Defined contribution retirement plans: Selected attributes

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

(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

77

23

Worker characteristics

        

Management, professional, and related

55

45

75

25

    Professional and related

55

45

73

27

        Teachers

52

48

72

28

            Primary, secondary, and special education
             school teachers

37

63

63

37

Service

58

42

75

25

    Protective service

62

38

76

24

Sales and office

62

38

85

15

    Office and administrative support

61

39

85

15

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

60

40

72

28

Production, transportation, and material moving

59

41

–

–

Full time

57

43

77

23

Part time

63

37

73

27

Union

46

54

66

34

Nonunion

63

37

82

18

Average wage within the following categories:1

        

    Lowest 25 percent

61

39

82

18

        Lowest 10 percent

62

38

83

17

    Second 25 percent

57

43

78

22

    Third 25 percent

54

46

71

29

    Highest 25 percent

56

44

75

25

        Highest 10 percent

64

36

75

25

Establishment characteristics

        

Service-providing industries

57

43

77

23

    Education and health services

54

46

71

29

        Educational services

52

48

67

33

            Elementary and secondary schools

41

59

64

36

            Junior colleges, colleges, and universities

60

40

69

31

        Health care and social assistance

60

40

81

19

            Hospitals

64

36

80

20

    Public administration

57

43

81

19

1 to 99 workers

60

40

–

–

    1 to 49 workers

73

27

–

–

    50 to 99 workers

41

59

–

–

100 workers or more

56

44

74

26

    100 to 499 workers

62

38

90

10

    500 workers or more

55

45

69

31

State government

54

46

71

29

Local government

59

41

80

20

Geographic areas

        

Middle Atlantic

71

29

78

22

East North Central

46

54

81

19

South Atlantic

47

53

67

33

East South Central

65

35

–

–

West South Central

–

–

92

8

Mountain

52

48

–

–

Pacific

36

64

66

34

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: 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. 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.