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Industry · Form 5500 business code 486000
Pipeline Transportation: 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.
40 retirement plans in pipeline transportation with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (26 defined contribution, 14 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 54,106 participant records and $11.3B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $153,886 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $9,876 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $78.08 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $444M and participants $379M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.46B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 35 plans with $1.85B; by 2024 it was 40 plans (up 14%) and $11.3B (up 511%). 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 | $153,886 | $53,031 | $155,634 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $9,876 | $2,174 | $16,884 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $78.08 | $123 | $571 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.07% | 0.26% | 0.30% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $86.77 | $116 | $999 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (25 DC and 14 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 | $88,803 | $153,886 | $260,813 | 25 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $6,497 | $9,876 | $12,655 | 24 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $47.63 | $78.08 | $185 | 25 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $48.04 | $86.77 | $170 | 24 |
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 | 40 | 54,106 | $11.3B | $444M | $379M | $153,886 | $78.08 |
| 2023 | 43 | 56,136 | $10.7B | $406M | $370M | $134,696 | $100 |
| 2022 | 43 | 50,535 | $8.91B | $384M | $309M | $140,723 | $128 |
| 2021 | 42 | 53,789 | $11.5B | $386M | $322M | $162,363 | $87.57 |
| 2020 | 41 | 55,067 | $10.5B | $367M | $320M | $195,436 | $86.31 |
| 2019 | 40 | 56,768 | $9.34B | $417M | $302M | $173,577 | $79.86 |
| 2018 | 36 | 52,733 | $7.27B | $400M | $267M | $146,403 | $78.72 |
| 2017 | 39 | 55,074 | $7.97B | $402M | $233M | $154,856 | $80.83 |
| 2016 | 41 | 52,160 | $6.51B | $353M | $222M | $138,375 | $65.97 |
| 2015 | 39 | 49,882 | $5.48B | $313M | $224M | $123,982 | $71.50 |
| 2014 | 40 | 49,415 | $5.46B | $275M | $202M | $124,228 | $34.03 |
| 2013 | 35 | 46,849 | $4.37B | $247M | $171M | $113,952 | $24.64 |
| 2012 | 38 | 48,872 | $3.63B | $249M | $162M | $92,139 | $15.68 |
| 2011 | 34 | 42,943 | $2.87B | $212M | $141M | $76,950 | $24.41 |
| 2010 | 36 | 39,161 | $2.53B | $181M | $131M | $68,521 | $18.53 |
| 2009 | 35 | 36,870 | $1.85B | $163M | $110M | $54,920 | $24.37 |
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 40 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 40 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise 401(k) Plan | Enterprise Products Company | TX | DC | 9,008 | $2.59B | $287,818 | $13,952 | $78.08 |
| Oneok, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Oneok, Inc. | OK | DC | 5,837 | $1.42B | $242,503 | $13,212 | $6.75 |
| Transcanada 401(k) and Savings Plan | Transcanada USA Services Inc. | — | DC | 4,309 | $1.12B | $260,813 | $13,094 | $33.81 |
| Targa Resources 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan | Targa Resources LLC | TX | DC | 4,147 | $613M | $147,731 | $10,030 | $50.25 |
| Plains All American 401(k) Plan | Plains All American GP LLC | TX | DC | 3,907 | $625M | $160,026 | $6,477 | $75.05 |
| Transcanada USA Services Inc. Retirement Plan | Transcanada USA Services Inc. | TX | DB | 3,421 | $588M | $171,762 | — | $409 |
| Teamsters National Pipe Line Pension Plan | Trustees of Teamsters National Pipe Line Pension Plan | MN | DB | 2,468 | $318M | $128,918 | $11,935 | $143 |
| Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company Retirement and Savings Plan | Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company | TX | DC | 2,254 | $631M | $279,801 | $13,578 | $198 |
| Magellan Pension Plan | Magellan Midstream Holdings GP, LLC | OK | DB | 1,863 | $183M | $98,441 | $12,879 | $19.57 |
| Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP Savings Plan | Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP | KY | DC | 1,666 | $518M | $310,718 | $12,062 | $139 |
| Tallgrass Management LLC 401(k) Savings Plan | Tallgrass Management LLC | KS | DC | 1,506 | $236M | $156,873 | $11,191 | $146 |
