State · sponsors with a Washington filing address
Retirement plans in Washington
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.
1,542 retirement plans based in Washington with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024 (1,451 defined contribution, 91 defined benefit). All Form 5500 pension filers in the group reported 5,264,692 participant records and $378.0B in net assets.
The median defined contribution plan held $55,006 per participant, close to the national median of $53,031, and its employer put in $2,376 per active participant (national: $2,174). Among plans reporting Schedule C compensation the median was $126 per participant against $123 nationally.
Employers contributed $10.9B and participants $15.7B during the year, and the plans paid out $27.5B in benefits.
In 2009 the same group numbered 1,561 plans with $97.3B; by 2024 it was 1,542 plans (down 1%) and $378.0B (up 289%). 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, 15,785 small plans based in Washington filed the short Form 5500-SF for 2024, with 406,508 participants and $25.0B 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 | WA: DC | US: DC | WA: DB | US: DB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets per participant | $55,006 | $53,031 | $94,192 | $86,234 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $2,376 | $2,174 | $10,039 | $10,244 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $126 | $123 | $356 | $344 |
| Schedule C compensation, share of net assets | 0.24% | 0.26% | 0.42% | 0.42% |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $122 | $116 | $512 | $527 |
Medians across plans with 100 or more participants (1,391 DC and 91 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 | $29,992 | $55,006 | $102,384 | 1,391 |
| Employer contributions per active participant | $1,166 | $2,376 | $4,434 | 1,333 |
| Schedule C compensation per participant | $56.47 | $126 | $220 | 1,280 |
| Administrative expenses per participant | $52.07 | $122 | $220 | 1,344 |
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 | 193 | 673,594 | $144.9B | $2.43B | $5.22B | $71,667 | $124 |
| 2024 | 1,542 | 5,264,692 | $378.0B | $10.9B | $15.7B | $55,006 | $126 |
| 2023 | 1,574 | 5,275,378 | $335.2B | $10.6B | $14.8B | $47,127 | $108 |
| 2022 | 1,781 | 5,288,830 | $280.8B | $10.1B | $13.7B | $36,619 | $101 |
| 2021 | 1,728 | 5,233,809 | $327.2B | $9.03B | $11.6B | $44,744 | $106 |
| 2020 | 1,728 | 4,818,330 | $280.7B | $8.65B | $9.84B | $41,132 | $98.17 |
| 2019 | 1,696 | 4,184,420 | $233.5B | $7.65B | $8.37B | $35,457 | $87.18 |
| 2018 | 1,668 | 3,659,903 | $187.7B | $7.02B | $6.93B | $30,848 | $79.96 |
| 2017 | 1,651 | 3,567,571 | $196.4B | $7.03B | $6.32B | $33,401 | $74.40 |
| 2016 | 1,609 | 3,365,816 | $169.5B | $6.15B | $5.59B | $29,944 | $66.02 |
| 2015 | 1,562 | 3,110,100 | $154.7B | $5.30B | $4.84B | $29,843 | $57.21 |
| 2014 | 1,528 | 2,938,408 | $154.0B | $5.07B | $4.29B | $31,921 | $53.23 |
| 2013 | 1,507 | 2,862,752 | $146.0B | $4.74B | $3.85B | $31,304 | $45.61 |
| 2012 | 1,471 | 2,708,131 | $124.4B | $4.69B | $3.39B | $27,183 | $43.25 |
| 2011 | 1,493 | 2,687,876 | $112.1B | $4.56B | $3.19B | $24,764 | $37.78 |
| 2010 | 1,525 | 2,648,556 | $110.5B | $3.98B | $2.86B | $25,178 | $40.99 |
| 2009 | 1,561 | 2,622,626 | $97.3B | $3.94B | $2.57B | $21,807 | $36.50 |
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 1,534 plans on this page's list, by number of plans. A plan usually names several providers.
Largest plans
The 60 largest by participants of 1,534 plans with a page on this site.
