State · sponsors with a Tennessee filing address
Retirement plans in Tennessee
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.
1,333 retirement plans based in Tennessee with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (1,239 defined contribution, 94 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 3,944,317 participant records and $231.8B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $38,709 per participant, well below the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $1,806 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $115 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $5.76B and participants $8.70B during the year, and the plans paid out $22.4B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 1,388 plans with $89.9B; by 2024 it was 1,333 plans (down 4%) and $231.8B (up 158%). 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, 9,873 small plans based in Tennessee filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 290,975 participants and $15.8B 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 | TN: DC | US: DC | TN: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $38,709 | $53,031 | $85,073 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,806 | $2,174 | $8,969 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $115 | $123 | $282 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.32% | 0.26% | 0.40% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $113 | $116 | $397 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (1,184 DC and 94 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 | $18,665 | $38,709 | $72,807 | 1,184 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $849 | $1,806 | $3,260 | 1,134 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $49.54 | $115 | $206 | 1,085 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $42.58 | $113 | $206 | 1,138 |
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 | 194 | 345,898 | $23.7B | $590M | $1.21B | $55,879 | $142 |
| 2024 | 1,333 | 3,944,317 | $231.8B | $5.76B | $8.70B | $38,709 | $115 |
| 2023 | 1,391 | 3,768,173 | $217.1B | $5.92B | $8.15B | $35,364 | $101 |
| 2022 | 1,553 | 3,648,616 | $192.3B | $5.85B | $7.60B | $27,153 | $92.83 |
| 2021 | 1,514 | 3,428,569 | $228.0B | $5.31B | $7.29B | $33,854 | $94.98 |
| 2020 | 1,498 | 3,444,380 | $211.9B | $4.56B | $6.51B | $32,729 | $87.20 |
| 2019 | 1,486 | 3,382,009 | $188.6B | $4.59B | $6.22B | $28,561 | $72.99 |
| 2018 | 1,437 | 3,114,690 | $134.9B | $3.84B | $5.68B | $24,739 | $68.26 |
| 2017 | 1,455 | 3,231,212 | $166.1B | $5.82B | $5.26B | $27,138 | $61.04 |
| 2016 | 1,444 | 3,262,994 | $154.0B | $6.91B | $4.84B | $23,883 | $53.22 |
| 2015 | 1,423 | 3,243,934 | $146.2B | $6.35B | $4.55B | $23,587 | $50.45 |
| 2014 | 1,414 | 3,122,858 | $142.1B | $4.57B | $4.08B | $23,955 | $44.93 |
| 2013 | 1,396 | 3,067,664 | $134.2B | $3.90B | $3.87B | $22,409 | $37.40 |
| 2012 | 1,391 | 3,058,494 | $117.4B | $4.14B | $3.71B | $19,869 | $36.86 |
| 2011 | 1,362 | 3,031,100 | $100.6B | $3.67B | $3.48B | $18,163 | $38.09 |
| 2010 | 1,371 | 2,955,225 | $101.0B | $3.89B | $3.24B | $18,193 | $35.27 |
| 2009 | 1,388 | 3,035,109 | $89.9B | $4.28B | $3.14B | $15,834 | $29.57 |
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 1,333 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 1,333 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCA 401(k) Plan | HCA Inc. | DC | 379,101 | $23.8B | $62,813 | $2,160 | — |
| FedEx Corporation Retirement Savings Plan II | FedEx Corporation | DC | 290,909 | $3.52B | $12,085 | $2,081 | $10.47 |
| FedEx Corporation Employees' Pension Plan | FedEx Corporation | DB | 213,710 | $26.9B | $125,665 | $2,428 | $48.01 |
| Dollar General Corp. 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan | Dollar General Corporation | DC | 201,691 | $825M | $4,088 | $195 | $9.67 |
| FedEx Corporation Retirement Savings Plan | FedEx Corporation | DC | 144,332 | $25.4B | $175,831 | $2,562 | $56.64 |
