For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, July 11, 2012 USDL-12-1380 

Technical information: (202) 691-6199 • NCSinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ebs 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

(NOTE: Some estimates that include access to paid sick leave benefits were corrected in the BLS database on

December 7, 2017. For additional information about this correction, see www.bls.gov/bls/errata/ebs-errata-07212017.htm.)

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES – MARCH 2012

Access to employer-provided benefits was greater in medium and large private industry establishments than 

in small establishments in March 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Access, or 

availability of a benefit, was 57 percent for medical care benefits in small establishments (those with fewer 

than 100 employees), compared with 89 percent in large establishments (those with 500 employees or 

more). In private industry, retirement benefits were available to 50 percent of workers in small 

establishments, 79 percent of workers in medium size establishments (those employing between 100 and 

499 workers), and 86 percent of workers in large establishments. (See chart 1.) 

Paid leave benefits followed a similar pattern. The difference was more pronounced in the availability of 

paid sick leave, which was offered to 52 percent of workers in small establishments and 82 percent in large 

establishments. Paid holidays and paid vacation were available to 69 percent of workers in small 

establishments and 91 and 90 percent, respectively, to workers in large establishments. (See chart 2.) 

These data are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), which provides comprehensive 

measures of compensation cost trends and incidence and provisions of employee benefit plans. 

Employee and employer shares of medical premiums did not vary significantly by establishment size for 

single coverage, but did for family coverage. On average, small establishments assumed 63 percent of 

the cost of family coverage, whereas large establishments paid for 77 percent of the cost of family 

medical plans. (See tables 3 and 4.) 

In percent 

Chart 2. Large, medium, and small establishments: 

Access to selected paid leave benefits, private industry, 

March 2012 

In percent 

Chart 1. Large, medium, and small establishments: Access 

to selected benefits, private industry, March 2012 
2 

Additional findings include: 

 In private industry, access to benefits varied by several worker and establishment characteristics,

including occupational group, and work schedule. Medical care benefits were offered to 41

percent of workers in service occupations and 87 percent of workers in management,

professional, and related occupations. These benefits were offered to 24 percent of part-time

workers and 86 percent of full-time workers. (See table 2.)

 In state and local government, full- and part-time status was an important factor in benefit

access among workers. Full-time workers in state and local government had a high rate of

access to employer-provided benefits. Retirement and medical benefits were offered to 99

percent of full-time workers and paid sick leave to 98 percent. (See tables 1, 2, and 6.)

 Participation and take-up rates were typically higher in state and local government than in private

industry. For example, 84 percent of state and local government workers participated in

retirement benefits, compared with 48 percent of private industry workers. For retirement

benefits, the take-up rate was 95 percent for state and local government workers, compared with

only 75 percent for private industry workers. Employees were considered participating in a plan

if they paid any required contributions and fulfilled any applicable service requirements. Take-up

rates are the percentage of workers with access to a plan that participate in the plan. (See table

1.)

 State and local government employers paid a greater share of medical premiums than private

industry employers. For single coverage, 87 percent of the total premium was assumed by

employers in state and local governments, compared with 79 percent in private industry. For

family premiums, the corresponding figures were 71 and 68 percent, respectively. (See tables 3

and 4.)

More information can be obtained by calling (202) 691-6199, sending e-mail to NCSinfo@bls.gov, or 

by visiting the BLS Internet site, http://www.bls.gov/ebs/home.htm. 

NOTE

More information will be published in early fall, including March 2012 data for civilian, private 

industry, and state and local government workers on the incidence and provisions of health care benefits, 

retirement benefits, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability benefits, paid holidays and 

vacations, and other selected benefits. 

In addition, new editions of Beyond the Numbers: Pay and Benefits will be published featuring the latest 

benefits data. Beyond the Numbers: Pay and Benefits, a new BLS publication replacing Program

Perspectives, brings together employee benefits information from various National Compensation 

Survey publications into one convenient and easy-to-read format. For the latest benefit publications, see: 

http://www.bls.gov/ebs. 
3 

TECHNICAL NOTE 

Data in this release are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), conducted by the U.S. 

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This release contains March 2012 data on 

civilian, private industry, and state and local government workers in the United States. Under the NCS 

program, information on the incidence and provision of benefits is published in several stages. This 

news release provides data on the incidence of (access to and participation in) selected benefits and the 

share of premiums paid by employers and employees for medical care. An extensive number of tables 

on the incidence of selected benefits will be available in the annual bulletin to be published in early fall, 

2012. Previous publications containing information on employee benefits for private industry and state 

and local government workers are available on the BLS website http://www.bls.gov/ebs. 

Calculation details

Averages for occupations within an establishment were used to produce estimates for average hourly 

pay within the six earnings percentiles: Lowest 10 percent, lowest 25 percent, second 25 percent, third 

25 percent, highest 25 percent, and highest 10 percent. The percentiles are computed using earnings 

reported for individual workers in sampled establishment jobs and their scheduled hours of work. The 

categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers 

with earnings both above and below the threshold. For the calculation of percentile estimates, the 

individual worker hourly earnings are appropriately weighted and then arrayed from lowest to highest. 

The published 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles designate position in the earnings distribution 

within each published occupation. At the 50th percentile, the median, half of the hours are paid the same 

as or more than the rate shown in the data tables, and half are paid the same as or less than the rate 

shown. At the 25th percentile, one-fourth of the hours are paid the same as or less than the rate shown. 

At the 75th percentile, one-fourth are paid the same as or more than the rate shown. The 10th and 90th 

percentiles follow the same logic. The percentile values are based on wages published in the bulletin 

National Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2010 (Bulletin 2753). 

Values corresponding to the percentiles used in the tables are as follows: 

Characteristics 

Hourly wage percentiles 

10 25 50

(median) 

75 90

Civilian workers $8.50 $11.17 $16.73 $26.25 $39.33 

Private industry workers $8.25 $10.69 $15.87 $24.81 $37.89 

State and local government $11.77 $15.52 $22.27 $33.01 $45.31 

The tables on employer and employee medical premiums (tables 3 and 4) include participants in all 

medical plans, with calculations for both single and family coverage. The calculations are not based on 

actual decisions regarding medical coverage made by employees within the occupations. Rather, the 

premium calculations are based on the assumption that all employees in the occupation have identical 

coverage. 
4 

Medical care

Medical care plans provide services or payments for services rendered in the hospital or by a qualified 

medical care provider. 

Take-up rates

Take-up rates are the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan. They are 

computed by using the number of workers participating in a plan divided by the number of workers with 

access to the plan, multiplied by 100, and rounded to the nearest one percent. Since the computation of 

take-up rates is based on the number of workers collected rather than rounded percentage estimates, the 

take-up rates in the tables may not equal the ratio of participation to access estimates. 

Leave benefits for teachers

Primary, secondary, and special education teachers typically have a work schedule of 37 or 38 weeks per 

year. Because of this work schedule, they are generally not offered vacation or holidays. In many cases, 

the time off during winter and spring breaks during the school year is not considered vacation days for 

the purposes of this survey. 

Survey scope

The March 2012 NCS benefits survey represented about 123 million civilian workers; of this number, 

about 104 million were private industry workers and 19 million, state and local government workers (see 

Appendix table 2). 

Survey response

The March 2012 benefits survey included a sample of 12,545 establishments. The definitions in 

Appendix table 1 are as follows: 

Responding. The establishment provided information on at least one usable occupation. An occupation 

is classified as usable if the following data are present: earnings, occupational characteristics (full- vs. 

part-time schedule, union vs. nonunion status, and time vs. incentive pay type), and work schedule. 

Refused or unable to provide data. The establishment did not provide earnings, occupational 

characteristics, and work schedule data for any occupation. 

Out of business or not in survey scope. The establishment is no longer in operation. Establishments not 

in the survey scope include farm and private households, the self-employed, the Federal government, 

and locations of an establishment that are not in the sampled area. Also excluded are establishments with 

no workers within the survey scope. For example, an establishment where all the workers are also 

owners would be excluded. 
5 

Obtaining information

For research articles on employee benefits, see the Monthly Labor Review or Compensation and 

Working Conditions Online at the BLS Web sites http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/home.htm and 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/home.htm. For further technical information, see Chapter 8, "National 

Compensation Measures," of the BLS Handbook of Methods at: 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf and http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch8_a.htm. 
Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 National Compensation Survey, March 2012

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian3 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

All workers ............................................................. 68 54 79 65 48 75 89 84 95

