Industries › Professional, scientific and technical services
Industry · Form 5500 business code 541370
Surveying & Mapping (except Geophysical) Services: 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.
24 retirement plans in surveying & mapping (except geophysical) services with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (24 defined contribution, 0 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 8,552 participant records and $410M in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $37,394 per participant, well below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,004 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $194 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $16.8M and participants $26.8M during the year, and the plans paid out $53.3M in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 16 plans with $143M; by 2024 it was 24 plans (up 50%) and $410M (up 188%). 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 | $37,394 | $53,031 | — | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,004 | $2,174 | — | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $194 | $123 | — | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.45% | 0.26% | — | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $196 | $116 | — | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (22 DC and 0 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 | $25,274 | $37,394 | $62,038 | 22 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,199 | $2,004 | $2,427 | 21 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $113 | $194 | $326 | 22 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $107 | $196 | $270 | 21 |
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 | 24 | 8,552 | $410M | $16.8M | $26.8M | $37,394 | $194 |
| 2023 | 21 | 7,624 | $354M | $16.3M | $25.4M | $35,717 | $139 |
| 2022 | 28 | 8,370 | $310M | $13.8M | $22.7M | $26,546 | $122 |
| 2021 | 27 | 6,910 | $318M | $16.9M | $18.4M | $39,802 | $128 |
| 2020 | 29 | 7,193 | $397M | $15.6M | $14.7M | $40,931 | $98.75 |
| 2019 | 24 | 6,790 | $320M | $15.6M | $13.1M | $37,860 | $63.83 |
| 2018 | 17 | 4,996 | $168M | $9.6M | $9.7M | $42,586 | $82.97 |
| 2017 | 14 | 6,585 | $361M | $13.7M | $26.0M | $47,066 | $78.66 |
| 2016 | 15 | 7,228 | $337M | $11.6M | $22.0M | $42,529 | $92.69 |
| 2015 | 16 | 7,062 | $311M | $12.3M | $23.8M | $38,230 | $70.78 |
| 2014 | 16 | 7,258 | $299M | $12.7M | $25.0M | $30,923 | $98.51 |
| 2013 | 18 | 7,168 | $242M | $10.3M | $20.0M | $33,424 | $44.49 |
| 2012 | 16 | 6,897 | $194M | $7.9M | $17.9M | $27,633 | $27.49 |
| 2011 | 15 | 6,459 | $157M | $16.1M | $29.2M | $30,910 | $38.61 |
| 2010 | 17 | 9,799 | $283M | $14.6M | $27.1M | $36,757 | $26.56 |
| 2009 | 16 | 7,723 | $143M | $6.8M | $14.9M | $27,324 | $26.49 |
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 23 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 23 largest by participants of 23 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Holding Company, Inc. & Subsidiaries 401(k) Plan | Surveying and Mapping, LLC | TX | DC | 2,172 | $114M | $52,383 | $2,969 | $7.33 |
| Topographic Om, Inc. Retirement Plan | Topographic Om, Inc. | TX | DC | 427 | $26.4M | $61,790 | $2,075 | $477 |
| Exacta Land Surveyors 401(k) Plan | Exacta Land Surveyors, LLC | OH | DC | 409 | $6.4M | $15,728 | $890 | $65.16 |
| Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. | FL | DC | 364 | $13.8M | $37,833 | $3,394 | $395 |
| Gaskins Lecraw 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Sovereign's Engineering & Surveying Holdings, Inc. DBA Gaskins Lecraw | GA | DC | 310 | $10.6M | $34,335 | $2,062 | $270 |
| Whiteley Technical Services, LL 401(k) Plan | Whiteley Techcnical Services, LLC | TX | DC | 298 | $4.7M | $15,818 | $656 | $151 |
| Geopoint Surveying Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust | Geopoint Surveying Inc. | FL | DC | 281 | $6.5M | $23,086 | $2,252 | $172 |
| Nederveld , Inc. 401 (K) Profit Sharing Plan | Nederveld , Inc. | MI | DC | 276 | $22.7M | $82,286 | $2,427 | $304 |
| Engeo Incorporated Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Engeo Incorporated | CA | DC | 253 | $75.3M | $297,436 | $25,366 | $180 |
| Capella Space 401(k) Plan | Capella Space Corp. | CA | DC | 245 | $11.9M | $48,621 | $0 | $18.50 |
| T3W Business Solutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan | T3W Business Solutions, Inc. | CA | DC | 231 | $7.3M | $31,477 | $2,315 | $5.52 |
| Southeastern Surveying and Mapping Corporation Employee Stock Ownership | Southeastern Surveying and Mapping Corporation | FL | DC | 223 | $13.6M | $60,929 | $382 | — |
| Lowe Engineers, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Lowe Engineers, LLC | GA | DC | 215 | $7.5M | $34,866 | $1,997 | $405 |
| Landpoint, LLC 401(k) Plan | Landpoint, LLC | TX | DC | 178 | $4.1M | $23,206 | $1,874 | $104 |
| George F. Young of Florida Inc. 401(k) Plan | George F. Young of Florida, Inc. | FL | DC | 177 | $11.0M | $62,407 | $1,208 | $526 |
| Uels, LLC Employees Profit Sharing Plan | Uels, LLC | UT | DC | 162 | $20.9M | $129,219 | $3,357 | $321 |
| Burns Surveying LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Burns Surveying LLC | TX | DC | 157 | $171K | $1,086 | — | $14.59 |
| Target Surveying 401(k) Plan | Target Surveying, LLC | FL | DC | 156 | $3.4M | $21,846 | $1,791 | $208 |
| Morris P. Hebert, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan Plan and Trust | Morris P. Hebert, Inc. | LA | DC | 153 | $18.4M | $120,206 | $2,252 | $334 |
| Wiser 401(k) Plan | Wiser Imagery Services, LLC | TN | DC | 139 | $4.4M | $31,730 | $1,199 | $179 |
| Surdex Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Surdex Corporation | MO | DC | 139 | $0 | — | — | $393 |
| Surveying Solutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Surveying Solutions, Inc. | MI | DC | 124 | $16.3M | $131,090 | $6,309 | $254 |
| Holland Engineering, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Holland Engineering, Inc. | MI | DC | 102 | — | — | — | — |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in surveying & mapping (except geophysical) services?
24 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 53 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 surveying & mapping (except geophysical) services?
The median defined contribution plan reported $37,394 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $25,274 to $62,038); 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 surveying & mapping (except geophysical) services?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,004 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 surveying & mapping (except geophysical) services?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $194 per participant and 0.45% 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.