State · sponsors with a South Carolina filing address
Retirement plans in South Carolina
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.
For plan year 2024, 668 retirement plans based in South Carolina with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500: 638 defined contribution and 30 defined benefit. They reported 753,549 participant records and $55.6B in net assets, counting every plan on the form.
The median defined contribution plan held $45,631 per participant, below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $1,868 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $119 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $1.50B and participants $2.32B during the year, and the plans paid out $5.94B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 724 plans with $23.6B; by 2024 it was 668 plans (down 8%) and $55.6B (up 135%). 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, 8,192 small plans based in South Carolina filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 323,147 participants and $10.7B 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 | SC: DC | US: DC | SC: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $45,631 | $53,031 | $64,364 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,868 | $2,174 | $12,531 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $119 | $123 | $250 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.30% | 0.26% | 0.44% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $115 | $116 | $596 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (605 DC and 30 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 | $21,638 | $45,631 | $81,003 | 605 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $927 | $1,868 | $3,246 | 595 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $57.23 | $119 | $219 | 586 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $51.85 | $115 | $216 | 597 |
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 | 86 | 85,632 | $7.39B | $177M | $335M | $69,897 | $152 |
| 2024 | 668 | 753,549 | $55.6B | $1.50B | $2.32B | $45,631 | $119 |
| 2023 | 686 | 742,368 | $51.7B | $1.49B | $2.18B | $41,632 | $108 |
| 2022 | 809 | 735,169 | $45.6B | $1.62B | $2.02B | $29,579 | $95.06 |
| 2021 | 793 | 674,870 | $52.5B | $1.49B | $1.77B | $38,856 | $106 |
| 2020 | 789 | 690,878 | $49.4B | $1.54B | $1.56B | $35,377 | $89.15 |
| 2019 | 765 | 693,932 | $46.8B | $1.48B | $1.48B | $32,157 | $82.34 |
| 2018 | 737 | 705,971 | $40.6B | $1.29B | $1.41B | $27,589 | $77.69 |
| 2017 | 727 | 691,103 | $42.6B | $1.65B | $1.33B | $29,127 | $69.97 |
| 2016 | 707 | 730,682 | $40.3B | $1.25B | $1.23B | $27,781 | $55.83 |
| 2015 | 704 | 664,224 | $36.0B | $967M | $1.08B | $27,487 | $52.89 |
| 2014 | 702 | 732,764 | $37.2B | $1.01B | $971M | $27,212 | $49.04 |
| 2013 | 701 | 709,360 | $34.3B | $1.04B | $861M | $25,709 | $44.65 |
| 2012 | 701 | 655,440 | $29.6B | $1.12B | $809M | $22,727 | $39.75 |
| 2011 | 696 | 665,015 | $26.8B | $1.18B | $770M | $20,352 | $39.00 |
| 2010 | 707 | 657,396 | $26.7B | $1.12B | $728M | $20,719 | $37.92 |
| 2009 | 724 | 676,080 | $23.6B | $1.21B | $693M | $17,374 | $34.52 |
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 667 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 667 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prisma Health Retirement Savings Plan | Prisma Health | DC | 42,504 | $2.17B | $50,939 | — | $8.68 |
| Prisma Health 401(a) Plan | Prisma Health | DC | 38,606 | $939M | $24,312 | $1,849 | $7.79 |
| Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Sunbelt Rentals, Inc. | DC | 21,188 | $1.19B | $56,237 | $1,933 | $91.08 |
| Michelin 401(k) Savings Plan | Michelin North America, Inc. C/o Retirement Manager | DC | 19,906 | $4.48B | $224,933 | $8,619 | $58.16 |
