113,863 | $140 |
| 2024 | 124 | 405,821 | $39.9B | $767M | $931M | $97,181 | $127 |
| 2023 | 134 | 455,650 | $44.3B | $731M | $915M | $87,894 | $117 |
| 2022 | 143 | 463,966 | $39.9B | $734M | $875M | $71,996 | $107 |
| 2021 | 148 | 477,071 | $50.7B | $792M | $889M | $90,507 | $118 |
| 2020 | 141 | 463,835 | $49.1B | $866M | $779M | $85,447 | $103 |
| 2019 | 152 | 474,857 | $44.2B | $1.02B | $787M | $75,757 | $83.75 |
| 2018 | 148 | 441,117 | $33.6B | $697M | $634M | $69,924 | $79.63 |
| 2017 | 153 | 521,803 | $44.1B | $2.07B | $636M | $81,220 | $72.41 |
| 2016 | 168 | 600,726 | $42.3B | $1.51B | $693M | $67,348 | $49.54 |
| 2015 | 180 | 642,391 | $42.1B | $1.43B | $717M | $68,440 | $42.38 |
| 2014 | 194 | 653,465 | $44.8B | $1.12B | $701M | $67,873 | $43.01 |
| 2013 | 208 | 722,792 | $46.0B | $975M | $726M | $65,046 | $34.27 |
| 2012 | 211 | 735,523 | $43.1B | $983M | $729M | $53,656 | $38.17 |
| 2011 | 226 | 783,769 | $41.0B | $1.43B | $771M | $47,627 | $38.98 |
| 2010 | 229 | 755,482 | $39.5B | $918M | $729M | $45,986 | $30.25 |
| 2009 | 243 | 783,164 | $37.2B | $1.99B | $766M | $46,020 | $23.47 |
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 123 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 123 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement Plan of International Paper Company | International Paper Company | TN | DB | 84,174 | $8.19B | $97,274 | — | $74.19 |
| Pace Industry Union-Management Pension Fund | Pace Industry Union-Management Pension Fund | TN | DB | 60,684 | $2.82B | $46,464 | $17,025 | $44.96 |
| International Paper Company Hourly Savings Plan | International Paper Company | TN | DC | 23,864 | $1.77B | $73,962 | $2,191 | $56.71 |
| International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan | International Paper Company | TN | DC | 17,431 | $4.92B | $282,371 | $13,158 | $129 |
| Packaging Corporation of America Thrift Plan for Hourly Employees | Packaging Corporation of America | IL | DC | 15,621 | $1.50B | $96,254 | $4,974 | $95.83 |
| Weyerhaeuser 401(k) Plan | Weyerhaeuser Company | WA | DC | 13,738 | $2.42B | $176,344 | $4,295 | $73.38 |
| Usw Industry 401(k) Plan | The Board of Trustees Usw Industry 401(k) Fund | TN | DC | 12,604 | $396M | $31,411 | $1,028 | $92.82 |
| Gpi Savings Plan | Graphic Packaging International, LLC | GA | DC | 12,209 | $1.31B | $107,314 | $6,511 | $53.53 |
| Sonoco Retirement & Savings Plan | Sonoco Products Company | SC | DC | 11,589 | $1.53B | $132,382 | $5,554 | $151 |
| Menasha Corporation 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Menasha Corporation | WI | DC | 8,575 | $693M | $80,770 | $3,218 | $48.22 |
| Packaging Corporation of America Hourly Pension Plan | Packaging Corporation of America | IL | DB | 7,436 | $352M | $47,288 | — | — |
| Gpi Hourly Savings Plan | Graphic Packaging International, LLC | GA | DC | 6,655 | $566M | $85,021 | $4,003 | $81.98 |
| Packaging Corporation of America Retirement Savings Plan for Salaried Employees | Packaging Corporation of America | IL | DC | 6,082 | $1.70B | $278,979 | $8,552 | $210 |
| Resolute FP US Pension Plan | Resolute FP US Inc. | — | DB | 5,106 | $640M | $125,337 | $45,313 | $601 |
| Essity North America Investment & Retirement Plan | Essity North America Inc. | PA | DC | 4,946 | $913M | $184,562 | $7,589 | $47.65 |
| Boise Paper Holdings, L.L.C. Consolidated Pension Plan | Packaging Corporation of America | IL | DB | 4,523 | $497M | $109,880 | — | — |
| Usw District 10, Local 286, Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Usw District 10,LOCAL 286, | PA | DB | 4,012 | $72.2M | $17,984 | — | $231 |
| Ahlstrom Retirement Savings Plan | Ahlstrom USA Inc. | CT | DC | 3,587 | $625M | $174,137 | $6,253 | $121 |
