State · sponsors with a California filing address
Retirement plans in California
Form 5500 filings for plan years 2009 to 2025; medians for plan year 2024.
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. A plan is counted in the state of its sponsor's address, not where its participants live.
8,061 retirement plans based in California with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (7,727 defined contribution, 334 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 13,770,615 participant records and $1.28T in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $53,835 per participant, close to the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,322 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $115 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $35.4B and participants $54.5B during the year, and the plans paid out $93.3B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 7,860 plans with $463.7B; by 2024 it was 8,061 plans (up 3%) and $1.28T (up 177%). From plan year 2023 the 100-participant line counts participants with account balances, which moved many plans to the short form.
Beyond the full-form filers, 136,251 small plans based in California filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 3,007,346 participants and $166.1B in net assets. Small plans are counted here and nowhere else on this site.
Medians compared with all US plans
| Median plan, plan year 2024 | CA: DC | US: DC | CA: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $53,835 | $53,031 | $99,547 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,322 | $2,174 | $11,113 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $115 | $123 | $420 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.23% | 0.26% | 0.44% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $106 | $116 | $559 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (7,338 DC and 331 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 | $27,136 | $53,835 | $97,928 | 7,338 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $929 | $2,322 | $4,645 | 6,792 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $42.97 | $115 | $218 | 6,747 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $36.24 | $106 | $210 | 7,110 |
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 | 1,091 | 1,639,251 | $237.4B | $5.05B | $11.8B | $70,547 | $125 |
| 2024 | 8,061 | 13,770,615 | $1.28T | $35.4B | $54.5B | $53,835 | $115 |
| 2023 | 8,234 | 13,426,581 | $1.21T | $33.8B | $51.9B | $46,606 | $96.65 |
| 2022 | 9,418 | 13,749,930 | $1.04T | $32.9B | $49.0B | $33,270 | $87.83 |
| 2021 | 9,071 | 13,166,895 | $1.22T | $30.0B | $44.0B | $41,016 | $92.19 |
| 2020 | 8,997 | 12,460,858 | $1.07T | $35.1B | $38.9B | $37,985 | $82.26 |
| 2019 | 8,742 | 12,519,867 | $950.4B | $34.4B | $35.3B | $33,644 | $71.96 |
| 2018 | 8,403 | 11,893,127 | $788.5B | $32.3B | $31.2B | $29,080 | $64.67 |
| 2017 | 8,258 | 11,742,759 | $835.1B | $28.6B | $28.8B | $31,921 | $55.26 |
| 2016 | 8,099 | 10,864,462 | $662.9B | $26.4B | $24.2B | $28,365 | $45.35 |
| 2015 | 7,899 | 11,146,146 | $668.3B | $25.7B | $24.6B | $27,052 | $38.24 |
| 2014 | 7,739 | 10,982,191 | $669.0B | $22.4B | $22.8B | $27,988 | $34.47 |
| 2013 | 7,590 | 10,370,670 | $615.5B | $19.9B | $20.6B | $27,362 | $30.04 |
| 2012 | 7,472 | 10,606,245 | $557.8B | $20.9B | $19.9B | $24,018 | $30.11 |
| 2011 | 7,336 | 10,273,472 | $480.7B | $19.7B | $18.1B | $22,450 | $29.81 |
| 2010 | 7,440 | 10,858,971 | $524.6B | $22.0B | $17.2B | $22,456 | $27.45 |
| 2009 | 7,860 | 11,072,209 | $463.7B | $18.8B | $17.3B | $19,522 | $23.85 |
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 8,030 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 8,030 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinet 401(k) Plan | Trinet HR III, Inc. | DC | 238,170 | $8.71B | $36,572 | $1,842 | $53.27 |
| Albertsons Companies 401(k) Plan | Albertsons Companies, Inc. | DC | 236,172 | $8.03B | $34,010 | $333 | $21.97 |
| Allied Universal 401(k) Plan | Universal Services of America, LP | DC | 231,285 | $681M | $2,946 | $58 | $11.67 |
| Kaiser Permanente Retirement Plan | Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. | DB | 205,262 | $34.4B | $167,716 | $4,938 | — |