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 83 74 89 79 68 86 91 86 95

Management, business, and financial ............... 84 76 91 83 74 90 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 82 72 88 78 65 84 91 86 95

Teachers ........................................................ 88 83 94 – – – 91 87 96

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 97 93 96 – – – 99 96 97

Registered nurses ......................................... 82 69 84 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 47 29 63 40 21 51 83 79 95

Protective service .............................................. 76 60 78 56 22 40 91 87 96

Sales and office ..................................................... 71 54 76 69 51 74 89 85 95

Sales and related ............................................... 67 42 63 67 41 62 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 73 61 83 70 57 81 90 86 96

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 68 55 81 65 51 78 95 90 95

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 65 52 80 61 46 76 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 71 58 81 69 55 80 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 67 52 77 66 50 76 87 82 95

Production ......................................................... 69 54 78 69 54 78 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 65 49 75 64 47 73 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 78 65 83 74 59 80 99 94 95

Part time ................................................................ 38 21 54 38 19 50 39 35 90

Union ..................................................................... 95 88 93 92 85 92 97 92 95

Nonunion ............................................................... 64 48 75 62 45 72 83 78 95

Average wage within the following categories:4

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 41 21 51 38 17 45 73 69 94

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 30 10 33 29 8 28 59 55 93

Second 25 percent ............................................ 70 52 75 65 46 70 93 88 95

Third 25 percent ................................................ 79 67 85 75 61 82 94 89 94

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 88 80 91 85 75 89 98 94 96

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 90 83 92 86 78 91 98 94 96

See footnotes at end of table.

6
Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 National Compensation Survey, March

2012—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian3 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 75 61 82 74 61 81 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 67 53 79 63 46 74 89 84 95

Education and health services ........................... 77 66 85 69 54 78 90 85 94

Educational services ...................................... 86 80 93 71 60 84 91 86 95

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 91 86 95 – – – 92 88 96

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 87 78 90 90 77 87 86 78 91

Health care and social assistance ................. 70 55 78 69 53 77 88 81 91

Hospitals .................................................... 90 77 86 – – – 95 85 89

Public administration ......................................... 90 86 95 – – – 90 86 95

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 51 36 70 50 34 68 77 73 95

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 47 33 70 46 32 69 69 66 96

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 65 45 70 63 42 67 89 84 95

100 workers or more .............................................. 84 71 84 82 65 80 91 86 95

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 80 61 77 79 58 74 87 83 96

500 workers or more .......................................... 89 80 91 86 76 88 92 87 94

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 69 54 79 66 50 76 84 79 95

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 69 56 82 65 51 79 91 84 92

East North Central ................................................. 71 57 81 69 54 78 85 81 96

West North Central ................................................ 72 57 79 68 52 76 91 83 91

South Atlantic ........................................................ 68 51 75 64 45 70 90 83 92

East South Central ................................................ 72 57 79 66 47 72 92 90 97

West South Central ............................................... 68 52 77 64 46 72 88 86 98

Mountain ................................................................ 66 50 76 63 45 71 88 85 97

Pacific .................................................................... 64 53 83 59 47 78 91 88 97

1 Includes defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution retirement plans.

Workers are considered as having access or as participating if they have access to or are

participating in at least one of these plan types. 2 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan

who participate in the plan, rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details. 3 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households,

and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for

further explanation.

4 The categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which

may include workers with earnings both above and below the threshold. The average wages

are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey: Occupational

Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical Note for more details.

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/glossary20112012.htm.

7
Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March 2012

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

All workers ............................................................. 73 54 74 70 51 72 87 73 84

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 88 69 78 87 67 76 89 74 83

Management, business, and financial ............... 93 73 78 94 72 77 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 86 67 78 84 64 76 89 73 82

Teachers ........................................................ 86 70 81 – – – 88 72 82

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 97 79 81 – – – 98 80 82

Registered nurses ......................................... 82 64 77 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 47 32 68 41 25 62 81 69 85

Protective service .............................................. 68 56 83 39 28 71 89 77 87

Sales and office ..................................................... 73 52 71 72 50 70 87 73 84

Sales and related ............................................... 63 42 67 63 42 67 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 79 58 73 78 56 71 87 73 83

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 78 60 76 77 57 75 95 83 87

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 72 57 78 70 53 76 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 84 62 75 83 61 73 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 76 57 76 75 57 76 83 70 84

