2025
DC Survey: Plan Benchmarking

Sponsors can use the report to compare their plan features and governance with peers’, for self-assessment and self-improvement.

Survey

Survey

Best and Worst, by Industry

Below, we showcase the top and bottom performers from the 47 industries represented in the survey. Higher participation rates and average account balances can be expected from industries that pay higher salaries. High employee turnover likely explains low participation rates in the restaurant and food services industry, while the availability of defined benefit plans contributes to the low DC plan participation rate for the government/public works sector. Kim Cochrane, director, client services, at Hub International Mid-Atlantic, notes that traditionally, government employers have offered richer benefits to make up for lower salaries. “We have found that, when employees are offered generous employer contributions, they are less likely to save their own money.” However, she says, government employees who do contribute are generally higher earners who can better afford to save—one explanation for why government/public works is among the top five industries in average deferral rate. Phil Sherman, senior retirement plan consultant at Deschutes Investment Consulting LLC, says what may be the biggest factor in lower participation rates for government plans is that each state is responsible for determining whether it will allow automatic enrollment, and many states will not. —RM

Participation Rate

1 Telecommunications 92.0%
2 Chemicals & Mining 88.0%
3 Architecture 87.7%
4 Pharmaceuticals 86.0%
5 Biotech 85.4%
43 Government/Public works – City/Municipal 63.0%
44 Government/Public works – County, state and federal 61.9%
45 Consumer services 61.3%
46 Religious organizations 55.5%
47 Restaurant & Food service 52.3%

Average Account Balance

1 Law firm $329,147
2 Telecommunications $278,183
3 Accounting/CPA Firm/Financial planning $215,781
4 Financial services $211,520
5 Research & Development $178,974
43 Religious organizations $60,640
44 Healthcare organization (not for profit) $60,223
45 Social services $57,020
46 Government/Public works – County, state and federal $50,758
47 Government/Public works – City/Municipal $50,264

Average Deferral Rate

1 Government/Public works – City/Municipal 17.8%
2 Government/Public works – County, state and federal 13.3%
3 Telecommunications 10.4%
4 Law firm 10.0%
5 Research & Development 9.9%
43 Restaurant & Food service 7.4%
44 Social services 7.4%
45 Banking – Commercial/Retail/Other 7.0%
46 Equipment – Sales/Leasing/Service 6.9%
47 Agriculture 6.9%

Immediate Eligibility

1 Religious organizations 73.3%
2 Aerospace & Defense 65.5%
3 Telecommunications 62.5%
4 Biotech 61.9%
5 Healthcare organization (not for profit) 61.9%
43 Real estate 23.9%
44 Investment Banking & Holding companies 23.6%
45 Equipment – Sales/Leasing/Service 23.3%
46 Restaurant & Food service 21.2%
47 Wholesale 20.3%

Immediate Vesting

1 Pharmaceuticals 66.7%
2 Religious organizations 58.3%
3 Education – Higher ed 54.5%
4 Chemicals & Mining 48.1%
5 Membership Organization/Industry Association/Labor Union 47.1%
43 Media/Communications/Publishing 17.4%
44 Architecture 15.4%
45 Equipment – Sales/Leasing/Service 14.8%
46 Government/Public Works – County, State and federal 13.8%
47 Government/Public Works – City/Municipal 8.2%


2025 PLANSPONSOR DC Survey Plan Benchmarking and Industry Reports

Our 2025 Plan Benchmarking and Industry Reports feature proprietary data collected by PLANSPONSOR in its annual Defined Contribution Survey. The reports highlight various plan design features and outcomes from 6 plan types and 48 industries.

You can leverage the 2025 PLANSPONSOR Reports* to:
  • Build trust with advisers and provide new tools to your staff and network
  • 100+ pages in PDF format
  • Compare plan design with peers and competitors, and improve fiduciary oversight
  • Add value to your clients by posting on your website behind registration

*Subject to usage terms/compliance in licensing agreement.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NOW!

Contact Rob Reif / 212-217-6906 / robert.reif@issmediasolutions.com