| The Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC Multiple Employer Pension Plan | Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC | DB | 15,689 | $3.70B | $235,729 | — | $32.21 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC Employee Savings and Salary Reduction Plan | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina | DC | 15,669 | $1.46B | $93,233 | $3,277 | $92.76 |
| Michelin Retirement Plan | Michelin North America, Inc. | DB | 15,447 | $1.96B | $126,620 | — | $420 |
| Sonepar USA 401 (K) Plan | Sonepar Management US, Inc. | DC | 14,502 | $1.56B | $107,725 | $1,928 | $67.04 |
| McLeod Health 401(k) Plan | McLeod Health | DC | 13,002 | $809M | $62,197 | $1,501 | $65.73 |
| The Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC Defined Contribution Plan | Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC | DC | 12,923 | $2.83B | $218,961 | $8,005 | $53.74 |
| Retirement Savings Plan for Employees of Continental-Rubber | Continental Tire the Americas, LLC | DC | 12,855 | $1.25B | $97,476 | $3,863 | $89.93 |
| Sonoco Retirement & Savings Plan | Sonoco Products Company | DC | 11,589 | $1.53B | $132,382 | $5,554 | $151 |
| Applegreen US Retirement Plan | Applegreen Companies | DC | 11,547 | $20.3M | $1,754 | $135 | $12.86 |
| Southeastern Freight Lines Retirement Savings Program | Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc. | DC | 10,084 | $1.31B | $129,675 | $3,160 | $65.16 |
| The Milliken Retirement Plan | Milliken & Company | DC | 9,782 | $1.35B | $138,070 | $2,735 | $76.98 |
| Roper St. Francis Healthcare 403(b) Plan | Roper St. Francis Healthcare | DC | 9,085 | $664M | $73,138 | $2,913 | $76.14 |
| Novolex Holdings, LLC 401(k) Plan | Novolex Holdings, LLC | DC | 8,295 | $385M | $46,448 | $2,376 | $88.99 |
| Apella Health Management, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Apella Health Management, Inc. | DC | 8,020 | $168M | $20,899 | $1,531 | $83.18 |
| Schaeffler Group USA Savings Retirement Plan | Schaeffler Group USA Inc. | DC | 6,584 | $800M | $121,523 | $4,117 | $26.54 |
| Hka Enterprises 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Hka Enterprises, LLC | DC | 6,506 | $17.4M | $2,677 | $11 | $11.83 |
| Non-Contributory Retirement Program for Certain Empl of Bcbssc | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina | DB | 6,378 | $1.20B | $188,158 | $17,967 | $6.30 |
| Legacy Ghs/tuomey Pension Plan | Prisma Health | DB | 6,181 | $421M | $68,188 | $7,491 | $103 |
| Peoplease LLC PLC Services, LLC 401(k) Plan | Peoplease LLC | DC | 6,081 | $22.8M | $3,746 | $107 | $68.36 |
| Jtekt North America 401(k) Retirement Plan | Jtekt North America Corporation | DC | 5,968 | $450M | $75,484 | $3,153 | $115 |
| Lexington Health Inc. 403(b) Retirement Plan | Lexington Health Inc. | DC | 5,515 | $92.7M | $16,812 | $2,815 | $63.97 |
| Anmed Health 401(a) Retirement Plan | Anmed Health | DC | 5,243 | $117M | $22,356 | $2,019 | $23.93 |
| Domtar US Hourly 401(k) Plan | Domtar Industries LLC | DC | 5,127 | $595M | $116,062 | $4,247 | $65.71 |
| Kennametal Inc. Retirement Income Plan | Kennametal Inc. | DB | 5,001 | $511M | $102,260 | — | $257 |
| Amick Farms, LLC 401(k) Plan | Amick Farms, LLC | DC | 4,944 | $59.0M | $11,935 | $1,287 | $57.04 |
| Anmed Health Retirement Savings Plan | Anmed Health | DC | 4,864 | $237M | $48,719 | $26 | $20.62 |
| Compucom Systems Retirement Savings Plan | Compucom Systems, Inc. | DC | 4,860 | $392M | $80,613 | $435 | $71.39 |
| Movement Mortgage 401(k) Plan | Movement Mortgage, LLC | DC | 4,719 | $334M | $70,759 | $3,251 | $95.67 |
| Retirement Savings Plan for Employees of Continental - Automotive Systems | Continental Automotive, Inc. | DC | 4,437 | $1.09B | $245,813 | $8,033 | $102 |
| Uma Retirement Plan | University Medical Associates of the Medical University of S.C. | DC | 4,288 | $848M | $197,657 | $15,961 | $152 |
| Kennametal Thrift Plus Plan | Kennametal Inc. | DC | 4,194 | $629M | $150,076 | $4,981 | $133 |
| Blackbaud Retirement Savings Plan | Blackbaud, Inc. | DC | 3,929 | $537M | $136,648 | $3,401 | $43.51 |
