Industry · Form 5500 business code 331110
Iron & Steel Mills & Ferroalloy Mfg: 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, 116 retirement plans in iron & steel mills & ferroalloy mfg with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 90 defined contribution and 26 defined benefit. They reported 275,352 participant records and $42.6B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $85,490 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,507 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $96.76 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $956M and participants $1.03B during the year, and the plans paid out $4.39B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 180 plans with $27.0B; by 2024 it was 116 plans (down 36%) and $42.6B (up 58%). 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 | $85,490 | $53,031 | $78,271 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,507 | $2,174 | $15,632 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $96.76 | $123 | $336 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.14% | 0.26% | 0.38% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $89.17 | $116 | $885 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (89 DC and 26 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 | $47,202 | $85,490 | $119,154 | 89 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,417 | $2,507 | $5,165 | 86 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $40.96 | $96.76 | $199 | 83 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $38.00 | $89.17 | $198 | 84 |
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 | 116 | 275,352 | $42.6B | $956M | $1.03B | $85,490 | $96.76 |
| 2023 | 119 | 275,721 | $41.6B | $1.21B | $981M | $75,610 | $97.18 |
| 2022 | 126 | 285,849 | $38.0B | $1.73B | $902M | $64,396 | $83.06 |
| 2021 | 126 | 275,460 | $43.3B | $1.33B | $791M | $83,499 | $91.66 |
| 2020 | 131 | 292,577 | $40.8B | $644M | $702M | $70,473 | $74.32 |
| 2019 | 133 | 312,594 | $37.8B | $946M | $748M | $61,705 | $70.60 |
| 2018 | 130 | 318,856 | $33.8B | $901M | $710M | $54,159 | $74.02 |
| 2017 | 134 | 333,662 | $37.5B | $918M | $626M | $59,701 | $73.44 |
| 2016 | 135 | 337,473 | $34.2B | $904M | $580M | $56,967 | $62.97 |
| 2015 | 138 | 362,673 | $33.0B | $403M | $584M | $51,140 | $60.65 |
| 2014 | 144 | 368,794 | $34.7B | $485M | $560M | $48,636 | $44.93 |
| 2013 | 151 | 400,754 | $36.4B | $1.06B | $562M | $47,805 | $33.00 |
| 2012 | 155 | 410,235 | $31.8B | $1.14B | $550M | $42,517 | $31.60 |
| 2011 | 168 | 420,010 | $29.0B | $1.10B | $530M | $41,010 | $20.36 |
| 2010 | 174 | 379,017 | $26.7B | $603M | $465M | $39,421 | $30.73 |
| 2009 | 180 | 430,186 | $27.0B | $1.07B | $431M | $34,269 | $22.04 |
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 116 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 116 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nucor Corporation Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan | Nucor Corporation | NC | DC | 35,312 | $9.35B | $264,761 | $7,836 | $2.25 |
| United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits (Revision of 2003) | United States Steel Corporation and Affiliated Cos. | PA | DB | 23,108 | $3.91B | $169,042 | — | $109 |
| Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC Hourly 401(k) Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC | OH | DC | 15,095 | $1.67B | $110,399 | $680 | $6.24 |
| Uss 401(k) Plan for Usw-Represented Employees | United States Steel Corporation and Affiliated Cos. | PA | DC | 14,426 | $1.37B | $95,215 | $563 | $67.45 |
| GMP & Employers Pension Plan | GMP & Employers Pension Plan | OH | DB | 12,939 | $565M | $43,695 | $3,074 | $162 |
| Steel Dynamics, Inc. Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | IN | DC | 12,401 | $3.00B | $241,629 | $18,382 | $47.55 |
| Cleveland-Cliffs Combined Pension Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation | OH | DB | 11,040 | $1.47B | $133,245 | — | $420 |
| Commercial Metals Companies Retirement Plan | Commercial Metals Company | TX | DC | 10,946 | $1.46B | $133,787 | $4,965 | $74.51 |
| Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC Pension Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC | IL | DB | 10,492 | $2.00B | $190,441 | $57,285 | $553 |
| Amsted Industries Incorporated Employees' Stock Ownership Plan | Amsted Industries Incorporated | IL | DC | 9,167 | $3.70B | $403,522 | $5 | — |
| Amsted Industries Employees Capital Accumulation Plan | Amsted Industries, Inc. | IL | DC | 6,992 | $835M | $119,392 | $3,124 | $71.80 |
| Ati 401(k) Savings Plan | Allegheny Technologies Incorporated | TX | DC | 6,440 | $995M | $154,495 | $7,726 | $15.31 |
