State · sponsors with a South Dakota filing address
Retirement plans in South 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.
217 retirement plans based in South Dakota with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (213 defined contribution, 4 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 137,075 participant records and $7.96B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $50,937 per participant, close to the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $1,990 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $149 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $245M and participants $401M during the year, and the plans paid out $1.16B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 206 plans with $2.42B; by 2024 it was 217 plans (up 5%) and $7.96B (up 229%). 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, 1,578 small plans based in South Dakota filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 48,788 participants and $3.10B 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 | SD: DC | US: DC | SD: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $50,937 | $53,031 | $74,403 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,990 | $2,174 | $2,875 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $149 | $123 | $635 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.33% | 0.26% | 0.53% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $143 | $116 | $1,110 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (202 DC and 4 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 | $31,878 | $50,937 | $81,940 | 202 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,037 | $1,990 | $3,387 | 195 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $79.07 | $149 | $277 | 189 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $59.04 | $143 | $232 | 193 |
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 | 31 | 29,495 | $2.10B | $67.1M | $98.7M | $59,956 | $131 |
| 2024 | 217 | 137,075 | $7.96B | $245M | $401M | $50,937 | $149 |
| 2023 | 222 | 137,577 | $7.55B | $245M | $372M | $45,504 | $135 |
| 2022 | 243 | 135,426 | $6.65B | $217M | $343M | $38,871 | $129 |
| 2021 | 234 | 133,233 | $7.76B | $222M | $322M | $46,714 | $145 |
| 2020 | 235 | 136,329 | $7.20B | $190M | $287M | $43,375 | $121 |
| 2019 | 239 | 141,165 | $6.20B | $206M | $268M | $36,286 | $106 |
| 2018 | 227 | 120,537 | $4.89B | $170M | $228M | $31,185 | $106 |
| 2017 | 230 | 114,636 | $5.24B | $167M | $211M | $33,840 | $79.53 |
| 2016 | 234 | 114,118 | $4.62B | $170M | $198M | $29,931 | $66.29 |
| 2015 | 220 | 106,521 | $4.11B | $168M | $179M | $28,688 | $56.80 |
| 2014 | 218 | 141,274 | $5.06B | $190M | $234M | $29,427 | $55.23 |
| 2013 | 210 | 130,286 | $4.35B | $169M | $208M | $27,986 | $54.40 |
| 2012 | 212 | 150,201 | $3.49B | $216M | $217M | $21,288 | $40.72 |
| 2011 | 203 | 123,446 | $3.00B | $153M | $171M | $19,607 | $45.01 |
| 2010 | 203 | 112,715 | $2.83B | $131M | $135M | $20,009 | $39.33 |
| 2009 | 206 | 117,962 | $2.42B | $134M | $129M | $17,539 | $45.70 |
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 217 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 217 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Society 401(k) Plan | The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society | DC | 12,692 | $320M | $25,185 | $1,527 | $118 |
| Monument Health, Inc. 403(b) Plan | Monument Health, Inc. | DC | 8,710 | $365M | $41,880 | $1,937 | $23.22 |
| 401(k) Simplified Flexible | Advisortrust, Inc. | DC | 5,743 | $159M | $27,705 | $1,482 | $96.30 |
| Monument Health, Inc. Pension Plan | Monument Health, Inc. | DB | 4,170 | $105M | $25,115 | $0 | $126 |
| Black Hills Corporation 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Black Hills Corporation | DC | 3,686 | $934M | $253,319 | $10,079 | $53.42 |
