Standard Errors
Defined contribution retirement plans: Selected attributes

Table 8. Standard errors for defined contribution retirement plans: Selected
attributes, civilian workers,1 March 2018
Characteristics Employee contribution Employee contribution
option
Required Not required Pretax Not pretax
All workers
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
Worker characteristics
       
Management, professional, and related
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
    Management, business, and financial
1.6
1.6
1.1
1.1
    Professional and related
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
        Teachers
2.8
2.8
0.8
0.8
            Primary, secondary, and special education
             school teachers
5.2
5.2
1.1
1.1
        Registered nurses
2.6
2.6
2.9
2.9
Service
2.6
2.6
1.9
1.9
    Protective service
6.5
6.5
2.2
2.2
Sales and office
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.7
    Sales and related
1.7
1.7
1.3
1.3
    Office and administrative support
1.3
1.3
0.9
0.9
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
2.1
2.1
1.6
1.6
    Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and
     forestry
3.8
3.8
3.0
3.0
    Installation, maintenance, and repair
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.7
Production, transportation, and material moving
1.9
1.9
1.3
1.3
    Production
2.5
2.5
1.5
1.5
    Transportation and material moving
2.5
2.5
1.7
1.7
Full time
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
Part time
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
Union
1.7
1.7
1.9
1.9
Nonunion
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
Average wage within the following categories:2
       
    Lowest 25 percent
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.4
        Lowest 10 percent
3.9
3.9
3.4
3.4
    Second 25 percent
1.3
1.3
1.0
1.0
    Third 25 percent
1.1
1.1
0.8
0.8
    Highest 25 percent
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.1
        Highest 10 percent
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
Establishment characteristics
       
Goods-producing industries
2.0
2.0
1.3
1.3
Service-providing industries
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
    Education and health services
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.5
        Educational services
1.8
1.8
0.7
0.7
            Elementary and secondary schools
4.6
4.6
1.8
1.8
            Junior colleges, colleges, and universities
1.8
1.8
0.9
0.9
        Health care and social assistance
2.5
2.5
1.9
1.9
            Hospitals
2.1
2.1
1.6
1.6
    Public administration
3.0
3.0
1.4
1.4
1 to 99 workers
1.6
1.6
1.2
1.2
    1 to 49 workers
1.7
1.7
1.5
1.5
    50 to 99 workers
2.9
2.9
2.2
2.2
100 workers or more
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
    100 to 499 workers
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.4
    500 workers or more
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
Geographic areas
       
Northeast
1.6
1.6
1.4
1.4
    New England
2.5
2.5
1.6
1.6
    Middle Atlantic
2.1
2.1
1.7
1.7
South
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.0
    South Atlantic
1.6
1.6
1.4
1.4
    East South Central
4.2
4.2
2.6
2.6
    West South Central
2.3
2.3
1.3
1.3
Midwest
1.3
1.3
1.5
1.5
    East North Central
1.4
1.4
1.6
1.6
    West North Central
3.0
3.0
3.3
3.3
West
1.7
1.7
1.3
1.3
    Mountain
3.4
3.4
3.0
3.0
    Pacific
2.0
2.0
1.2
1.2
1Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation.
2Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may
include workers with earnings both above and below the threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates
generated using wage data for March 2018.

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/national-compensation-survey-glossary-of-employee-benefit-terms.htm.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.