Production ......................................................... 82 64 78 82 64 77 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 69 51 74 69 50 73 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 88 67 76 86 64 74 99 83 84

Part time ................................................................ 24 13 56 24 13 54 24 17 71

Union ..................................................................... 95 79 83 94 78 83 95 79 83

Nonunion ............................................................... 69 50 72 67 48 71 80 68 84

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 38 22 59 34 19 57 68 55 81

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 21 11 51 19 9 50 54 43 79

Second 25 percent ............................................ 77 55 72 74 51 69 91 78 86

Third 25 percent ................................................ 87 68 78 86 65 76 93 79 85

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 93 75 80 92 73 79 97 80 83

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 95 76 80 93 74 79 97 82 84

See footnotes at end of table.

8
Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March

2012—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 86 67 78 86 67 78 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 70 52 74 67 47 71 87 73 84

Education and health services ........................... 80 60 75 76 53 70 88 72 82

Educational services ...................................... 86 69 80 81 59 74 88 71 81

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 88 70 79 – – – 89 71 80

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 86 71 82 90 68 76 84 73 86

Health care and social assistance ................. 76 54 71 75 52 69 88 73 84

Hospitals .................................................... 89 68 77 – – – 94 79 84

Public administration ......................................... 88 77 87 – – – 88 77 87

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 58 41 72 57 41 71 73 63 87

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 54 38 71 54 38 70 64 56 88

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 70 51 72 69 49 71 87 74 85

100 workers or more .............................................. 86 66 76 85 63 74 89 74 83

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 82 60 73 82 59 72 85 72 84

500 workers or more .......................................... 90 71 79 89 68 76 90 75 83

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 74 54 72 72 51 71 87 68 78

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 73 57 78 71 53 75 86 77 89

East North Central ................................................. 73 54 73 72 52 72 80 62 78

West North Central ................................................ 71 52 74 68 48 71 85 71 84

South Atlantic ........................................................ 72 52 72 69 47 69 90 75 84

East South Central ................................................ 77 59 77 72 52 72 92 85 92

West South Central ............................................... 72 53 74 69 50 72 90 73 80

Mountain ................................................................ 71 50 71 68 48 70 87 70 80

Pacific .................................................................... 72 56 78 69 53 76 88 75 85

1 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan

who participate in the plan, rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details. 2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households,

and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for

further explanation. 3 The categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which

may include workers with earnings both above and below the threshold. The average wages

are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey: Occupational

Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical Note for more details.

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/glossary20112012.htm.

9
Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2012

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

All workers participating in single coverage

medical plans ....................................................... 81 19 79 21 87 13

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 83 17 81 19 87 13

Management, business, and financial ............... 81 19 80 20 – –

Professional and related .................................... 83 17 81 19 87 13

Teachers ........................................................ 86 14 – – 87 13

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 87 13 – – 87 13

Registered nurses ......................................... 80 20 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 80 20 77 23 88 12

Protective service .............................................. 85 15 77 23 88 12

Sales and office ..................................................... 79 21 78 22 88 12

Sales and related ............................................... 74 26 74 26 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 81 19 79 21 88 12

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 82 18 81 19 88 12

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 84 16 83 17 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 81 19 80 20 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 81 19 80 20 87 13

Production ......................................................... 80 20 80 20 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 81 19 80 20 – –

Full time ................................................................. 81 19 80 20 87 13

Part time ................................................................ 75 25 74 26 83 17

Union ..................................................................... 88 12 88 12 88 12

Nonunion ............................................................... 79 21 78 22 87 13

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 76 24 75 25 87 13

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 75 25 72 28 88 12

Second 25 percent ............................................ 80 20 78 22 88 12

Third 25 percent ................................................ 82 18 80 20 88 12

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 83 17 81 19 86 14

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 83 17 82 18 89 11

See footnotes at end of table.