| Southern California UFCW Unions and Food Employers Joint Pension Trust Fund | Board of Trustees, So Ca UFCW Unions & Food Employers | DB | 199,927 | $6.49B | $32,464 | $5,496 | $93.29 |
| Kaiser Permanente 401(k) Retirement Plan | Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. | DC | 179,236 | $22.5B | $125,762 | $1,380 | $60.58 |
| Google LLC 401(k) Savings Plan | Google LLC | DC | 155,598 | $48.7B | $313,231 | $10,615 | $19.30 |
| Western Unite Here and Employers Pension Fund | Board of Trustees, Western Unite Here and Employers | DB | 154,012 | $3.67B | $23,847 | $3,116 | $84.07 |
| Apple 401(k) Plan | Apple Inc. | DC | 147,655 | $30.7B | $208,172 | $7,702 | $68.61 |
| Western States Carpenters Pension Plan | Joint Board of Trustees Western States Carpenters Pension Plan | DB | 139,574 | $11.3B | $81,223 | $6,040 | $109 |
| UFCW No. California Employers Joint Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, UFCW No. California Employers Joint Pension Plan | DB | 130,691 | $2.89B | $22,133 | $5,150 | $132 |
| Disney Hourly Savings and Investment Plan | TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp. | DC | 117,208 | $1.55B | $13,254 | $456 | $3.42 |
| Motion Picture Industry Individual Account Plan | Board of Directors, Motion Picture Industry Pension | DC | 108,671 | $6.13B | $56,382 | $4,439 | $218 |
| Kaiser Permanente Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan | Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. | DC | 105,882 | $13.8B | $130,803 | $897 | $50.44 |
| Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan | Board of Directors, Motion Picture Industry Pension | DB | 103,919 | $5.86B | $56,437 | $8,630 | $380 |
| Oracle Corporation 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan | Oracle Corporation | DC | 99,877 | $35.0B | $350,806 | $3,705 | $36.57 |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | DC | 96,636 | $293M | $3,030 | $176 | $8.45 |
| Southwest Carpenters Annuity Fund | Board of Trustees, Southwest Carpenters Annuity Fund | DC | 93,934 | $1.13B | $12,074 | $1,954 | $40.86 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Meta Platforms, Inc. | DC | 93,515 | $22.4B | $239,517 | $12,384 | $9.85 |
| Team Public Choices 401(k) Plan | Team Public Choices, LLC | DC | 86,462 | $37.0M | $427 | $5 | $1.75 |
| Gapshare 401(k) Plan | Gap Inc. | DC | 83,515 | $2.61B | $31,279 | $695 | $16.92 |
| Securitas Security Services USA Incentive Savings and Retirement Plan | Securitas Security Services USA, in | DC | 83,051 | $519M | $6,252 | $389 | $15.57 |
| Intel 401(k) Savings Plan | Intel Corporation | DC | 80,916 | $24.8B | $306,978 | $12,217 | $2.75 |
| Sutter Health 403(b) Savings Plan | Sutter Health | DC | 78,643 | $7.63B | $96,993 | $653 | $23.45 |
| Laborers Annuity Plan for Northern California | Board of Trustees Laborers Pension Trust Fund for Nor Cal-Annuity | DC | 78,189 | $1.54B | $19,659 | $5,209 | $47.46 |
| Disney Savings and Investment Plan | TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp. | DC | 75,373 | $12.7B | $168,843 | $2,159 | $14.65 |
| Trader Joe's Company Retirement Plan | Trader Joe's Company | DC | 73,118 | $3.20B | $43,801 | $457 | $8.48 |
| Cisco Systems,inc. 401(k) Plan | Cisco Systems,inc. | DC | 70,957 | $26.4B | $371,631 | $9,410 | $57.93 |
| Kaiser Permanente Retirement Plan for Scpmg | Southern California Permanente Medical Group | DB | 69,139 | $8.38B | $121,192 | $13,924 | — |
| Screen Actors Guild - Producers Pension Plan | Board of Trustees Screen Actors Guild - Producers | DB | 67,988 | $5.25B | $77,182 | $11,357 | $273 |
| Ross Stores, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | Ross Stores, Inc. | DC | 66,413 | $1.18B | $17,801 | $479 | $10.29 |
| Sutter Health Retirement Plan | Sutter Health | DB | 66,154 | $5.87B | $88,739 | — | $275 |
| Carpenters Annuity Trust Fund for Northern California | Carpenters Annuity Trust Fund for Northern California | DC | 64,162 | $3.48B | $54,266 | $4,549 | $115 |
| Aya Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Aya Healthcare Services, Inc. | DC | 63,406 | $583M | $9,194 | $548 | $34.00 |
| Panda Retirement Plan | Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. | DC | 59,074 | $610M | $10,323 | $363 | $14.78 |