| Oneok, Inc. Retirement Plan | Oneok, Inc. | OK | DB | 1,453 | $336M | $231,118 | $97,902 | $571 |
| Nustar Pension Plan | Nustar Services Company LLC | TX | DB | 1,441 | $159M | $110,064 | — | $1,658 |
| Colonial Pipeline Company 401(k) Investment Plan | Colonial Pipeline Company | GA | DC | 1,428 | $359M | $251,477 | $10,715 | $34.51 |
| Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Pension Plan for Operating Company Employees | Alyeska Pipeline Service Company | AK | DB | 1,134 | $160M | $141,224 | $6,110 | $610 |
| Alyeska Pipeline Service Company Savings and Investment Plan for Operating Company Employees | Alyeska Pipeline Service Company | AK | DC | 947 | $431M | $455,018 | $11,435 | $113 |
| Southern Star Investment Plan | Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. | KY | DC | 743 | $161M | $216,598 | $6,118 | $189 |
| Kinetik 401(k) Plan | BCP Management Services, LLC | TX | DC | 580 | $40.4M | $69,641 | $7,950 | $108 |
| Pro Vac Retirement Plan | Vac One Acquisitions, Inc. | TX | DC | 577 | $8.2M | $14,276 | $1,375 | $41.72 |
| Colonial Pipeline Company Retirement Plan | Colonial Pipeline Company | GA | DB | 443 | $78.8M | $177,836 | $25,265 | $541 |
| DT Midstream 401(k) Plan | DT Midstream, Inc. | MI | DC | 437 | $40.9M | $93,597 | $14,001 | $77.45 |
| Magellan Pension Plan for Usw Employees | Magellan Midstream Holdings GP, LLC | OK | DB | 389 | $44.6M | $114,573 | $15,385 | $27.92 |
| Loop LLC Employees' Retirement Plan | Loop LLC | LA | DB | 345 | $113M | $328,770 | $6,846 | — |
| Nustar Thrift Plan | Nustar Services Company LLC | TX | DC | 328 | $50.5M | $153,886 | $260,337 | $412 |
| Southern Star Retirement Plan (Non-Union) | Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. | KY | DB | 315 | $54.1M | $171,648 | $30,444 | $878 |
| Explorer Pipeline Company 401(k) Savings Plan | Explorer Pipeline Company | OK | DC | 290 | $90.7M | $312,719 | $12,508 | $48.14 |
| Third Coast Employee Services, LLC 401(k) Plan | Third Coast Employee Services, LLC | TX | DC | 284 | $24.5M | $86,406 | $7,588 | $160 |
| Eastex Crude Company 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Eastex Crude Company | TX | DC | 275 | $27.6M | $100,396 | $4,249 | $185 |
| Texas Gas Retirement Plan | Texas Gas Transmission, LLC | KY | DB | 270 | $85.3M | $316,079 | $25,073 | $1,572 |
| Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company Pension Plan | Wbi Energy Transmission, Inc. | ND | DB | 265 | $33.0M | $124,455 | $14,623 | $283 |
| Nextdecade 401(k) Retirement Plan | Nextdecade LNG, LLC | TX | DC | 264 | $15.0M | $56,791 | $9,722 | $4.12 |
| Epic Consolidated Operations, LLC 401(k) Plan | Epic Consolidated Operations, LLC | TX | DC | 246 | $18.3M | $74,411 | $6,503 | $338 |
| Loop LLC Employees' Savings Plan | Loop LLC | LA | DC | 226 | $103M | $455,321 | $9,215 | $365 |
| Whitewater 401(k) Plan | Whitewater Midstream Services Co., LLC | TX | DC | 221 | $19.6M | $88,803 | $6,582 | $131 |
| South Bow USA Services Inc. 401(k) and Savings Plan | South Bow USA Services Inc. | TX | DC | 164 | $38.3M | $233,590 | $16,850 | $112 |
| Crimson Midstream Services, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Crimson Midstream Services, LLC | CA | DC | 164 | $14.0M | $85,344 | $5,502 | $213 |
| Southern Star Retirement Plan (Union) | Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. | KY | DB | 144 | $13.1M | $91,031 | $18,382 | $1,365 |
| Medallion 401(k) Plan | Medallion Operating Company, LLC | OK | DC | 120 | $14.6M | $122,049 | — | $47.63 |
| Employees Annuity Plan - Products (Se)pipe Line Corporation | Products (SE) Pipe Line Corporation | TX | DB | 106 | $18.0M | $170,043 | $71,189 | $2,275 |
| Kinetica Partners, LLC. 401(k) Plan | Kinetica Partners, LLC. | LA | DC | 103 | — | — | — | — |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in pipeline transportation?
40 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 50 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 pipeline transportation?
The median defined contribution plan reported $153,886 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $88,803 to $260,813); 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 pipeline transportation?
The median defined contribution plan received $9,876 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 pipeline transportation?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $78.08 per participant and 0.07% 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.