Average 401(k) administrative fee

Name: Average 401(k) Administrative Fee (2024 Data)
Creator: Plan Ledger

Plan year 2024 · 66,577 filings analyzed · updated 2026-09-10

Median admin expense ratio, plans under $1M · 2024

0.96%

The median 401(k) plan with under $1M in assets reported administrative expenses of 0.96% of plan assets in 2024. The median plan over $1B reported 0.05%, roughly 21 times less. On a $50,000 account balance, that is $482 a year versus $23.

Median admin expense ratio by plan size · 2024
Under $1M0.96% · 1,109 plans
$1M–$10M0.53% · 18,840 plans
$10M–$50M0.29% · 27,838 plans
$50M–$250M0.14% · 10,352 plans
$250M–$1B0.07% · 2,883 plans
Over $1B0.05% · 1,229 plans

Interquartile range (p25–p75)
Under $1M0.46% – 2.29%
$1M–$10M0.21% – 0.83%
$10M–$50M0.12% – 0.46%
$50M–$250M0.06% – 0.23%
$250M–$1B0.04% – 0.13%
Over $1B0.03% – 0.08%

Cite this figure

The median 401(k) plan under $1M in assets reported a 0.96% administrative expense ratio in 2024, versus 0.05% for plans over $1B. 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.

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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.