Plan-size band · total participants at plan year end
Plans with 1,000 to 4,999 participants
The same-size peer group used on every plan page in this band.
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.
For plan year 2024, 11,840 retirement plans with 1,000 to 4,999 participants with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 10,291 defined contribution and 1,549 defined benefit. They reported 25,147,438 participant records and $2.09T in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $50,297 per participant, below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,046 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $82.06 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $57.5B and participants $76.9B during the year, and the plans paid out $187.0B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 10,229 plans with $816.3B; by 2024 it was 11,840 plans (up 16%) and $2.09T (up 157%). 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 | Band: DC | US: DC | Band: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $50,297 | $53,031 | $87,881 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,046 | $2,174 | $10,577 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $82.06 | $123 | $324 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.17% | 0.26% | 0.41% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $82.06 | $116 | $513 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (10,240 DC and 1,542 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 | $20,689 | $50,297 | $103,723 | 10,240 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $828 | $2,046 | $4,183 | 9,765 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $43.83 | $82.06 | $127 | 9,851 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $42.54 | $82.06 | $127 | 9,890 |
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 | 1,286 | 2,718,334 | $284.5B | $6.94B | $11.5B | $76,319 | $90.85 |
| 2024 | 11,840 | 25,147,438 | $2.09T | $57.5B | $76.9B | $50,297 | $82.06 |
| 2023 | 11,699 | 24,754,106 | $1.91T | $54.2B | $71.8B | $46,695 | $75.16 |
| 2022 | 11,720 | 24,735,815 | $1.70T | $51.7B | $67.1B | $39,675 | $73.11 |
| 2021 | 11,320 | 23,926,527 | $2.01T | $48.0B | $60.7B | $48,759 | $74.88 |
| 2020 | 11,009 | 23,343,899 | $1.85T | $48.9B | $55.2B | $45,541 | $67.29 |
| 2019 | 11,077 | 23,519,747 | $1.65T | $48.9B | $52.7B | $39,877 | $60.13 |
| 2018 | 10,829 | 23,066,858 | $1.41T | $47.1B | $49.2B | $34,578 | $55.06 |
| 2017 | 10,716 | 22,822,473 | $1.49T | $50.1B | $45.0B | $37,080 | $47.36 |
| 2016 | 10,614 | 22,648,691 | $1.32T | $45.9B | $42.5B | $32,868 | $40.74 |
| 2015 | 10,542 | 22,575,458 | $1.23T | $43.0B | $40.3B | $31,266 | $35.31 |
| 2014 | 10,463 | 22,427,307 | $1.25T | $41.2B | $37.9B | $32,509 | $31.79 |
| 2013 | 10,347 | 22,119,308 | $1.19T | $40.6B | $35.6B | $31,772 | $26.75 |
| 2012 | 10,291 | 22,086,976 | $1.04T | $41.9B | $33.4B | $27,574 | $23.08 |
| 2011 | 10,189 | 21,843,996 | $935.4B | $42.6B | $31.9B | $25,445 | $21.17 |
| 2010 | 10,161 | 21,727,484 | $919.5B | $41.6B | $30.2B | $26,000 | $19.81 |
| 2009 | 10,229 | 21,836,934 | $816.3B | $35.9B | $29.9B | $22,911 | $17.57 |
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 11,860 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 50 largest by participants of 11,860 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | State | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enloe Medical Center Retirement Savings Plan | Enloe Medical Center | CA | DC | 4,997 | $403M | $80,600 | $0 | $31.74 |
| The Newspaper Guild International Pension Plan | TNG International Pension Fund | DC | DB | 4,996 | $159M | $31,854 | $1,698 | $148 |
