Pick your state and industry to see how your state ranks for workplace 401k plan coverage, backed by actual DOL Form 5500 filings, not estimates.
Compiled by PlainRetire, Retirement Plans Editorial Process
54
States with data
20
Industries covered
This tool ranks every U.S. state by 401k plan coverage in your industry using actual DOL Form 5500 data.
Pick your state and industry to see how many plans exist in your area, how that compares to other states, and which states lead your field in workplace retirement plan coverage. All figures come from the most recent annual Form 5500 filings, the mandatory DOL disclosure every qualifying retirement plan must submit.
Find your state's coverage rank
Data from DOL Form 5500 filings (2026). Coverage reflects plan counts, not plan quality, employer match, or vesting terms.
What you'll see
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Your state's rank
How your state compares to all 50 states for 401k plan density in your industry
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Plan count + participants
Actual DOL Form 5500 plan counts and participant totals, not estimates
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State comparison table
Your state side-by-side with the top 3 states for your industry, URL-shareable
Frequently asked questions
What does "401k coverage" mean in this context?▾
Coverage refers to the number of employer-sponsored retirement plans (primarily 401k, but also other plan types like 403b and profit-sharing) that have filed a Form 5500 with the Department of Labor in your state and industry. A higher plan count suggests a broader ecosystem of employers offering workplace retirement benefits in that state and sector. It does not measure the quality of those plans, the employer match rate, or how many employees actually participate.
Why does my state have fewer plans than expected?▾
Plans are assigned to states based on the plan sponsor's (employer's) filing address. A large national employer based in Delaware might cover employees in all 50 states, but its plans would count toward Delaware's total. This means smaller or geographically peripheral states can appear lower-ranked even if local employees are well-covered by plans headquartered elsewhere. The data reflects where plans are administered, not necessarily where covered workers live.
Does this tell me which state is best to retire in?▾
No. This tool measures workplace 401k plan density by state and industry, it does not assess retirement quality, cost of living, healthcare access, climate, or tax treatment of retirement income. Those factors require different data sources. This tool answers a specific, narrower question: "How dense is the 401k plan ecosystem in my industry in my state?" For retirement destination research, consult resources that cover state income taxes on retirement income, cost-of-living indices, and healthcare availability.
Can I compare two states directly?▾
Not in a single view currently, but you can use the URL to bookmark each state's result and compare them side by side in two browser tabs. The URL encodes your state and industry selection (e.g., ?state=CA&industry=Healthcare+%26+Social+Assistance), so each combination has a shareable permanent link.