| Plan | Sponsor | Type | Participants | Net assets | Per participant | Employer / active | Sch. C / participant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon 401(k) Plan | Amazon.com Services, LLC | DC | 1,343,800 | $34.6B | $25,742 | $759 | $5.02 |
| Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan | Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust Fund Board of Trustees | DB | 639,222 | $55.8B | $87,237 | $11,442 | $712 |
| Starbucks Corporation 401(k) Plan | Starbucks Corporation | DC | 299,619 | $4.89B | $16,324 | $832 | $12.08 |
| Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan | Costco Wholesale Corporation | DC | 279,798 | $41.5B | $148,406 | $3,384 | $20.12 |
| Microsoft Corporation Savings Plus 401(k) Plan | Microsoft Corporation | DC | 184,329 | $77.8B | $422,145 | $10,211 | $224 |
| Pacific Coast Benefits Trust Fund | Board of Trustees, Pacific Coast Benefits Trust Fund | DC | 176,003 | $838M | $4,760 | $642 | $23.94 |
| 401(k) Savings Plan | Providence Health & Services | DC | 119,632 | $10.1B | $84,209 | $6,014 | $53.25 |
| Nordstrom 401(k) Plan | Nordstrom, Inc. | DC | 109,402 | $4.29B | $39,218 | $1,286 | $99.67 |
| Sound Retirement Trust | Board of Trustees, Sound Retirement Trust | DB | 107,493 | $2.56B | $23,826 | $1,180 | $93.17 |
| Sound Variable Annuity Pension Trust | Board of Trustees, Sound Variable Annuity | DB | 102,120 | $140M | $1,372 | $426 | $27.79 |
| T-Mobile USA, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan & Trust | T-Mobile USA, Inc. | DC | 95,644 | $9.05B | $94,640 | $2,425 | $21.42 |
| SEIU 775 Secure Retirement Plan | Board of Trustees, SEIU 775 Secure Retirement Trust | DC | 89,810 | $497M | $5,538 | $1,060 | $48.45 |
| Providence Health & Services 403(b) Value Plan | Providence Health & Services | DC | 60,228 | $6.55B | $108,740 | $0 | $26.61 |
| Barrett Business Services, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan | Barrett Business Services, Inc. | DC | 53,428 | $261M | $4,880 | $245 | $19.84 |
| St. Joseph and Covenant Health Systems 401(k) Plan | St.joseph Health System | DC | 42,076 | $4.47B | $106,180 | $4,810 | $56.28 |
| Gciu - Employer Retirement Benefit Plan | Board of Trustees Gciu-Employer Retirement Benefit Plan | DB | 37,126 | $1.76B | $47,389 | $31,993 | $177 |
| Recreational Equipment, Inc. Retirement and Profit Sharing Plan | Recreational Equipment, Inc. | DC | 22,024 | $1.01B | $45,694 | $1,519 | $46.57 |
| Multicare Health System 403(b) Employee Savings Plan | Multicare Health System | DC | 20,136 | $1.16B | $57,837 | $0 | $80.59 |
| Western Washington Laborers-Employers Pension Plan | Bot, Western Wa Laborers-Employers Pension Trust | DB | 19,989 | $1.47B | $73,477 | $6,461 | $348 |
| Locals 302 & 612 of the IUOE - Employers Construction Industry Retirement Plan | Board of Trustees, Locals 302 & 612 of the IUOE - | DB | 19,582 | $3.33B | $169,831 | $28,256 | $520 |
| Weyerhaeuser Pension Plan | Weyerhaeuser Company | DB | 19,501 | $1.48B | $75,911 | — | $464 |
| Paccar Inc. Retirement Plan | Paccar Inc. | DB | 17,931 | $2.91B | $162,146 | — | $222 |
| Seattle Children's Healthcare System Employees Retirement Plan | Seattle Childrens Healthcare System | DC | 15,996 | $1.46B | $90,987 | $5,861 | $44.19 |
| Multicare Health System Retirement Account Plan | Multicare Health System | DC | 15,127 | $562M | $37,125 | $4,512 | $25.07 |
| Blue 401(k) Plan | Blue Origin, LLC | DC | 14,913 | $1.18B | $79,321 | $5,734 | $64.63 |
| Weyerhaeuser 401(k) Plan | Weyerhaeuser Company | DC | 13,738 | $2.42B | $176,344 | $4,295 | $73.38 |
| Slalom 401(k) Plan | Slalom, Inc. | DC | 13,725 | $1.57B | $114,501 | $6,511 | $62.08 |
| Western Metal Industry Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, Western Metal Industry Pension Plan | DB | 13,512 | $1.05B | $77,564 | $10,039 | $200 |
| Savers 401(k) Plan | Tvi, Inc. | DC | 13,234 | $128M | $9,647 | $325 | $31.96 |
| Paccar Inc. Savings Investment Plan | Paccar Inc. | DC | 13,106 | $3.06B | $233,346 | $5,097 | $55.14 |
| Expedia Retirement Savings Plan | Expedia, Inc. | DC | 12,659 | $2.11B | $166,316 | $4,454 | $114 |
| Intermountain Retail Store Employees Pension Plan | Intermountain Retail Store Employees Pension Plan Board of Trustees | DB | 12,226 | $223M | $18,263 | $2,577 | $72.03 |
| Multicare Health System 401(k) Plan | Multicare Health System | DC | 12,091 | $779M | $64,433 | $1,401 | $52.68 |
| Seattle Children's 403(b) Plan | Seattle Childrens Healthcare System | DC | 11,581 | $284M | $24,541 | — | $7.45 |