| World Acceptance Corporation Retirement Savings Plan | World Acceptance Corporation | DC | 3,736 | $80.6M | $21,579 | $432 | $45.15 |
| Red Ventures, LLC 401(k) Plan | Red Ventures LLC | DC | 3,660 | $271M | $74,176 | $4,506 | $116 |
| Hudson Automotive Group 401(k) Retirement Plan | Hudson Automotive Group | DC | 3,354 | $92.3M | $27,515 | $1,481 | $230 |
| Denny's 401(k) Plan | Denny's, Inc. | DC | 3,352 | $89.7M | $26,773 | $719 | $41.49 |
| Uma Supplemental 403(b) Plan | University Medical Associates of the Medical Univ. of South Carolina | DC | 3,302 | $158M | $47,733 | — | $37.69 |
| Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart 401(k) Savings Plan | Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart | DC | 3,227 | $398M | $123,461 | $889 | $61.96 |
| Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan | Advance America Cash Advance Centers Inc. | DC | 3,225 | $49.6M | $15,377 | $674 | $56.15 |
| Tidelands Health 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan | Georgetown Hospital Systems DBA Tidelands Health | DC | 3,174 | $203M | $63,975 | $1,849 | $56.32 |
| Domtar US Salaried 401(k) Plan | Domtar Industries LLC | DC | 3,144 | $676M | $214,999 | $6,766 | $112 |
| Canfor Southern Pine, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Canfor Southern Pine, Inc. | DC | 3,112 | $142M | $45,520 | $1,889 | $22.83 |
| AFL Telecommunications, LLC Savings and Incentive Plan | AFL Telecommunications, LLC | DC | 3,054 | $179M | $58,485 | $2,017 | $34.45 |
| BFG Wage Defined Contribution Retirement Plan | Michelin North America, Inc. C/o Retirement Manager | DC | 3,030 | $300M | $98,928 | $4,336 | $48.58 |
| Profit-Sharing Plan of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart | Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart | DC | 2,836 | $249M | $87,632 | $6,462 | $21.46 |
| Agape Care Group Savings Trust | Hospice Care of South Carolina DBA Agape Care Group | DC | 2,750 | $21.3M | $7,734 | $338 | $45.93 |
| Obhg 401(k) Plan | Obhg Management Services, LLC | DC | 2,715 | $113M | $41,734 | $506 | $135 |
| Thompson Construction Group, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Thompson Construction Group, Inc. | DC | 2,701 | $66.6M | $24,664 | $1,094 | $63.32 |
| Curo Management 401(k) Retirement Plan | Curo Management Corporation | DC | 2,665 | $62.5M | $23,443 | $1,942 | $184 |
| Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC 401(k) Plan | Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC | DC | 2,648 | $54.0M | $20,393 | $3,273 | $88.84 |
| Oto Development 401(k) Plan | Oto Development, LLC | DC | 2,643 | $41.6M | $15,736 | $959 | $37.91 |
| Nelson Mullins Retirement Plan | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP | DC | 2,635 | $679M | $257,646 | $10,321 | $319 |
| HMR Veterans Services, Inc. 401(k) Plan | HMR Veterans Services, Inc. | DC | 2,509 | $35.0M | $13,962 | $643 | $95.32 |
| Schaeffler Group USA Inc. Pension Plan | Schaeffler Group USA Inc. | DB | 2,453 | $147M | $60,119 | — | $479 |
| Refuel 401(k) Plan | Refuel Operating Company, LLC | DC | 2,443 | $7.6M | $3,116 | $328 | $22.01 |
| Integrated Power Services Retirement Savings Plan | Integrated Power Services | DC | 2,438 | $138M | $56,647 | $2,456 | $90.94 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in South Carolina?
668 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 1,449 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 South Carolina?
The median defined contribution plan reported $45,631 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $21,638 to $81,003); 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 South Carolina?
The median defined contribution plan received $1,868 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 South Carolina?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $119 per participant and 0.30% 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.