State · sponsors with a North Dakota filing address
Retirement plans in North Dakota
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.
277 retirement plans based in North Dakota with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (263 defined contribution, 14 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 226,020 participant records and $20.7B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $62,934 per participant, above the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,513 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $157 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $619M and participants $792M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.78B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 244 plans with $5.11B; by 2024 it was 277 plans (up 14%) and $20.7B (up 306%). 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, 1,940 small plans based in North Dakota filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 57,635 participants and $3.94B 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 | ND: DC | US: DC | ND: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $62,934 | $53,031 | $89,971 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,513 | $2,174 | $8,673 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $157 | $123 | $299 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.28% | 0.26% | 0.37% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $154 | $116 | $624 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (253 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 | $35,603 | $62,934 | $106,843 | 253 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,473 | $2,513 | $4,159 | 249 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $81.30 | $157 | $252 | 223 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $67.60 | $154 | $246 | 237 |
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 | 53 | 99,713 | $10.6B | $294M | $471M | $96,764 | $205 |
| 2024 | 277 | 226,020 | $20.7B | $619M | $792M | $62,934 | $157 |
| 2023 | 268 | 220,381 | $18.1B | $574M | $718M | $55,991 | $135 |
| 2022 | 305 | 223,833 | $16.0B | $577M | $684M | $46,134 | $140 |
| 2021 | 296 | 213,154 | $17.8B | $490M | $624M | $56,076 | $153 |
| 2020 | 296 | 212,741 | $15.9B | $467M | $581M | $52,820 | $138 |
| 2019 | 297 | 218,630 | $13.8B | $465M | $540M | $43,127 | $116 |
| 2018 | 293 | 216,566 | $11.8B | $428M | $498M | $36,434 | $112 |
| 2017 | 296 | 227,263 | $12.7B | $417M | $460M | $40,093 | $93.12 |
| 2016 | 293 | 227,020 | $11.0B | $382M | $429M | $35,505 | $76.58 |
| 2015 | 286 | 225,136 | $10.0B | $382M | $409M | $30,801 | $63.97 |
| 2014 | 276 | 171,622 | $8.69B | $325M | $298M | $32,919 | $70.65 |
| 2013 | 262 | 165,205 | $8.10B | $285M | $257M | $30,556 | $61.11 |
| 2012 | 250 | 152,140 | $6.71B | $262M | $232M | $25,980 | $56.60 |
| 2011 | 231 | 145,999 | $5.90B | $257M | $214M | $23,566 | $55.44 |
| 2010 | 236 | 152,911 | $5.87B | $265M | $209M | $22,978 | $53.77 |
| 2009 | 244 | 162,494 | $5.11B | $241M | $197M | $18,804 | $43.17 |
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 277 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 277 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Retirement Savings Plan | Sanford | DC | 51,686 | $4.36B | $84,299 | $2,743 | $80.83 |
| Scheels All Sports, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Scheels All Sports, Inc. | DC | 8,453 | $33.5M | $3,957 | — | $14.67 |
| Knife River Corporation 401(k) Retirement Plan | Knife River Corporation | DC | 8,126 | $964M | $118,659 | $4,591 | $129 |
| Offutt Companies 401(k) Savings Plan | R.D. Offutt Company | DC | 6,727 | $702M | $104,389 | $3,820 | $82.79 |
| Doosan 401(k) Plan | Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. | DC | 4,989 | $552M | $110,582 | $5,230 | $89.77 |
| Scheels Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Scheels All Sports, Inc. | DC | 4,760 | $963M | $202,304 | $2,121 | $2.44 |