| Hotel Retirement Systems Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Regency Hotel Management, LLC | DC | 3,589 | $33.0M | $9,187 | $203 | $10.59 |
| Poet 401(k) Plan | Poet Biorefining LLC | DC | 3,126 | $266M | $84,993 | $3,408 | $77.06 |
| Daktronics, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Daktronics, Inc. | DC | 2,610 | $262M | $100,559 | $1,528 | $100 |
| Premier 401(k) Plan | First Premier Bank | DC | 2,088 | $241M | $115,227 | $3,819 | $208 |
| South Dakota Associations of Community-Based Human Services Retirement Plan | South Dakota Council of Community Behavioral Hea | DC | 2,043 | $59.8M | $29,287 | $1,000 | $151 |
| Associated General Contractors of SD 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Agc of South Dakota | DC | 2,021 | $96.0M | $47,524 | $1,617 | $294 |
| Black Hills Retirement Plan | Black Hills Corporation | DB | 1,639 | $272M | $165,832 | $2,875 | $746 |
| Empirical 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan | Empirical Technology, Inc. | DC | 1,475 | $84.0M | $56,937 | $3,437 | $82.02 |
| Pathward, National Association 401(k) Plan | Pathward, National Association | DC | 1,472 | $174M | $117,979 | $6,725 | $289 |
| Primrose Retirement Plan | Primrose Retirement Communities | DC | 1,433 | $12.5M | $8,726 | $439 | $53.81 |
| Billion Motors, Inc. Salary Deferral 401(k) PLN | Billion Motors, Inc. | DC | 1,374 | $71.9M | $52,349 | $1,016 | $139 |
| Lewis Drugs, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Lewis Drugs, Inc. | DC | 1,324 | $56.1M | $42,351 | $625 | $130 |
| Lifescape 401(k) Retirement Plan | Lifescape | DC | 1,307 | $42.4M | $32,420 | $952 | $78.03 |
| Assetmark Pooled Employer Plan | Advisortrust, Inc. | DC | 1,263 | $23.4M | $18,565 | $1,779 | $183 |
| C&B Operations, LLC Retirement Savings Plan | C&B Operations, LLC | DC | 1,188 | $68.9M | $57,958 | $4,772 | $365 |
| Ubg 401(k) - Agtegra | Agtegra Cooperative | DC | 1,112 | $78.5M | $70,622 | $2,252 | $102 |
| Furniture Mart USA, Inc. Employee Profit Sharing 401(k) Plan | Furniture Mart USA, Inc. | DC | 1,092 | $34.6M | $31,697 | $704 | $47.36 |
| Issues Management, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Issues Management, Inc. | DC | 1,028 | $5.9M | $5,701 | $671 | $51.75 |
| Fishback Financial Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | First Bank & Trust | DC | 970 | $129M | $133,350 | — | $5.46 |
| Liv Employee Benefits 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust | Liv Employee Benefits, LLC | DC | 966 | $5.3M | $5,455 | $575 | $59.04 |
| Prairie Lakes Healthcare System 403(b) Plan | Prairie Lakes Healthcare System | DC | 942 | $62.0M | $65,852 | $1,783 | $108 |
| Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Lunchtime Solutions, Inc. | DC | 920 | $4.1M | $4,430 | $180 | $23.96 |
| Rosenbauer America, LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Rosenbauer South Dakota, LLC | DC | 907 | $60.4M | $66,552 | $1,483 | $98.49 |
| Dakota Provisions, LLC 401(k) Plan | Dakota Provisions, LLC | DC | 899 | $16.6M | $18,481 | $946 | $113 |
| Fishback Financial Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Fishback Financial Corporation | DC | 874 | $61.4M | $70,234 | $4,766 | $37.86 |
| Performance Bankers, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Performance Bankers, Inc. | DC | 864 | $101M | $117,152 | $4,170 | $248 |
| Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota 401(k) Plan | Heart Hospital of South Dakota, LLC Avera Heart Hospital South Dakota | DC | 790 | $51.5M | $65,236 | $1,371 | $31.79 |
| FSST 401(k) Plan | Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe | DC | 787 | $11.8M | $14,938 | $3,551 | $133 |
| Bakers Local No 433 Pension Plan | Bakers' Local No 433 Pension Plan | DB | 778 | $4.3M | $5,525 | — | $572 |