| Pension Plan for Plant Employees of Green Bay Pack | Green Bay Packaging, Inc. | WI | DB | 3,483 | $271M | $77,905 | — | $16.71 |
| 2018 US Graphic Packaging International Pension Plan | Graphic Packaging International, LLC | GA | DB | 3,115 | $230M | $73,746 | $2,591 | $389 |
| United Steelworkers Local 286 SEVERANCE/401 (K) Plan | United Steelworkers Local 286 Severance/ 401(k) Plan | PA | DC | 3,015 | $42.0M | $13,940 | $1,371 | $253 |
| Billerud Americas Corporation Employee Pension Plan | Billerud Americas Corp. | OH | DB | 2,739 | $336M | $122,643 | — | $461 |
| Hood Container Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan | Hood Container Corporation | GA | DC | 2,697 | $185M | $68,758 | $2,736 | $133 |
| Menasha Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan for Union Employees | Menasha Corporation | WI | DC | 2,626 | $36.4M | $13,864 | $553 | $17.39 |
| Mativ Holdings, Inc. Pension Plan | Mativ Holdings, Inc. | GA | DB | 2,614 | $342M | $130,860 | $0 | $396 |
| Cascades 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan | Cascades USA Inc. | NJ | DC | 2,432 | $175M | $71,873 | $2,325 | $90.03 |
| Savings & Protection Plan for Plant Employees of Green Bay Packaging Inc. | Green Bay Packaging, Inc. | WI | DC | 2,320 | $76.8M | $33,088 | $0 | $9.74 |
| Supplyone 401(k) Plan | Supplyone, Inc. | PA | DC | 2,305 | $120M | $51,847 | $1,796 | $111 |
| DS Smith North America 401(k) Plan | DS Smith North America | GA | DC | 2,159 | $124M | $57,371 | $3,921 | $128 |
| Employee Savings Plan for Evergreen Packaging | Evergreen Packaging LLC | IL | DC | 2,152 | $250M | $116,158 | $6,217 | $35.89 |
| Domtar US Hourly Pension Plan | Domtar Industries LLC | — | DB | 2,137 | $140M | $65,301 | — | $249 |
| Sofidel America Corp. 401(k) Plan | Sofidel America Corp. | PA | DC | 2,111 | $63.1M | $29,906 | $2,031 | $137 |
| Sylvamo Savings Plan | Sylvamo North America, LLC | TN | DC | 2,016 | $415M | $205,858 | $7,121 | $238 |
| Clearwater Paper Represented 401(k) Plan | Clearwater Paper Corporation | WA | DC | 1,844 | $226M | $122,582 | $3,984 | $125 |
| Green Bay Packaging, Inc. Savings and Protection Plan | Green Bay Packaging, Inc. | WI | DC | 1,805 | $320M | $177,205 | $7,257 | $18.97 |
| Clearwater Paper 401(k) Plan | Clearwater Paper Corporation | WA | DC | 1,681 | $226M | $134,325 | $15,105 | $191 |
| Billerud Americas Corporation Retirement Savings Plan for Bargained Employees | Billerud Americas Corporation | OH | DC | 1,630 | $315M | $193,262 | $7,724 | $330 |
| Smurfit Kappa North America 401(K)/PROFIT Sharing Plan | Smurfit Kappa North America LLC | TX | DC | 1,544 | $118M | $76,295 | $3,837 | $119 |
| Wausau Paper Corp. Retirement Plan | Essity North America Inc. | PA | DB | 1,510 | $106M | $70,164 | — | $74.38 |
| Clearwater Paper Hourly Retirement Plan | Clearwater Paper Corporation | WA | DB | 1,504 | $103M | $68,232 | — | $268 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in pulp, paper, & paperboard mills?
124 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 136 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 pulp, paper, & paperboard mills?
The median defined contribution plan reported $97,181 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $66,107 to $144,868); 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 pulp, paper, & paperboard mills?
The median defined contribution plan received $3,858 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 pulp, paper, & paperboard mills?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $127 per participant and 0.14% 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.