Table 4. 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

57

43

75

25

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related

55

45

72

28

    Professional and related

54

46

70

30

        Teachers

49

51

68

32

            Primary, secondary, and special education
             school teachers

44

56

72

28

        Registered nurses

61

39

74

26

Service

60

40

76

24

    Protective service

64

36

78

22

Sales and office

59

41

83

17

    Office and administrative support

58

42

83

17

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

65

35

78

22

Production, transportation, and material moving

54

46

Full time

57

43

75

25

Part time

60

40

74

26

Union

44

56

67

33

Nonunion

64

36

80

20

Average wage within the following percentiles:1

    Less than 10

59

41

77

23

    10 to under 25

62

38

82

18

    25 to under 50

61

39

83

17

    50 to under 75

56

44

73

27

    75 to under 90

53

47

75

25

    90 or greater

51

49

60

40

Establishment characteristics

Service-providing industries

57

43

75

25

    Education and health services

54

46

69

31

        Educational services

51

49

66

34

            Elementary and secondary schools

37

63

58

42

            Junior colleges, colleges, and universities

64

36

74

26

        Health care and social assistance

59

41

76

24

            Hospitals

59

41

71

29

    Public administration

59

41

80

20

1 to 99 workers

65

35

    1 to 49 workers

73

27

    50 to 99 workers

55

45

100 workers or more

56

44

73

27

    100 to 499 workers

61

39

88

12

    500 workers or more

54

46

68

32

State government

58

42

76

24

Local government

56

44

75

25

Geographic areas

New England

100

Middle Atlantic

51

49

58

42

East North Central

45

55

79

21

South Atlantic

53

47

69

31

East South Central

74

26

West South Central

83

17

Mountain

46

54

Pacific

37

63

69

31

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: Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals. Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria.