Industry · Form 5500 business code 423500
Metal & Mineral (except petroleum): 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.
91 retirement plans in metal & mineral (except petroleum) with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (82 defined contribution, 9 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 79,465 participant records and $7.04B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $80,193 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,347 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $121 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $164M and participants $286M during the year, and the plans paid out $710M in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 104 plans with $2.72B; by 2024 it was 91 plans (down 12%) and $7.04B (up 159%). 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 | $80,193 | $53,031 | $90,466 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,347 | $2,174 | $5,552 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $121 | $123 | $690 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.20% | 0.26% | 0.78% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $104 | $116 | $732 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (81 DC and 9 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 | $45,016 | $80,193 | $112,926 | 81 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,499 | $2,347 | $3,244 | 80 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $69.45 | $121 | $260 | 77 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $45.32 | $104 | $249 | 79 |
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 | 91 | 79,465 | $7.04B | $164M | $286M | $80,193 | $121 |
| 2023 | 92 | 78,889 | $6.51B | $189M | $276M | $75,649 | $121 |
| 2022 | 104 | 81,058 | $5.88B | $173M | $266M | $60,808 | $110 |
| 2021 | 109 | 76,498 | $6.82B | $156M | $242M | $76,851 | $134 |
| 2020 | 110 | 76,157 | $6.54B | $158M | $215M | $67,195 | $117 |
| 2019 | 109 | 81,514 | $5.97B | $147M | $220M | $54,121 | $101 |
| 2018 | 114 | 79,747 | $5.24B | $148M | $210M | $49,139 | $91.93 |
| 2017 | 104 | 76,218 | $5.44B | $159M | $189M | $58,529 | $76.12 |
| 2016 | 110 | 74,068 | $4.79B | $142M | $174M | $51,802 | $79.19 |
| 2015 | 110 | 74,508 | $4.58B | $138M | $172M | $50,165 | $66.75 |
| 2014 | 108 | 75,439 | $4.70B | $147M | $166M | $52,235 | $59.20 |
| 2013 | 111 | 70,126 | $4.34B | $134M | $151M | $51,958 | $46.50 |
| 2012 | 110 | 66,680 | $3.65B | $134M | $143M | $43,773 | $57.18 |
| 2011 | 100 | 63,439 | $3.02B | $121M | $125M | $39,995 | $52.06 |
| 2010 | 107 | 62,635 | $3.10B | $102M | $110M | $37,047 | $47.97 |
| 2009 | 104 | 64,635 | $2.72B | $87.8M | $101M | $37,121 | $33.48 |
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 92 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 92 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance, Inc. Master 401(k) Plan | Reliance, Inc. | AZ | DC | 14,445 | $1.65B | $114,450 | $2,611 | $19.02 |
| Thyssenkrupp Materials NA, Inc. 401(K)PLAN | Thyssenkrupp Materials NA, Inc. | MI | DC | 6,400 | $388M | $60,606 | $2,504 | $69.45 |
| Alro Steel Corporation and Subsidiaries RETIREMENT/401(K) Plan | Alro Steel Corporation | MI | DC | 5,327 | $513M | $96,261 | $7,425 | $99.29 |
| Alro Steel Corporation and Subsidiaries RETIREMENT/401(K) Plan (Money Purchase Portion) | Alro Steel Corporation | MI | DC | 5,327 | $23.2M | $4,353 | — | $2.81 |
| O'Neal Steel 401(k) Plan | O'Neal Steel, Inc. | AL | DC | 3,863 | $426M | $110,384 | $3,305 | $78.79 |
| The Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan | Sumitomo Corporation of Americas | NY | DC | 3,585 | $406M | $113,263 | $5,030 | $139 |
| Misa Consolidated 401(k) Plan | Marubeni-Itochu Steel America | NY | DC | 3,047 | $278M | $91,337 | $3,396 | $123 |
| Vallourec North America Retirement Savings Plan | Vallourec Holdings, Inc. | TX | DC | 2,444 | $361M | $147,774 | $6,406 | $121 |
| Steel Affiliates 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Triple-S Steel Holdings, Inc. | TX | DC | 2,046 | $100M | $48,945 | $2,311 | $95.75 |
| Ssab Enterprises, LLC Retirement Savings and Profit Sharing Plan | Ssab Enterprises LLC | AL | DC | 1,873 | $541M | $289,021 | $5,432 | $85.72 |
| Russel Metals Inc. U.S. Retirement Savings Plan | Russel Metals Inc. | WI | DC | 1,698 | $118M | $69,720 | $1,870 | $5.29 |
| Texas Pipe & Supply Company 401(k) Plan | Texas Pipe and Supply Company | TX | DC | 1,655 | $64.3M | $38,866 | $1,644 | $104 |