10
Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2012—Continued

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 82 18 82 18 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 81 19 79 21 87 13

Education and health services ........................... 83 17 80 20 87 13

Educational services ...................................... 85 15 79 21 87 13

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 86 14 – – 87 13

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 85 15 79 21 88 12

Health care and social assistance ................. 81 19 80 20 86 14

Hospitals .................................................... 82 18 – – 86 14

Public administration ......................................... 88 12 – – 88 12

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 80 20 79 21 91 9

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 80 20 79 21 91 9

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 79 21 78 22 91 9

100 workers or more .............................................. 82 18 80 20 87 13

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 80 20 79 21 88 12

500 workers or more .......................................... 83 17 81 19 87 13

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 77 23 75 25 84 16

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 83 17 81 19 89 11

East North Central ................................................. 81 19 80 20 89 11

West North Central ................................................ 82 18 79 21 91 9

South Atlantic ........................................................ 80 20 78 22 87 13

East South Central ................................................ 81 19 78 22 87 13

West South Central ............................................... 81 19 80 20 86 14

Mountain ................................................................ 81 19 79 21 88 12

Pacific .................................................................... 82 18 81 19 86 14

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those

in private households, and workers in the public sector, except the

federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 The categories are based on the average wage for each

occupation surveyed, which may include workers with earnings both

above and below the threshold. The average wages are based on the

estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical

Note for more details.

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/glossary20112012.htm.

11
Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2012

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

All workers participating in family coverage

medical plans ....................................................... 69 31 68 32 71 29

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 70 30 70 30 69 31

Management, business, and financial ............... 70 30 69 31 – –

Professional and related .................................... 70 30 71 29 68 32

Teachers ........................................................ 66 34 – – 67 33

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 65 35 – – 66 34

Registered nurses ......................................... 71 29 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 65 35 61 39 73 27

Protective service .............................................. 75 25 63 37 77 23

Sales and office ..................................................... 67 33 67 33 73 27

Sales and related ............................................... 64 36 64 36 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 69 31 68 32 72 28

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 69 31 69 31 72 28

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 70 30 69 31 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 31 69 31 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 73 27 73 27 70 30

Production ......................................................... 74 26 73 27 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 71 29 72 28 – –

Full time ................................................................. 69 31 69 31 71 29

Part time ................................................................ 66 34 66 34 69 31

Union ..................................................................... 80 20 83 17 78 22

Nonunion ............................................................... 66 34 66 34 63 37

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 60 40 60 40 63 37

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 60 40 58 42 56 44

Second 25 percent ............................................ 67 33 66 34 73 27

Third 25 percent ................................................ 70 30 68 32 71 29

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 72 28 72 28 73 27

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 74 26 73 27 79 21

See footnotes at end of table.

12
Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2012—Continued

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 74 26 74 26 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 68 32 67 33 71 29

Education and health services ........................... 66 34 65 35 67 33

Educational services ...................................... 66 34 64 36 66 34

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 64 36 – – 64 36

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 71 29 69 31 72 28

Health care and social assistance ................. 67 33 66 34 72 28

Hospitals .................................................... 74 26 – – 73 27

Public administration ......................................... 77 23 – – 77 23

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 63 37 63 37 71 29

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 63 37 63 37 73 27

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 64 36 63 37 68 32

100 workers or more .............................................. 72 28 73 27 71 29

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 69 31 69 31 70 30

500 workers or more .......................................... 74 26 77 23 71 29

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 72 28 71 29 79 21

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 75 25 72 28 87 13

East North Central ................................................. 74 26 72 28 83 17

West North Central ................................................ 70 30 70 30 69 31

South Atlantic ........................................................ 64 36 64 36 65 35

East South Central ................................................ 62 38 66 34 55 45

West South Central ............................................... 63 37 66 34 52 48

Mountain ................................................................ 67 33 67 33 63 37

Pacific .................................................................... 68 32 66 34 76 24

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those

in private households, and workers in the public sector, except the

federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 The categories are based on the average wage for each

occupation surveyed, which may include workers with earnings both

above and below the threshold. The average wages are based on the

estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical

Note for more details.

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/glossary20112012.htm.

13
Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March 2012

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

All workers ............................................................. 61 59 97 57 56 97 79 77 98

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 78 77 98 78 77 99 80 78 97

Management, business, and financial ............... 85 84 99 85 85 99 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 76 74 98 74 73 98 79 77 97

Teachers ........................................................ 75 74 97 – – – 78 76 97

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 83 82 98 – – – 85 84 98

Registered nurses ......................................... 75 74 99 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 36 34 95 29 27 94 75 74 98

Protective service .............................................. 69 67 97 46 43 94 86 85 99

Sales and office ..................................................... 59 57 97 57 55 96 79 77 98