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Retirement Savings Plan | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | DC | 10,676 | $1.70B | $159,124 | $7,243 | $38.96 |
| Wa State Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Pension Plan | Bot, Wa State Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry Pension Plan | DB | 10,360 | $1.26B | $121,394 | $12,707 | $489 |
| Anchor Point Management Group Employee Benefit Plan | Anchor Point Management Group, LLC | DC | 9,565 | $22.4M | $2,345 | $166 | $19.01 |
| Fortive Retirement Savings Plan | Fortive Corporation | DC | 9,435 | $1.63B | $173,195 | $9,116 | $85.33 |
| Zillow Group 401(k) Plan | Zillow Group, Inc. | DC | 9,389 | $850M | $90,511 | $5,438 | $22.58 |
| Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. | DC | 9,383 | $1.20B | $127,364 | $2,583 | $19.12 |
| Alaska Airlines, Inc. Cops, MRP & Dispatch 401(k) Plan | Alaska Airlines, Inc. | DC | 8,721 | $929M | $106,487 | $3,547 | $70.34 |
| Puget Sound Electrical Workers Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, Puget Sound Electrical Workers Pension Trust | DB | 8,704 | $1.31B | $150,154 | $13,381 | $493 |
| Western Washington Painters Defined Contribution Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, W. Wa Painters Defined Contribution Pension Plan | DC | 8,264 | $262M | $31,753 | $3,376 | $167 |
| Puget Sound Electrical Workers 401(k) Savings Plan | Board of Trustees Puget Sound Electrical Workers 401(k) Savings Plan | DC | 8,061 | $622M | $77,153 | $3,522 | $154 |
| Ironworkers District Council of the Pacific NW Field Ironworkers Annuity Trust Fund | Ironworkers District Council of the Paci Field Ironworkers Annuity Tru | DC | 7,937 | $589M | $74,220 | $5,328 | $303 |
| Saltchuk Companies 401(k) Plan | Saltchuk Resources, Inc. | DC | 7,842 | $670M | $85,411 | $3,662 | $65.06 |
| Hanford Multi-Employer Pension Plan | Hanford Pension & Savings Plans Committee | DB | 7,714 | $1.22B | $157,601 | $64,404 | $671 |
| Columbia Bank 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan | Columbia Banking System, Inc. | DC | 7,647 | $850M | $111,140 | $2,713 | $79.37 |
| Trueblue, Inc. 401(k) Plan | Trueblue, Inc. | DC | 7,646 | $95.6M | $12,500 | $114 | $49.59 |
| Alaska Airlines, Inc. Flight Attendant 401(k) Plan | Alaska Airlines, Inc. | DC | 7,547 | $1.02B | $134,899 | $2,983 | $58.53 |
| Northern Illinois Annuity Fund | Northern Illinois Annuity Fund | DC | 7,405 | $160M | $21,631 | $2,376 | $64.85 |
| Building Service Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of Building Service Pension Plan Pension Trust | DB | 7,265 | $99.0M | $13,622 | $2,304 | $106 |
| Northwest Ironworkers Retirement Plan | Northwest Ironworkers Retirement Plan Board of Trustees | DB | 7,196 | $851M | $118,277 | $14,469 | $500 |
| Automotive Machinists Pension Plan | Automotive Machinists Pension Trust | DB | 7,159 | $843M | $117,796 | $26,062 | $543 |
| Ro Health 401(k) Plan | Ro Health, Inc. | DC | 6,607 | $7.5M | $1,138 | $88 | $1.31 |
| 112/73 Retirement Plan Neca-Ibew | 112/73 Retirement Trust Fund Neca - IBEW | DC | 6,590 | $478M | $72,579 | $4,709 | $55.24 |
| Western Washington U.A. Supplemental Pension Plan | Board of Trustees of the Western Wa U.A. Supplemental Pension Plan | DC | 6,517 | $661M | $101,421 | $8,613 | $188 |
| Eastern Washington-Northern Idaho Carpenters 401(k) Retirement Plan | Eastern Washington-Northern Idaho | DC | 6,310 | $53.3M | $8,451 | $551 | $53.12 |
| Swedish Health Services Pension Plan | Swedish Health Services | DB | 6,177 | $875M | $141,661 | $14,154 | — |
| Lumber Industry Pension Plan | Board of Trustees, Cic-Forest Products Retirement | DB | 6,160 | $255M | $41,415 | — | $128 |
By plan size
By industry
By plan year
Questions and answers
How many retirement plans are there in Washington?
1,542 plans with 100 or more participants filed Form 5500 for plan year 2024, out of 2,539 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 Washington?
The median defined contribution plan reported $55,006 in net assets per participant (middle half of plans: $29,992 to $102,384); 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 Washington?
The median defined contribution plan received $2,376 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 Washington?
Among defined contribution plans that report any Schedule C compensation, the median was $126 per participant and 0.24% 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.