| Trail King Industries Employees' Retirement Savings Plan | Trail King Industries, Inc. | DC | 772 | $68.1M | $88,232 | $2,604 | $31.28 |
| Dacotah Banks, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | Dacotah Banks, Inc. | DC | 768 | $107M | $139,330 | $6,439 | $144 |
| Sonifi Solutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Sonifi Solutions, Inc. | DC | 761 | $95.2M | $125,151 | $1,536 | $234 |
| Riddle's Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Riddle's Group, Inc. | DC | 748 | $48.1M | $64,349 | $1,965 | $82.28 |
| M.G. Oil Company 401(k) Plan | M.G. Oil Company | DC | 711 | $12.7M | $17,915 | $707 | $46.20 |
| Showplace Wood Products, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Showplace Wood Products, Inc. | DC | 709 | $104M | $146,639 | $8,382 | — |
| Showplace Wood Products, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Showplace Wood Products, Inc. | DC | 707 | $35.1M | $49,592 | $2,025 | $52.93 |
| Re/spec Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Re/spec Inc. | DC | 660 | $45.0M | $68,187 | $5,081 | — |
| Big Stone Therapies, Inc. Retirement Plan | Big Stone Therapies, Inc. | DC | 646 | $23.0M | $35,658 | $1,046 | $145 |
| Tak Broadband, LLC 401(k) Plan | Tak Broadband, LLC | DC | 641 | $6.8M | $10,576 | $606 | $71.27 |
| Re/spec Inc. Employee 401(k) Retirement Plan | Re/spec Inc. | DC | 640 | $67.4M | $105,359 | — | $451 |
| Viaflex 401(k) Plan | Viaflex, Inc. | DC | 640 | $32.9M | $51,458 | $3,366 | $168 |
| 401(k) Simplified | Advisortrust, Inc. | DC | 633 | $18.9M | $29,922 | $475 | $51.37 |
| Vern Eide Motorcars, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Vern Eide Motorcars, Inc. | DC | 624 | $35.3M | $56,497 | $1,401 | $124 |
| Black Hills Surgical Hospital 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan | Black Hills Surgical Hospital, LLP | DC | 614 | $51.0M | $83,041 | $2,327 | $214 |
| Muth Electric, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Muth Electric Inc. | DC | 609 | $42.5M | $69,750 | $1,633 | $328 |
| Rapid City Medical Center 401(k) Plan | Rapid City Medical Center, LLP | DC | 592 | $74.6M | $126,040 | $7,615 | $263 |
| Plains Commerce Bank Retirement Plan | Plains Commerce Bank | DC | 563 | $37.8M | $67,208 | $4,975 | $346 |
| Vance Thompson Vision Clinic, Prof. LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan | Vance Thompson Vision Clinic, Prof. LLC | DC | 550 | $37.0M | $67,260 | $5,767 | $144 |
| Midwest Alarm Company Inc. 401(k) Plan | Midwest Alarm Company, Inc. | DC | 546 | $8.1M | $14,884 | $850 | $34.47 |
| University of Sioux Falls 403(b) Plan | University of Sioux Falls | DC | 537 | $21.6M | $40,179 | $947 | $209 |
| Shur-Co, LLC 401(k) Plan | Shur-Co, LLC | DC | 537 | $21.7M | $40,442 | $1,226 | $100 |
| Pete Lien & Sons, Inc. Profit SHARING/401(K) Plan | Pete Lien & Sons, Inc. | DC | 534 | $57.3M | $107,343 | $4,228 | $212 |
| The Koehler Organization 401(k) Plan | The Koehler Organization | DC | 533 | $8.5M | $15,906 | $1,028 | $46.40 |
| Bankwest 401(k) Plan | Bankwest, Inc. | DC | 512 | $58.8M | $114,900 | $2,349 | — |
| Persona Signs, LLC 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Persona Signs, LLC | DC | 504 | $20.5M | $40,690 | $1,299 | $181 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in South Dakota?
217 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 319 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 Dakota?
The median defined contribution plan reported $50,937 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $31,878 to $81,940); 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 Dakota?
The median defined contribution plan received $1,990 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 Dakota?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $149 per participant and 0.33% 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.