Table 4. Standard errors for defined contribution retirement plans: Selected
attributes, State and local government workers, National Compensation
Survey, March 2008

(All workers participating in defined contribution plans = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Employee contribution

Employee contribution
option

Required

Not
required

Pretax

Not pretax

All workers

3.4

3.4

2.4

2.4

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related

3.8

3.8

2.8

2.8

    Professional and related

4.0

4.0

3.0

3.0

        Teachers

4.9

4.9

3.5

3.5

            Primary, secondary, and special education
             school teachers

7.0

7.0

6.1

6.1

        Registered nurses

6.5

6.5

6.0

6.0

Service

3.9

3.9

3.1

3.1

    Protective service

6.2

6.2

5.2

5.2

Sales and office

5.1

5.1

2.9

2.9

    Office and administrative support

5.4

5.4

3.0

3.0

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

5.4

5.4

5.5

5.5

Production, transportation, and material moving

8.1

8.1

6.9

Full time

3.4

3.4

2.4

2.4

Part time

5.0

5.0

4.7

4.7

Union

5.3

5.3

4.1

4.1

Nonunion

3.0

3.0

2.3

2.3

Average wage within the following percentiles:1

    Less than 10

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.6

    10 to under 25

3.8

3.8

3.2

3.2

    25 to under 50

5.1

5.1

2.7

2.7

    50 to under 75

4.5

4.5

3.7

3.7

    75 to under 90

4.5

4.5

3.7

3.7

    90 or greater

4.5

4.5

4.2

4.2

Establishment characteristics

Service-providing industries

3.4

3.4

2.4

2.4

    Education and health services

4.7

4.7

3.5

3.5

        Educational services

5.4

5.4

3.8

3.8

            Elementary and secondary schools

5.0

5.0

4.9

4.9

            Junior colleges, colleges, and universities

6.9

6.9

4.6

4.6

        Health care and social assistance

5.7

5.7

4.7

4.7

            Hospitals

7.0

7.0

5.9

5.9

    Public administration

4.6

4.6

3.6

3.6

1 to 99 workers

5.7

5.7

3.5

    1 to 49 workers

6.9

6.9

4.7

    50 to 99 workers

8.0

8.0

5.0

100 workers or more

3.6

3.6

2.6

2.6

    100 to 499 workers

5.8

5.8

2.8

2.8

    500 workers or more

3.8

3.8

3.1

3.1

State government

6.6

6.6

3.9

3.9

Local government

2.8

2.8

2.5

2.5

Geographic areas

New England

0.0

Middle Atlantic

6.4

6.4

7.8

7.8

East North Central

7.4

7.4

3.3

3.3

West North Central

9.2

5.9

South Atlantic

5.1

5.1

5.9

5.9

East South Central

3.9

3.9

6.3

West South Central

4.4

4.4

4.6

Mountain

11.5

11.5

11.2

Pacific

7.1

7.1

6.2

6.2

1The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical Note for more details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria.