401(k) field guide
Companies with the best 401(k) contributions
Employer money can materially change the value of a retirement plan. Public filings let us compare how much employer contribution was reported per active participant, while current plan documents explain the formula an individual employee can receive.
What the ranking measures
Our contribution comparison divides total employer contributions by active participants in the latest selected filing. It is a plan-wide average, not a promised match and not an estimate of any person’s benefit.
Profit-sharing, nonelective contributions, different employee groups, tenure, compensation, mergers, and partial-year participation can all affect the result.
The terms that determine real value
Read the match formula, compensation definition, annual cap, eligibility waiting period, true-up policy, and vesting schedule together. A generous headline match can be less valuable when vesting is slow or the contribution requires saving at a level you cannot sustain.
Compare like with like
Company size and industry influence contribution patterns. We show peer percentiles when the filing has enough comparable plans, and keep sample sizes visible so users can judge the strength of the comparison.
Use the data as a shortlist
A high reported contribution is a reason to investigate the current benefit, not a substitute for the plan document. Search the company profile, review the three-year trend, and confirm the current formula before making a benefits or employment decision.
Educational information only. Public filing data is historical and does not replace a current plan document or personalized financial advice.