Standard Errors
Defined contribution retirement plans: Selected attributes

Table 8. Standard errors for defined contribution retirement plans: Selected
attributes, State and local government workers, National Compensation Survey,
March 2011

Characteristics

Employee contribution

Employee contribution
option

Required

Not required

Pretax

Not pretax

All workers

3.5

3.5

2.4

2.4

Worker characteristics

        

Management, professional, and related

4.1

4.1

3.1

3.1

    Professional and related

4.3

4.3

3.4

3.4

        Teachers

5.7

5.7

5.1

5.1

            Primary, secondary, and special education
             school teachers

6.9

6.9

8.4

8.4

Service

4.0

4.0

3.3

3.3

    Protective service

6.1

6.1

5.4

5.4

Sales and office

5.2

5.2

2.1

2.1

    Office and administrative support

5.3

5.3

2.1

2.1

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

6.7

6.7

6.4

6.4

Production, transportation, and material moving

8.5

8.5

–

–

Full time

3.6

3.6

2.5

2.5

Part time

5.5

5.5

5.0

5.0

Union

6.0

6.0

4.8

4.8

Nonunion

3.1

3.1

2.1

2.1

Average wage within the following categories:1

        

    Lowest 25 percent

3.8

3.8

2.8

2.8

        Lowest 10 percent

4.6

4.6

3.7

3.7

    Second 25 percent

5.3

5.3

2.9

2.9

    Third 25 percent

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.6

    Highest 25 percent

3.8

3.8

2.9

2.9

        Highest 10 percent

4.3

4.3

3.4

3.4

Establishment characteristics

        

Service-providing industries

3.6

3.6

2.4

2.4

    Education and health services

4.8

4.8

3.8

3.8

        Educational services

5.7

5.7

4.9

4.9

            Elementary and secondary schools

6.3

6.3

7.6

7.6

            Junior colleges, colleges, and universities

7.1

7.1

5.4

5.4

        Health care and social assistance

5.2

5.2

3.6

3.6

            Hospitals

5.8

5.8

4.4

4.4

    Public administration

5.0

5.0

3.6

3.6

1 to 99 workers

6.4

6.4

–

–

    1 to 49 workers

7.3

7.3

–

–

    50 to 99 workers

9.2

9.2

–

–

100 workers or more

3.8

3.8

2.7

2.7

    100 to 499 workers

5.2

5.2

1.9

1.9

    500 workers or more

4.2

4.2

3.5

3.5

State government

6.9

6.9

4.6

4.6

Local government

3.1

3.1

3.0

3.0

Geographic areas

        

Middle Atlantic

4.2

4.2

6.2

6.2

East North Central

7.0

7.0

2.5

2.5

South Atlantic

5.1

5.1

7.2

7.2

East South Central

6.6

6.6

–

–

West South Central

–

–

2.4

2.4

Mountain

10.3

10.3

–

–

Pacific

7.0

7.0

5.6

5.6

1The categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers with
earnings both above and below the threshold. The average wages are based on the estimates published in the "National
Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical Note for more details.


NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans,
key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at
www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20102011.htm.