| Pacific Gas and Electric Company Retirement Plan | Pacific Gas and Electric Company | DB | 58,892 | $17.5B | $297,823 | $11,444 | $502 |
| UFCW No. California Food Employers Joint Individual Account Plan | Board of Trustees UFCW No. California Food Employers Joint Ind Account | DC | 58,508 | $267M | $4,558 | $423 | $39.08 |
| Salesforce 401(k) Plan | Salesforce, Inc. | DC | 57,193 | $11.3B | $197,009 | $7,291 | $43.54 |
| Kaiser Permanente Employees Pension Plan | The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. | DB | 55,868 | $5.63B | $100,724 | $4,179 | — |
| Disney Associated Companies' Retirement Plan | TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp. | DB | 53,294 | $1.83B | $34,345 | — | $6.90 |
| National Veterinary Associates, Inc. 401(k) Plan | National Veterinary Associates, Inc. | DC | 52,955 | $809M | $15,280 | $2,072 | $25.24 |
| Construction Laborers Annuity Plan for Southern California | Board of Trustees,construction Laborers Annuity Plan for Southern Cali | DC | 51,834 | $272M | $5,254 | $1,711 | $11.00 |
| Kaiser Permanente Supplemental Savings and Retirement Plan | Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. | DC | 51,649 | $5.67B | $109,733 | $6,059 | $38.48 |
| Carpenters Pension Trust Fund for Northern California | Carpenters Pension Trust Fund | DB | 50,394 | $6.58B | $130,475 | $16,173 | $288 |
| University of Southern California Tax-Deferred Annuity Plan | University of Southern California | DC | 46,627 | $4.82B | $103,337 | — | $12.32 |
| Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. | DC | 46,208 | $1.76B | $38,076 | $599 | $24.12 |
| Pension Trust Fund for Operating Engineers | Board of Trustees, Pension Trust Fund for Operating | DB | 45,574 | $5.40B | $118,390 | $17,354 | $331 |
| Laborers Pension Trust Fund for Northern California | Board of Trustees Laborers Pension Trust Fund for Northern California | DB | 44,826 | $5.45B | $121,670 | $17,526 | $301 |
| Disney Retirement Savings Plan | TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp. | DC | 44,663 | $1.42B | $31,805 | $5,947 | $2.52 |
| Ensign Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Ensign Services, Inc. | DC | 44,562 | $374M | $8,388 | $80 | $18.85 |
| University of Southern California Defined Contribution Retirement Plan | University of Southern California | DC | 44,381 | $5.01B | $112,948 | $11,268 | $12.90 |
| Stanford Contributory Retirement Plan | The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | DC | 43,741 | $12.6B | $287,331 | $11,002 | $35.63 |
| Construction Laborers Pension Trust Fund for Southern California | Board of Trustees,construction Laborers Pension Trust for Southern Cal | DB | 42,443 | $3.67B | $86,550 | $9,639 | $460 |
| Trinet Select 401(k) Plan | Trinet HR IV, LLC | DC | 42,129 | $2.95B | $70,134 | $3,314 | $57.07 |
| Supplemental Income 401(k) Plan | Board of Trustees of Supplemental Income Trust Fund | DC | 40,848 | $1.87B | $45,668 | $1,069 | $149 |
| Operating Engineers Pension Trust | Board of Trustees, Operating Engineers Pension Trust | DB | 40,018 | $3.65B | $91,257 | $17,462 | $504 |
| Stanford Health Care Retirement Savings Plan | Stanford Health Care | DC | 39,275 | $6.93B | $176,479 | $12,062 | $44.34 |
| Honda 401(k) Savings Plan | American Honda Motor Company, Inc. | DC | 38,028 | $6.30B | $165,735 | $7,949 | $73.47 |
| Broadcom U.S. 401(k) Plan | Avago Technologies U.S. Inc. | DC | 37,073 | $13.1B | $352,197 | $12,613 | $23.26 |
| U.S. Roche 401(k) Savings Plan | Genentech, Inc. | DC | 36,458 | $14.3B | $393,535 | $18,226 | $38.79 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in California?
8,061 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 15,061 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 California?
The median defined contribution plan reported $53,835 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $27,136 to $97,928); 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 California?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,322 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 California?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $115 per participant and 0.23% 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 and Form 5500-SF 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.