| Bcbsnd and Noridian Healthcare Solutions 401(k) Plan | Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota | DC | 4,732 | $500M | $105,720 | $4,005 | $83.02 |
| Dakotas Areawide Ibew-Neca Savings and Retirement Plan | Board of Trustees of Dakotas Areawide Ibew-Neca Savings and Retirement | DC | 4,438 | $583M | $131,357 | $5,546 | $107 |
| Border States Electric Supply 401(k) Plan | Border States Industries, Inc. | DC | 4,244 | $254M | $59,805 | — | $67.00 |
| Eide Bailly LLP 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Eide Bailly LLP | DC | 4,210 | $705M | $167,409 | $8,652 | $91.51 |
| Altru Health System Retirement Savings Plan 401(k) | Altru Health System | DC | 4,078 | $489M | $119,820 | $4,294 | $67.60 |
| Triniplus Retirement Plan | Trinity Health | DC | 3,802 | $407M | $107,118 | $1,088 | $66.82 |
| Border States Industries, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Border States Industries, Inc. | DC | 3,586 | $1.27B | $354,707 | $13,446 | $78.93 |
| Otter Tail Corporation Retirement Savings | Otter Tail Corporation | DC | 3,496 | $411M | $117,584 | $3,732 | $95.28 |
| Edgewood Management Group, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Edgewood Management Group, LLC | DC | 3,226 | $40.1M | $12,426 | $492 | $54.85 |
| Titan Machinery Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Titan Machinery, Inc. | DC | 3,026 | $289M | $95,480 | $2,886 | $97.42 |
| Mdu Resources Group, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Mdu Resources Group, Inc. | DC | 2,654 | $867M | $326,732 | $9,201 | $248 |
| Construction Employees Group Profit Sharing Plan | Construction Employees Group Profit | DC | 2,605 | $123M | $47,397 | $4,316 | $26.64 |
| State Bankshares 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | State Bankshares, Inc. | DC | 2,262 | $319M | $141,208 | $2,643 | $14.56 |
| Magnum, Ltd. 401(k) Plan | Magnum, Ltd. | DC | 2,065 | $43.1M | $20,882 | $1,136 | $67.33 |
| Brandt Holdings Company 401(k) Plan | Brandt Holdings Company | DC | 2,008 | $113M | $56,244 | $1,094 | $93.63 |
| Everus 401(k) Plan | Everus Construction Group, Inc. | DC | 1,946 | $230M | $118,014 | $5,418 | $124 |
| Altru Health System Cash Balance Plan | Altru Health System | DB | 1,874 | $83.6M | $44,589 | — | $403 |
| State Bankshares Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust | State Bankshares, Inc. | DC | 1,797 | $78.0M | $43,401 | $1,309 | — |
| Fisher Profit Sharing and Prevailing Wage Plan | Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. | DC | 1,664 | $84.2M | $50,629 | $6,468 | $200 |
| TFC, Inc. 401(k) Plan | TFC, Inc. | DC | 1,624 | $81.6M | $50,235 | $2,042 | $91.93 |
| Ulteig Engineers, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Ulteig Engineers, Inc. | DC | 1,564 | $105M | $66,915 | $2,111 | $18.55 |
| Ulteig, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Ulteig, Inc. | DC | 1,553 | $193M | $124,150 | $8,468 | — |
| Clark Equipment Company - Melroe Division, Gwinner, ND Plant Hourly-Rate Employees' Pension Plan | Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. | DB | 1,464 | $101M | $68,975 | — | $253 |
| Melroe Savings and Investment Plan | Doosan Bobcat North America, Inc. | DC | 1,438 | $164M | $113,843 | $3,644 | $49.74 |
| Butler Machinery Company Retirement Plan | Butler Machinery Company | DC | 1,284 | $261M | $203,031 | $9,198 | $84.66 |
| Alerus Financial Corporation Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan | Alerus Financial | DC | 1,241 | $228M | $183,984 | $4,648 | — |
| Alerus Financial Corporation Employee Stock Owners | Alerus Financial | DC | 1,218 | $28.5M | $23,425 | $3,017 | — |
| Spirit Lake Tribe 401(k) Plan | Spirit Lake Tribe | DC | 1,193 | $16.9M | $14,141 | $3,386 | $138 |
| Basin Electric Power Cooperative 401(k) Plan | Basin Electric Power Cooperative | DC | 1,163 | $446M | $383,171 | $10,243 | $198 |
| The Truenorth Steel and Affiliates 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Rommesmo Companies | DC | 1,143 | $68.6M | $60,018 | $2,880 | $134 |