| Source 4 Solutions LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan & Trust | Source 4 Solutions LLC | DC | 111,833 | $10.2M | $91 | $4 | $0.30 |
| Autozone, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Autozone, Inc. | DC | 103,434 | $1.10B | $10,648 | $407 | $9.69 |
| Chs/community Health Systems, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Chs/community Health Systems, Inc. | DC | 88,285 | $4.78B | $54,123 | $1,054 | $58.11 |
| Retirement Plan of International Paper Company | International Paper Company | DB | 84,174 | $8.19B | $97,274 | — | $74.19 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Retirement Plan | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | DC | 82,148 | $4.71B | $57,390 | $3,023 | $32.77 |
| Lifepoint Health, Inc. Retirement Plan | Lifepoint Health, Inc. | DC | 68,144 | $2.58B | $37,790 | $710 | $31.49 |
| Tractor Supply Company 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Tractor Supply Company | DC | 61,116 | $560M | $9,159 | $378 | $20.42 |
| Pace Industry Union-Management Pension Fund | Pace Industry Union-Management Pension Fund | DB | 60,684 | $2.82B | $46,464 | $17,025 | $44.96 |
| Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and Affiliates Employee Savings Plan | Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. | DC | 57,285 | $225M | $3,933 | $100 | $8.07 |
| Southern District Ubc Defined Contribution Fund | Board of Trustees of the Southern District Ubc Defined Contribution F | DC | 51,643 | $1.24B | $23,996 | $962 | $35.89 |
| Brookdale Senior Living Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan | Brookdale Senior Living Inc. | DC | 41,035 | $466M | $11,359 | $129 | $17.07 |
| Life Care Centers of America, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan | Life Care Centers of America, Inc. | DC | 32,465 | $324M | $9,982 | $0 | $15.89 |
| Sedgwick 401(k) Savings Plan | Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. | DC | 32,276 | $2.19B | $67,823 | $1,759 | $41.32 |
| Pilot Travel Centers LLC 401(k) Plan | Pilot Travel Centers LLC | DC | 32,237 | $507M | $15,724 | $755 | $30.47 |
| Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Incentive Savings Plan | Bridgestone Americas, Inc. | DC | 31,350 | $657M | $20,966 | $1,088 | $47.54 |
| Adams Keegan Retirement Savings Plan | Adams Keegan Inc. | DC | 30,254 | $550M | $18,194 | $707 | $30.54 |
| Clayton Homes, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan | Clayton Homes, Inc. | DC | 30,229 | $1.59B | $52,562 | $2,558 | $60.19 |
| Ardent Health Services Retirement Savings Plan | Ardent Health Partners, Inc. | DC | 29,659 | $1.59B | $53,497 | $1,911 | $52.16 |
| Southern Electrical Retirement Fund | Board of Trustees - Southern Electrical Retirement Fund | DC | 25,932 | $2.19B | $84,277 | $10,811 | $264 |
| Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. | DC | 25,832 | $297M | $11,487 | $488 | $33.89 |
| Teamhealth 401(k) Plan | Ameriteam Services, LLC | DC | 24,670 | $2.10B | $85,108 | $1,087 | $147 |
| International Paper Company Hourly Savings Plan | International Paper Company | DC | 23,864 | $1.77B | $73,962 | $2,191 | $56.71 |
| Southeast Laborers Supplemental Pension Fund | Board of Trustees - Southeast Laborers Supplemental Pension Fund | DC | 22,832 | $48.7M | $2,135 | $703 | $7.61 |
| Vanderbilt University Retirement Plan | Vanderbilt University | DC | 21,641 | $2.51B | $115,814 | $3,975 | $30.55 |
| Nissan Employee 401(k) Plan | Nissan North America, Inc. | DC | 21,429 | $4.38B | $204,196 | $7,067 | $167 |
| Envision Healthcare Operating Inc. 401(k) Plan | Envision Healthcare Operating Inc. | DC | 20,903 | $3.13B | $149,530 | $3,723 | $49.80 |
| National Healthcare Corporation 401(k) Plan | National Health Corporation | DC | 20,802 | $325M | $15,637 | $163 | $7.93 |
| Geodis USA Retirement Plan | Geodis Logistics, LLC | DC | 19,379 | $341M | $17,612 | $689 | $47.79 |
| Jacobs Technology Inc. Employees' Savings Plan | Jacobs Technology, Inc. | DC | 18,678 | $2.17B | $116,004 | $4,658 | $44.49 |