| WHX Pension Plan II | Handy & Harman Ltd. | NY | DB | 5,605 | $271M | $48,394 | $172,089 | $167 |
| United States Steel Corporation Savings Fund Plan for Salaried Employees | United States Steel Corporation and Affiliated Cos. | PA | DC | 5,287 | $1.62B | $305,918 | $12,968 | $80.18 |
| Playcore 401(k) Plan | Playcore, Inc. | TN | DC | 5,173 | $146M | $28,242 | $1,403 | $62.58 |
| Carpenter Technology Corporation 401(k) Retirement | Carpenter Technology Corporation | PA | DC | 5,079 | $885M | $174,318 | $7,521 | $164 |
| The Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation Thrift Plan C | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation | OH | DC | 5,029 | $604M | $120,032 | $3,105 | $62.22 |
| Gerdau Ameristeel US 401(k) Retirement Plan | Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. | FL | DC | 4,713 | $746M | $158,310 | $5,538 | $159 |
| Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC Savings and Investment Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC | OH | DC | 4,445 | $1.06B | $239,160 | $7,458 | $9.92 |
| Ati Retirement Plan | Allegheny Technologies Incorporated | TX | DC | 3,914 | $373M | $95,236 | $3,854 | $13.62 |
| Retiree Pension Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel LLC | OH | DB | 3,823 | $97.1M | $25,409 | — | $84.54 |
| General Retirement Plan for Employees of Carpenter Technology Corporation | Carpenter Technology Corporation | PA | DB | 3,513 | $431M | $122,805 | $65,365 | $354 |
| Acipco 401(k) Plan | American Cast Iron Pipe Company | AL | DC | 3,270 | $534M | $163,324 | $9,175 | $31.38 |
| The Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation Thrift Plan a | Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation | OH | DC | 3,218 | $783M | $243,201 | $7,611 | $42.88 |
| American Cast Iron Pipe Company Pension Plan | American Cast Iron Pipe Company | AL | DB | 3,069 | $427M | $138,991 | $16,443 | — |
| Am/ns Calvert LLC 401(k) Plan | Am/ns Calvert LLC | AL | DC | 2,538 | $289M | $113,690 | $5,447 | $19.67 |
| Steel Technologies LLC Retirement Savings Plan | Steel Technologies LLC | KY | DC | 2,186 | $191M | $87,180 | $2,302 | $129 |
| Pension Plan for Bargaining Employees of Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel | Evraz Inc. N.A. | IL | DB | 2,178 | $114M | $52,446 | $8,976 | $173 |
| Emr USA Retirement Savings Plan | Emr (USA Holdings) Inc. | LA | DC | 2,031 | $84.9M | $41,790 | $1,884 | $124 |
| Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation Retirement Plan | Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation | PA | DB | 2,015 | $161M | $79,719 | $10,795 | $348 |
| North American Stainless Savings Plan | North American Stainless | KY | DC | 1,907 | $335M | $175,574 | $4,964 | $50.97 |
| Big River Steel 401(k) Plan | United States Steel Corporation and Affiliated Cos. | PA | DC | 1,706 | $63.6M | $37,277 | $2,964 | $55.46 |
| Cleveland-Cliffs Hibbing Management Pension Plan | Cleveland-Cliffs Hibbing Management LLC | IL | DB | 1,638 | $221M | $134,707 | $16,919 | $197 |
| Amsted Retirement Savings Plan for Bargaining Employees | Amsted Industries, Inc. | IL | DC | 1,607 | $71.3M | $44,358 | $1,907 | $63.70 |
| Pension Plan for Employees of Evraz Inc. NA | Evraz Inc. N.A. | IL | DB | 1,486 | $112M | $75,241 | $8,145 | $265 |
| Metallus Inc. Voluntary Investment Pension Plan | Metallus Inc. | OH | DC | 1,456 | $141M | $96,673 | $790 | $11.94 |
| Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC 401(k) Plan | Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC | AL | DC | 1,177 | $130M | $110,534 | $6,406 | $38.17 |
| Evraz Inc. 401(k) Plan | Evraz NA | IL | DC | 1,165 | $62.4M | $53,594 | $1,318 | $16.33 |
| Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation Retirement Savings Plan | Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation | PA | DC | 1,138 | $88.6M | $77,817 | $3,083 | $112 |
| 401(k) Savings Plan for Employees of Evraz NA | Evraz NA | IL | DC | 1,092 | $187M | $171,513 | $8,725 | $18.04 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in iron & steel mills & ferroalloy mfg?
116 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 148 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 iron & steel mills & ferroalloy mfg?
The median defined contribution plan reported $85,490 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $47,202 to $119,154); 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 iron & steel mills & ferroalloy mfg?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,507 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 iron & steel mills & ferroalloy mfg?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $96.76 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.