Sales and related ............................................... 47 44 94 47 44 94 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 66 65 98 64 63 98 79 77 98

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 62 60 96 59 56 96 90 89 99

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 55 52 95 50 47 95 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 66 97 67 64 96 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 64 62 97 63 61 97 77 76 99

Production ......................................................... 70 68 97 70 68 97 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 57 56 97 56 54 96 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 76 74 97 73 71 97 90 88 98

Part time ................................................................ 14 13 92 13 12 92 22 21 95

Union ..................................................................... 85 84 98 85 83 98 86 84 98

Nonunion ............................................................... 56 55 97 55 53 97 73 71 97

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 26 24 92 22 20 91 62 60 98

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 12 11 89 11 10 87 48 46 96

Second 25 percent ............................................ 63 61 97 60 57 96 83 81 98

Third 25 percent ................................................ 74 73 98 72 70 98 84 83 98

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 84 83 99 82 81 99 88 86 97

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 87 86 99 85 85 99 90 86 96

See footnotes at end of table.

14
Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March

2012—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 72 70 97 72 70 97 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 59 57 97 54 53 97 79 77 98

Education and health services ........................... 69 67 98 63 61 98 79 77 97

Educational services ...................................... 76 74 98 67 66 99 79 77 97

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 77 75 98 – – – 78 76 98

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 82 79 96 83 82 99 81 77 94

Health care and social assistance ................. 63 62 97 62 60 97 79 76 97

Hospitals .................................................... 86 83 98 – – – 89 86 96

Public administration ......................................... 82 81 98 – – – 82 81 98

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 42 40 96 41 39 96 61 60 98

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 37 35 96 36 34 96 59 57 97

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 58 56 96 57 55 96 65 64 98

100 workers or more .............................................. 78 76 98 77 75 98 82 80 98

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 71 69 97 70 68 97 74 73 98

500 workers or more .......................................... 85 84 98 86 84 99 84 82 98

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 63 62 97 62 61 98 73 68 93

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 58 58 99 54 53 99 84 83 99

East North Central ................................................. 65 63 97 63 62 98 79 75 95

West North Central ................................................ 64 62 97 61 59 96 79 79 99

South Atlantic ........................................................ 60 58 97 56 54 96 83 81 98

East South Central ................................................ 68 65 96 63 61 96 84 79 94

West South Central ............................................... 63 60 96 60 57 95 76 75 98

Mountain ................................................................ 58 56 97 54 52 96 80 79 99

Pacific .................................................................... 54 53 98 50 49 98 72 71 99

1 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan

who participate in the plan, rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details. 2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households,

and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for

further explanation. 3 The categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which

may include workers with earnings both above and below the threshold. The average wages

are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey: Occupational

Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical Note for more details.

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/glossary20112012.htm.

15
Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2012

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

All workers ............................................................. 66 74 76 61 77 77 89 59 67

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 86 75 79 84 87 89 90 43 55

Management, business, and financial ............... 90 94 95 90 96 97 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 84 67 73 81 83 85 90 36 49

Teachers ........................................................ 85 16 34 – – – 88 12 30

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 95 11 28 – – – 95 9 27

Registered nurses ......................................... 81 82 84 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 47 59 56 40 56 53 85 75 78

Protective service .............................................. 69 78 80 40 64 70 90 88 87

Sales and office ..................................................... 67 79 81 65 – 81 89 84 85

Sales and related ............................................... 52 67 70 52 67 69 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 75 86 88 73 86 89 90 84 86

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 57 83 83 53 82 82 95 95 96

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 45 74 75 39 72 73 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 68 91 91 65 90 90 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 54 82 83 52 83 84 87 63 73

Production ......................................................... 54 90 91 54 90 91 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 53 73 76 51 75 77 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 79 87 – 75 91 90 98 67 74

Part time ................................................................ 25 34 39 23 35 40 40 20 29

Union ..................................................................... 84 75 80 73 91 91 97 57 69

Nonunion ............................................................... 62 74 75 60 75 76 82 62 66

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 32 51 52 29 49 50 75 55 62

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 20 38 35 18 37 33 62 41 49

Second 25 percent ............................................ 68 82 84 64 83 84 93 84 87

Third 25 percent ................................................ 79 89 – 75 90 90 93 69 76

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 87 79 82 84 90 91 96 36 49

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 90 76 79 86 90 90 98 34 45

See footnotes at end of table.

