Industry · Form 5500 business code 813930
Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations: 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.
150 retirement plans in labor unions and similar labor organizations with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (98 defined contribution, 52 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 935,100 participant records and $27.4B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $68,653 per participant, well above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,859 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $138 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $980M and participants $290M during the year, and the plans paid out $2.01B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 181 plans with $16.0B; by 2024 it was 150 plans (down 17%) and $27.4B (up 71%). 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 | $68,653 | $53,031 | $160,048 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,859 | $2,174 | $20,972 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $138 | $123 | $604 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.28% | 0.26% | 0.37% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $152 | $116 | $796 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (93 DC and 51 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 | $24,527 | $68,653 | $123,865 | 93 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,388 | $2,859 | $5,468 | 84 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $64.92 | $138 | $227 | 90 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $58.37 | $152 | $241 | 92 |
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 | 19 | 24,475 | $4.30B | $181M | $39.9M | $117,705 | $221 |
| 2024 | 150 | 935,100 | $27.4B | $980M | $290M | $68,653 | $138 |
| 2023 | 147 | 891,575 | $26.3B | $965M | $265M | $58,933 | $135 |
| 2022 | 155 | 880,106 | $24.8B | $986M | $258M | $50,264 | $126 |
| 2021 | 153 | 866,277 | $29.0B | $1.02B | $250M | $59,291 | $127 |
| 2020 | 153 | 813,133 | $26.8B | $897M | $233M | $51,606 | $113 |
| 2019 | 160 | 809,472 | $24.1B | $945M | $230M | $44,860 | $118 |
| 2018 | 168 | 817,913 | $23.4B | $995M | $225M | $42,384 | $110 |
| 2017 | 167 | 801,018 | $24.8B | $965M | $213M | $48,824 | $99.24 |
| 2016 | 170 | 786,714 | $22.5B | $937M | $197M | $45,086 | $90.59 |
| 2015 | 176 | 775,764 | $21.3B | $919M | $190M | $39,814 | $87.18 |
| 2014 | 185 | 772,287 | $22.3B | $926M | $177M | $39,337 | $85.32 |
| 2013 | 183 | 773,097 | $23.2B | $953M | $162M | $40,195 | $74.37 |
| 2012 | 184 | 771,018 | $21.3B | $930M | $156M | $37,362 | $78.19 |
| 2011 | 175 | 750,511 | $18.2B | $879M | $138M | $33,774 | $69.82 |
| 2010 | 176 | 738,542 | $18.4B | $812M | $142M | $33,365 | $70.38 |
| 2009 | 181 | 743,029 | $16.0B | $695M | $144M | $28,102 | $61.44 |
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 149 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 40 largest by participants of 149 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Int'l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Pension Benefit Fund | International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Pension Benefit Fund | DC | DC | 603,067 | $2.71B | $4,494 | — | $17.32 |
| Itpeu Pension Fund | Itpeu Pension Fund | NJ | DC | 58,365 | $172M | $2,954 | $954 | $14.02 |
| Amalgamated Transit Union National 401(k) Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of the Amalgamated Transit Union | IL | DC | 22,720 | $267M | $11,756 | $862 | $33.42 |
| Western Pennsylvania Teamsters and Employers Pension Fund | W PA Teamsters & Employers Pension | PA | DB | 19,523 | $1.60B | $81,945 | $19,662 | $215 |
| SEIU Affiliates Officers and Employees Pension Plan | BD of Trustees SEIU Affiliates Officers and Employees Pension Plan | DC | DB | 17,491 | $1.64B | $93,687 | $9,265 | $213 |
| Security Police Fire Professionals of America Retirement Plan | International Union,security Police Fire Professionals of America | MI | DC | 17,204 | $127M | $7,383 | $881 | $64.83 |
| United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 Annuity Plan | Board of Trustees UFCW Local 1500 Annuity Fund | NY | DC | 13,729 | $46.9M | $3,419 | $1,441 | $75.94 |
| Liuna Staff and Affiliates Pension Fund | Board of Trustees of Liuna Staff and Affiliates Pension Fund | DC | DB | 11,547 | $2.18B | $188,617 | $33,853 | $473 |
| Annuity Fund of Operating Engineers Local 513 | Board of Trustees of Annuity Fund of Operating Engineers Local 513 | MO | DC | 9,613 | $323M | $33,601 | $2,411 | $137 |
| Carpenters Local Union No 491 Annuity Plan | Carpenters Local No 491 Annuity Plan | MD | DC | 9,068 | $37.2M | $4,104 | $4,168 | $8.12 |
| UFCW Intl Union Pension Plan for Employees | Executive Committee of the U.F.C.W Intl Union | DC | DB | 7,935 | $1.15B | $145,411 | $21,957 | $633 |
| Northern Illinois Annuity Fund | Northern Illinois Annuity Fund | WA | DC | 7,405 | $160M | $21,631 | $2,376 | $64.85 |
| The General Pension Plan of the International Union of Operating Engineers | Pension BD of the General Pension Plan of the Int'l Union of Operating | DC | DB | 6,844 | $1.21B | $176,457 | $22,522 | $423 |