| Forum Communications Company 401(k) Plan | Forum Communications Company 401(k) | DC | 1,122 | $90.9M | $81,005 | $876 | $125 |
| North American Companies 401(k) Retirement Plan | North American Holdings, Inc. | DC | 1,114 | $31.7M | $28,469 | $1,409 | $136 |
| Bismarck Mandan Carpenters Local 1091 Tax Deferral | Board of Trustees of Bismarck-Mandan Carpenters Local 1091 Tax Deferra | DC | 975 | $18.6M | $19,061 | $932 | $172 |
| Strata Corporation 401(k) | Strata Corporation | DC | 960 | $59.4M | $61,823 | $446 | $142 |
| Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 300 Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 300 | DC | 945 | $74.0M | $78,267 | — | $334 |
| Dakota Nation 401(k) Plan and Trust | Dakota Nation Gaming Enterprise | DC | 935 | $13.3M | $14,246 | $1,368 | $153 |
| Gate City Bank Retirement Savings Plan | Gate City Bank | DC | 930 | $99.0M | $106,423 | $3,442 | $57.75 |
| KLJ Solutions Holding Co. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | KLJ Solutions Holding Co. | DC | 924 | $86.8M | $93,953 | $1,733 | $24.30 |
| Hugo's 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Valley Markets, Inc. | DC | 865 | $21.4M | $24,727 | $390 | $102 |
| Steffes Employees' 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Steffes, LLC | DC | 861 | $54.2M | $62,934 | $3,124 | $332 |
| Bethany Retirement Living 401(k) Plan | Bethany Retirement Living | DC | 817 | $13.3M | $16,285 | $741 | $96.72 |
| Cultivate Solutions 401(k) Plan and Trust | Food Management Investors, Inc. DBA Cultivate Solutions | DC | 810 | $15.5M | $19,158 | $868 | $11.64 |
| KLJ Solutions Co. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | KLJ Solutions Holding Co. | DC | 807 | $84.4M | $104,530 | $11,007 | — |
| University of Mary Employee Retirement Plan | University of Mary | DC | 799 | $81.2M | $101,659 | $3,567 | $260 |
| First International Bank & Trust 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | First International Bank & Trust | DC | 797 | $98.4M | $123,464 | $4,444 | $69.16 |
| Bravera Holdings Corp. 401(k) Plan | Bravera Holdings Corp. | DC | 788 | $121M | $153,993 | $2,523 | $18.32 |
| Integreon Intermediate, LLC 401(k) Plan | Integreon Intermediate, LLC | DC | 769 | $14.4M | $18,705 | $779 | $19.24 |
| Gooseneck Implement Company Retirement Savings Plan | Gooseneck Implement Company | DC | 749 | $49.1M | $65,565 | $4,123 | $276 |
| Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan & Trust | Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative | DC | 736 | $53.8M | $73,106 | $4,044 | $27.70 |
| Vertin Company 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Vertin Company | DC | 733 | $24.1M | $32,817 | $666 | $114 |
| Hit, Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan | Hit, Inc. | DC | 727 | $27.4M | $37,661 | $1,360 | $7.53 |
| LM Wind Power Blades Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | LM Wind Power Blades (USA) Inc. | DC | 722 | $23.5M | $32,602 | $1,461 | $20.65 |
| Eide Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc. Salary Deferral 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Eide Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc. | DC | 719 | $11.5M | $16,039 | $487 | $29.34 |
| Dakota Gasification Company 401(k) Plan | Dakota Gasification Company | DC | 708 | $253M | $357,385 | $8,449 | $211 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in North Dakota?
277 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 355 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 North Dakota?
The median defined contribution plan reported $62,934 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $35,603 to $106,843); 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 North Dakota?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,513 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 North Dakota?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $157 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 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.