16
Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2012—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 57 90 90 56 90 90 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 67 71 73 62 74 75 89 59 67

Education and health services ........................... 81 65 71 77 79 81 89 42 55

Educational services ...................................... 87 41 53 79 59 65 89 36 50

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 90 27 42 – – – 90 27 42

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 85 68 78 82 73 80 87 66 77

Health care and social assistance ................. 77 83 84 76 83 83 87 86 88

Hospitals .................................................... 88 89 91 – – – 93 93 94

Public administration ......................................... 89 89 88 – – – 89 89 88

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 53 69 69 52 69 69 78 66 69

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 51 67 67 50 67 67 70 65 66

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 57 75 75 55 75 76 90 67 73

100 workers or more .............................................. 77 79 82 73 86 87 90 58 67

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 69 80 82 66 83 84 87 59 63

500 workers or more .......................................... 86 78 82 82 90 91 91 58 68

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 70 72 72 67 76 75 86 48 54

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 69 73 77 65 76 79 89 58 62

East North Central ................................................. 62 74 77 58 78 79 85 53 65

West North Central ................................................ 64 72 74 59 75 75 90 58 69

South Atlantic ........................................................ 65 76 77 60 78 77 92 66 77

East South Central ................................................ 65 76 77 57 78 79 90 66 71

West South Central ............................................... 67 75 77 64 79 81 85 52 54

Mountain ................................................................ 61 74 73 58 77 75 83 54 59

Pacific .................................................................... 67 72 73 63 72 73 91 67 73

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private

households, and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See

Technical Note for further explanation. 2 The categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed,

which may include workers with earnings both above and below the threshold. The

average wages are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation

Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2010." See Technical Note for more

details.

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/glossary20112012.htm.

17
Appendix table 1. Survey establishment response, National

Compensation Survey, March 2012

Establishments Total Private industry State and local

governments

Total in sampling frame1 ................................ 5,260,659 5,041,564 219,095

 Total in sample ............................................ 12,545 10,951 1,594

 Responding ............................................... 7,998 6,618 1,380

 Refused or unable to provide data ............ 3,045 2,850 195

 Out of business or not in survey scope ..... 1,502 1,483 19

1 The list of establishments from which the survey

sample was selected (sampling frame) was

developed from State unemployment insurance

reports and is based on the 2007 North American

Industry Classification System (NAICS). For private

industries, an establishment is usually a single

physical location. For State and local governments,

an establishment is defined as all locations of a

government entity. 

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual

items may not equal totals. 

18
Appendix table 2. Number of workers1 represented, National

Compensation Survey, March 2012

Occupational group2 Civilian workers Private industry

workers

State and local

government

workers

All workers ..................................................... 122,742,800 103,882,000 18,860,800

Management, professional, and related .... 36,579,100 26,183,300 10,395,700

Management, business, and financial ... 10,377,700 8,817,400 –

Professional and related ........................ 26,201,300 17,365,900 8,835,400

Teachers ........................................... 6,145,000 – 4,952,800

Primary, secondary, and special

education school teachers ........... 4,120,500 – 3,642,100

Registered nurses ............................. 2,726,100 – –

Service ...................................................... 26,834,000 22,791,300 4,042,700

Protective service .................................. 3,121,000 1,299,800 1,821,200

Sales and office ......................................... 31,979,400 29,254,600 2,724,900

Sales and related .................................. 11,769,000 11,633,100 –

Office and administrative support .......... 20,210,500 17,621,400 2,589,100

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance ............................................ 9,179,400 8,252,300 927,200

Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry ............................. 4,378,200 3,867,000 –

Installation, maintenance, and repair .... 4,801,200 4,385,200 –

Production, transportation, and material

moving ..................................................... 18,170,800 17,400,500 770,300

Production ............................................. 8,818,100 8,705,000 –

Transportation and material moving ...... 9,352,700 8,695,400 –

1 The number of workers represented by the

survey are rounded to the nearest 100. Estimates of

the number of workers provide a description of the

size and composition of the labor force included in

the survey. Estimates are not intended, however, for

comparison to other statistical series to measure

employment trends or levels.

2 The 2000 Standard Occupational Classification

system is used to classify workers.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual

items may not equal totals. Dashes indicate that no

estimates for this characteristic are provided in this

publication.

19