| Pension Fund of Operating Engineers Local 513 | Board of Trustees of Pension Fund of Operating Engineers Local 513 | MO | DB | 5,456 | $810M | $148,484 | $24,087 | $403 |
| Freedom 401(k) Pooled Employer Plan | 401(k) Freedom Inc. | NY | DC | 5,384 | — | — | — | — |
| Afscme Employees Pension Plan | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees | DC | DB | 4,659 | $1.64B | $350,946 | $21,219 | $738 |
| Pension Plan for Employees of the Service Employee Int'l Union | Service Employees Intl Union | DC | DB | 4,654 | $371M | $79,631 | $3,684 | $234 |
| AFL-CIO Staff Retirement Plan | AFL-CIO Staff Retirement Plan Congress of Industrial Organizations | DC | DB | 4,555 | $775M | $170,105 | $41,300 | $547 |
| Labor Unions 401(k) Plan | Board of Trustees, Labor Unions 401(k) Plan | CA | DC | 3,614 | $73.7M | $20,388 | $420 | $140 |
| United Union of Roofers - Local 8 Annuity Fund | United Union of Roofers Local 8 Annuity Fund | NY | DC | 3,569 | $189M | $52,969 | $12,032 | $263 |
| Union de Tronquistas de Puerto Rico Local 901 - Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Union de Tronquistas de Puerto Rico Local 901 | PR | DB | 3,286 | $1.1M | $338 | $2,943 | $115 |
| Smart Local Unions and Councils Pension Fund | Board of Trustees of the Smart Local Unions and Councils Pension Fund | VA | DB | 3,053 | $397M | $129,887 | $20,824 | $604 |
| SEIU Affiliates' Officers and Employees Supplemental Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan | Service Employees International Union | DC | DC | 2,806 | $108M | $38,582 | $1,034 | $126 |
| Opeiu National Retirement Savings Plan | Board of Trustees of the Opeiu National Retirement Savings Plan | NY | DC | 2,784 | $114M | $40,776 | $2,116 | $155 |
| International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Pension Plan | International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers | MD | DB | 2,728 | $887M | $325,311 | $46,421 | $1,541 |
| Studio Mechanics Local 476 Annuity Plan | Board of Trustees Studio Mechanics Local 476 Annuity Fund | IL | DC | 2,721 | $41.1M | $15,103 | $561 | $77.48 |
| International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Unions Savings & Security Plan | Board of Directors of the IBEW Locals' Saving & Retirement Group Trust | NY | DC | 2,667 | $742M | $278,032 | $4,255 | $1,319 |
| United Scenic Artists Local 829 Retirement 401(k) Plan | United Scenic Artists, Local 829 | NJ | DC | 2,573 | $217M | $84,523 | $169 | $138 |
| Retirement Plan of the Wine, Liquor & Distillery Workers Union Local 1D Pension Fund | BD of Trustees Retirement Plan of WLDW Union Local 1D | NY | DB | 2,467 | $103M | $41,749 | $8,289 | $99.64 |
| International Association Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, International Association Pension Plan | IL | DB | 2,362 | $439M | $185,896 | $23,232 | $679 |
| United Steelworkers International Union Staff Pension Plan | United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allie | PA | DB | 2,187 | $706M | $322,863 | $20,655 | $850 |
| Liuna National 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Board of Trustees of the Liuna National 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | DC | DC | 2,153 | $206M | $95,667 | $2,505 | $160 |
| Indiana Teamsters Defined Contribution Plan | The Board of Trustees of the Indiana Teamsters Defined Contribution PL | IN | DC | 2,095 | $4.4M | $2,105 | $1,137 | $19.89 |
| Construction and General Laborers Local 190 Annuity Plan | Construction and General Laborers Local 190 Annuity Plan | NY | DC | 2,074 | $30.1M | $14,527 | $1,415 | $177 |
| International UAW Staff Retirement Income Plan | International Union, UAW | MI | DB | 2,059 | $1.02B | $497,303 | — | — |
| Teamsters' Construction Industry & Misc Pension Fund | Teamsters' Construction Industry | PA | DB | 1,997 | $228M | $114,389 | $11,200 | $538 |
| Laborers' Local #157 Annuity Fund | Laborers' Local #157 Annuity Fund | NY | DC | 1,872 | $30.3M | $16,176 | $2,327 | $83.20 |
| United Union of Roofers - Local 8 Pension Fund | United Union of Roofers - Local 8 Pension Fund - Board of Trustees | NY | DB | 1,849 | $118M | $63,839 | $6,564 | $304 |
| Teamsters Local Union No. 716 Pension Plan | JT Board of Trustees Teamsters | IN | DB | 1,766 | $103M | $58,094 | $6,548 | $353 |
| AFL-CIO Deferred Compensation Plan | Trustee & Board of Directors of AFL-CIO Deferred Compensation Plan | DC | DC | 1,747 | $155M | $88,511 | $653 | $119 |
By plan size
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in labor unions and similar labor organizations?
150 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 188 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 labor unions and similar labor organizations?
The median defined contribution plan reported $68,653 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $24,527 to $123,865); 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 labor unions and similar labor organizations?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,859 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 labor unions and similar labor organizations?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $138 per participant and 0.28% 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.