| Electrical Construction Industry Pension Plan | Electrical Construction Industry Pension Plan Board of Trustees | WI | DB | 4,993 | $651M | $130,416 | $10,358 | $399 |
| Iron Workers District Council of New England Pension Fund | Board of Trustees Iron Workers | MA | DB | 4,993 | $682M | $136,644 | $19,373 | $579 |
| Discount Drug Mart, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Discount Drug Mart, Inc. | OH | DC | 4,991 | $169M | $33,950 | $534 | $33.94 |
| Arch Capital Group (U.S.) Inc. Employee Retirement Plan | Arch Capital Group (U.S.) Inc. | NJ | DC | 4,991 | $1.27B | $254,999 | $15,460 | $28.72 |
| First Interstate Bancsystem, Inc. 401(k) Plan | First Interstate Bancsystem, Inc. | MT | DC | 4,990 | $482M | $96,540 | $3,720 | $34.66 |
| Circana 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Circana, LLC | IL | DC | 4,989 | $892M | $178,715 | $2,938 | $52.23 |
| Doosan 401(k) Plan | Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. | ND | DC | 4,989 | $552M | $110,582 | $5,230 | $89.77 |
| Schneider Electric Pension Plan | Schneider Electric Holdings, Inc. | IL | DB | 4,988 | $48.2M | $9,657 | — | $843 |
| Phoenix Savings & Retirement Plan | Phoenix Retail, LLC | OH | DC | 4,983 | $141M | $28,302 | $887 | $22.28 |
| Peet's Coffee & Tea, LLC Savings & Retirement Plan | Peet's Coffee & Tea, LLC | CA | DC | 4,982 | $130M | $26,147 | $795 | $34.79 |
| Western PA Electrical Employees Pension Trust Fund | Board of Trustees,ibew Local Union No 5 & Western PA Chapter Neca | PA | DB | 4,982 | $929M | $186,374 | $15,623 | $724 |
| Woodforest Financial Group Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Woodforest Financial Group, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,982 | $525M | $105,366 | $1,127 | $85.48 |
| Msa Pension Plan | Msa Worldwide, LLC | PA | DB | 4,981 | $575M | $115,430 | — | $449 |
| Virginia Hospital Center 401(k) Plan | Virginia Hospital Center - Arlington | VA | DC | 4,980 | $328M | $65,767 | $1,810 | $58.69 |
| Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. | TX | DC | 4,980 | $383M | $76,909 | $1,568 | $65.20 |
| Starr Restaurants 401(k) Plan | Starr Restaurant Organization, L.P. | PA | DC | 4,976 | $3.5M | $697 | — | $17.62 |
| Jasper Holdings, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Jasper Holdings, Inc. | IN | DC | 4,975 | $396M | $79,539 | $1,761 | $96.75 |
| Protective Life Corporation Pension Plan | Protective Life Corporation | AL | DB | 4,973 | $332M | $66,832 | — | $126 |
| American Maritime Officers Defined Contribution Plan | Board of Trustees American Maritime Officers Defined Contribution Plan | FL | DC | 4,972 | $356M | $71,597 | $6,845 | $240 |
| American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. Pension Plan | American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. | MI | DB | 4,972 | $270M | $54,290 | — | $379 |
| Nysa-Ila Money Purchase Pension Fund and Plan | Board of Trustees | NJ | DC | 4,970 | $936M | $188,366 | $13,548 | $241 |
| Atlas Technical Consultants 401(k) Plan | Atlas Technical Consultants, LLC | TX | DC | 4,970 | $326M | $65,648 | $3,018 | $137 |
| Zoom Video Communications, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan Trust | Zoom Video Communications, Inc. | CA | DC | 4,966 | $379M | $76,316 | $2,734 | $84.05 |
| Children's Health System, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Children's Health System, Inc. | VA | DC | 4,966 | $322M | $64,800 | $2,246 | $138 |
| Springfield Clinic, LLP 401(k) Employees' Benefit and Retirement Plan | Springfield Clinic, LLP | IL | DC | 4,964 | $517M | $104,095 | $5,290 | $60.27 |
| Valeo, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Valeo North America, Inc. | MI | DC | 4,964 | $619M | $124,722 | $4,192 | $98.13 |