| Reliance, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Reliance, Inc. | AZ | DC | 1,173 | $78.4M | $66,803 | $0 | $0.04 |
| Eastern Metal Supply, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Eastern Metal Supply, Inc. | FL | DC | 1,020 | $49.5M | $48,556 | $1,142 | $260 |
| Thyssenkrupp Defined Benefit Pension Plan North America | Thyssenkrupp North America, LLC | OR | DB | 1,004 | $90.8M | $90,466 | — | $629 |
| Nim 401(k) Plan | Norfolk Iron & Metal Company | NE | DC | 996 | $86.5M | $86,838 | $2,086 | $160 |
| Ta Chen International, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Ta Chen International, Inc. | CA | DC | 804 | $29.1M | $36,188 | $583 | $86.22 |
| Voestalpine High Performance Metals Retirement Plan | Bohler-Uddeholm Corporation | IL | DC | 764 | $79.6M | $104,183 | $3,193 | $138 |
| The Salary Thrift Savings Plan for Employees of Lapham-Hickey Steel Corp. | Lapham-Hickey Steel Corp. | IL | DC | 762 | $53.3M | $70,006 | $1,800 | $217 |
| A. M. Castle & Co. 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan | A. M. Castle & Co. | IL | DC | 645 | $102M | $157,393 | $2,591 | $212 |
| Earle M. Jorgensen Hourly Employees Pension Plan | Reliance, Inc. | AZ | DB | 596 | $65.6M | $110,063 | $0 | $594 |
| Industrial Metal Supply Company 401(k) Plan | Industrial Metal Supply Company | CA | DC | 595 | $36.0M | $60,507 | $1,417 | $32.77 |
| Pusan Pipe America, Inc. Employee Profit Sharing & Savings Plan | Pusan Pipe America, Inc. | CA | DC | 587 | $24.4M | $41,577 | $3,226 | $34.81 |
| American Steel and Aluminum LLC Employees' Deferred Compensation Plan | American Steel and Aluminum LLC | MA | DC | 561 | $15.9M | $28,358 | $2,031 | $115 |
| Pension Plan for Employees of A.M. Castle & Co. | A.M. Castle & Co. | IL | DB | 548 | $99.5M | $181,639 | — | $978 |
| Reserve Management Group 401(k) Plan | RMG Investment Group, LLC | OH | DC | 535 | $22.9M | $42,815 | $2,383 | $300 |
| The Yaffe Companies Incorporated Employee Stock Ownership Plan | The Yaffe Companies Incorporated | OK | DC | 523 | $38.6M | $73,775 | $8,945 | — |
| O'Brien Group 401(k) Plan | O'Brien Steel Service Co. | IL | DC | 491 | $25.9M | $52,737 | $1,743 | $100 |
| Allied Crawford Steel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Allied Crawford Steel, Inc. | SC | DC | 461 | $1.9M | $4,110 | $168 | $17.66 |
| North Shore Supply Company Employees 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust | North Shore Supply Company Inc. | TX | DC | 457 | $17.1M | $37,401 | $1,348 | $67.90 |
| McNichols Company Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan | McNichols Company | FL | DC | 442 | $46.0M | $104,057 | $2,525 | $231 |
| Central Steel & Wire Company Savings Plan | Central Steel & Wire Company LLC | IL | DC | 441 | $44.1M | $99,937 | $820 | $38.59 |
| Triple S Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan | State Steel Supply Co. | IA | DC | 414 | $72.3M | $174,653 | $3,989 | $2.89 |
| Cronimet Holdings 401(k) Plan | Cronimet Holdings, Inc. | PA | DC | 397 | $17.9M | $45,016 | $2,180 | — |
| Kee Safety, Inc. Retirement Plan | Kee Safety, Inc. | NY | DC | 385 | $22.5M | $58,321 | $3,386 | $104 |
| Alro Steel Corp. Union Employees' 401(k) Plan | Alro Steel Corporation | MI | DC | 352 | $11.4M | $32,315 | $770 | $57.77 |
| Jkusa 401(k) Plan | Jvckenwood USA Corporation | CA | DC | 339 | $64.7M | $190,862 | $3,152 | $420 |
| Central Steel & Wire Company Retirement Plan | Central Steel & Wire Company LLC | IL | DB | 323 | $18.2M | $56,296 | $8,667 | $896 |
| American Metals Supply, LLC 401(k) Plan | American Metals Supply, LLC. | FL | DC | 312 | $2.1M | $6,677 | $1,129 | $63.83 |
| Gerard Daniel Worldwide, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and T | Gerard Daniel Worldwide | PA | DC | 308 | $10.2M | $33,104 | $1,706 | $144 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in metal & mineral (except petroleum)?
91 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 166 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 & mineral (except petroleum)?
The median defined contribution plan reported $80,193 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $45,016 to $112,926); 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 & mineral (except petroleum)?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,347 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 & mineral (except petroleum)?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $121 per participant and 0.20% 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.