| International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan | International Paper Company | DC | 17,431 | $4.92B | $282,371 | $13,158 | $129 |
| Ballad Health 403(b) Plan | Ballad Health | DC | 16,790 | $731M | $43,553 | $1,989 | $24.15 |
| Pesg, LLC 401(k) Plan | Pesg, LLC DBA, Professional Education Services Group, LLC | DC | 16,393 | $22.5M | $1,374 | — | $66.81 |
| Trugreen Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan | Trugreen Limited Partnership | DC | 16,390 | $466M | $28,406 | $1,013 | $58.05 |
| Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Tax-Efficient Savings Plan | Bridgestone Americas, Inc. | DC | 15,536 | $2.53B | $162,532 | $7,847 | $74.42 |
| Eastman Investment & Employee Stock Ownership Plan | Eastman Chemical Company | DC | 15,343 | $3.54B | $230,855 | $7,877 | $42.18 |
| Wellpath 401(k) Plan | Wellpath Holdings, Inc. | DC | 15,297 | $286M | $18,680 | $470 | $49.63 |
| Corecivic 401(k) Plan | Corecivic of Tennessee, LLC | DC | 14,843 | $508M | $34,207 | $1,957 | $50.77 |
| Surgery Partners 401(k) Plan | SP Management Services, Inc. | DC | 13,249 | $414M | $31,218 | $1,298 | $64.21 |
| Averitt Express, Inc. Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan | Averitt Express, Inc. | DC | 13,016 | $775M | $59,560 | $5,069 | $75.51 |
| Pension Plan for Employees at Ornl | Ut-Battelle, LLC | DB | 12,721 | $2.40B | $188,673 | $12,085 | $519 |
| Usw Industry 401(k) Plan | The Board of Trustees Usw Industry 401(k) Fund | DC | 12,604 | $396M | $31,411 | $1,028 | $92.82 |
| Covenant Health 401(k) Plan | Covenant Health | DC | 12,083 | $894M | $73,996 | $2,012 | $42.89 |
| Genesco Salary Deferral Plan | Genesco Inc. | DC | 11,770 | $190M | $16,159 | $377 | $7.30 |
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Defined Contribution Retirement Plan | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | DC | 11,230 | $1.31B | $116,457 | $6,638 | $42.35 |
| Eastman Retirement Assistance Plan | Eastman Chemical Company | DB | 11,225 | $1.27B | $113,234 | — | — |
| Asurion, LLC 401(k) Plan | Asurion LLC | DC | 11,143 | $733M | $65,811 | $2,787 | $95.75 |
| Retirement Program Plan for Employees of Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC at the U.S. Department of Energy at Oak Ridge, Tennessee | Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC | DB | 10,673 | $1.97B | $184,308 | $42,627 | $257 |
| Nissan Employee Retirement Plan | Nissan North America, Inc. | DB | 10,503 | $1.64B | $155,816 | $0 | $216 |
| Foundever Operating Corporation 401(k) Plan | Foundever Operating Corporation | DC | 9,887 | $117M | $11,825 | $445 | $57.54 |
| Oneoncology, LLC Onerewards Retirement Plan | Oneoncology, LLC | DC | 9,556 | $585M | $61,181 | $5,101 | $137 |
| First Horizon Corporation Savings Plan | First Horizon Corporation | DC | 9,529 | $1.27B | $132,919 | $4,944 | $119 |
| Savings Plan for Employees at Ornl | Ut-Battelle, LLC | DC | 9,356 | $1.75B | $187,378 | $3,247 | $50.89 |
| Smith & Nephew U.S. Savings Plan | Smith and Nephew, Inc. | DC | 9,307 | $1.52B | $163,269 | $9,146 | $96.47 |
| Western Express, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Western Express, Inc. | DC | 9,293 | $10.6M | $1,144 | $1 | $2.59 |
| Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Thrift Plan | Dialysis Clinic, Inc. | DC | 9,163 | $446M | $48,663 | $1,920 | $90.40 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in Tennessee?
1,333 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 2,352 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 Tennessee?
The median defined contribution plan reported $38,709 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $18,665 to $72,807); 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 Tennessee?
The median defined contribution plan received $1,806 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 Tennessee?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $115 per participant and 0.32% 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.