| Globe Life Inc. Pension Plan | Globe Life Inc. | TX | DB | 4,963 | $591M | $119,070 | $9,709 | $67.83 |
| Jasper Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust | Jasper Holdings, Inc. | IN | DC | 4,963 | $2.20B | $443,014 | $4,248 | — |
| CDK Global 401(k) Plan | CDK Global II LLC | TX | DC | 4,961 | $736M | $148,259 | $3,982 | $135 |
| Lakeshore Learning Materials 401(k) Plan | Lakeshore Learning Materials, LLC | CA | DC | 4,959 | $200M | $40,255 | $1,170 | $51.86 |
| Community Hospital Corporation Employees' 401(k) Plan | Community Hospital Corporation | TX | DC | 4,956 | $72.5M | $14,637 | $1,082 | $73.94 |
| Fresh Thyme Market 401(k) Plan | Lakes Venture, LLC | IL | DC | 4,952 | $33.8M | $6,833 | $376 | $40.80 |
| Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC Employees' Retirement Savings Plan | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC | GA | DC | 4,952 | $1.11B | $224,670 | $12,733 | $189 |
| Avaya Savings Plan for Salaried Employees | Avaya Inc. | NJ | DC | 4,951 | $1.41B | $284,480 | $4,459 | $117 |
| Dentsply Sirona Inc. 401(k) Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Dentsply Sirona Inc. | PA | DC | 4,950 | $772M | $155,996 | $5,381 | $55.00 |
| The Retirement Income Plan of Keyspan Corporation | National Grid USA Service Company, Inc. | NY | DB | 4,950 | $1.61B | $325,643 | $7,669 | — |
| Lyft 401(k) Plan | Lyft, Inc. | CA | DC | 4,949 | $456M | $92,194 | $991 | $84.81 |
| Silgan Retirement Savings Plan for Hourly Employees | Silgan Containers Manufacturing Corporation | CA | DC | 4,947 | $259M | $52,415 | $1,399 | $70.14 |
| Essity North America Investment & Retirement Plan | Essity North America Inc. | PA | DC | 4,946 | $913M | $184,562 | $7,589 | $47.65 |
| Amick Farms, LLC 401(k) Plan | Amick Farms, LLC | SC | DC | 4,944 | $59.0M | $11,935 | $1,287 | $57.04 |
| ABC Technologies 401(k) Plan | ABC Group Holdings, Inc. | MI | DC | 4,940 | $73.2M | $14,820 | $852 | $48.51 |
| American Greetings Retirement Savings Plan | American Greetings Corporation | OH | DC | 4,940 | $1.08B | $217,999 | $3,831 | $95.38 |
| Cascadia Healthcare 401(k) Plan | Cascadia Healthcare | ID | DC | 4,939 | $26.9M | $5,451 | $0 | $75.84 |
| 48FORTY Solutions 401(k) Plan | 48FORTY Solutions, LLC | TX | DC | 4,939 | $53.8M | $10,884 | $583 | $29.17 |
| Nestle USA, Inc. Hourly Retirement Savings Plan | Nestle USA, Inc. Savings Plan Administration | OH | DC | 4,937 | $335M | $67,809 | $2,557 | — |
| McGraw Hill 401(k) Plan | McGraw-Hill Education Holdings, LLC | NY | DC | 4,935 | $906M | $183,634 | $4,407 | $90.01 |
| Digi-Key Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Digi-Key Corporation | MN | DC | 4,933 | $566M | $114,806 | $4,500 | $127 |
| Hollins Management Group, INC.401(K) Plan | Hollins Management Group, Inc. | CA | DC | 4,932 | $9.1M | $1,843 | $87 | $41.93 |
By state
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there with 1,000 to 4,999 participants?
11,840 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 11,840 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 with 1,000 to 4,999 participants?
The median defined contribution plan reported $50,297 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $20,689 to $103,723); 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 with 1,000 to 4,999 participants?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,046 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 with 1,000 to 4,999 participants?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $82.06 per participant and 0.17% 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. Bands use total participants at plan year end (Form 5500 line 6f). See the methodology.