401(k) fees by industry
Plan year 2024 · 66,577 filings analyzed · updated 2026-09-10
Workers in accommodation & food services face the highest typical 401(k) administrative costs of any sector: a median of 0.58% of plan assets in 2024, roughly 4.0 times the 0.15% median in utilities. Sector medians largely track employer size: industries dominated by small employers pay more.
Median 401(k) administrative expense ratios ranged from 0.15% in utilities to 0.58% in accommodation & food services in 2024. Source: Plan Ledger analysis of U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500 filings, plan year 2024. Figures may be republished with attribution and a link. Method: methodology.
Source: Plan Ledger analysis of DOL Form 5500 Schedule H filings, plan year 2024 (snapshot 2026-09-10). Administrative expenses are those separately reported on Schedule H line 2i(5); fund-level expense ratios are not included in public structured data. Methodology.