For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, July 21, 2017 USDL-17-1013 

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

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

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES – MARCH 2017

Retirement and medical care benefits were available to 70 percent of civilian workers in March 2017, 

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ninety-four percent of union workers had access to 

employer-sponsored retirement and medical care benefits. For nonunion workers, 66 percent had access 

to retirement benefits and 67 percent to medical care benefits. (See chart 1 and tables 1 and 2.) 

For civilian workers, the shares employers paid of medical care premium costs were 80 percent for 

single coverage and 68 percent for family coverage. The employee and employer shares of premiums

also varied by bargaining status. Employers assumed 87 percent of the premium for single coverage for 

union workers and 79 percent for nonunion workers. For family coverage, union workers had 80 percent 

of the premium paid for by employers, whereas nonunion workers had 65 percent of the premium paid

by employers. (See chart 2 and tables 3 and 4.) 

Fifty-nine percent of civilian workers had access to life insurance. Among union workers, 86 percent

had access to life insurance benefits and for nonunion workers the rate was 55 percent. Work schedule 

also had an effect on availability of this workplace benefit. Seventy-five percent of full-time workers 

had access to life insurance, and 13 percent of part-time workers had access. (See chart 1 and table 5.) 

Percent

Chart 1. Civilian workers' access to selected 

employer-sponsored benefits, March 2017

Chart 2. Civilian workers' shares of medical care 

premiums, March 2017

Percent
Table A. Selected employer-sponsored benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates, March 

2017 

(All workers = 100 percent)

Benefit

Civilian Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up 

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-up rate

Retirement 70 54 77 66 50 75 91 80 88

Medical care 70 52 74 67 49 72 89 71 80

Life insurance 59 58 98 55 54 98 81 79 98

Note: For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at 

www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20162017.htm and the technical note.

Highlights of employer-sponsored benefits for private industry workers

• Among major occupational groups, access to retirement benefits ranged from 42 percent for

workers in service occupations to 82 percent for workers in management, professional, and

related occupations. (See table 1.)

• Eighty-five percent of full-time workers and 19 percent of part-time workers had access to

medical care benefits. (See table 2.)

• Participation rates in life insurance ranged from 12 percent for workers with an average wage in

the lowest 10 percent category to 85 percent for workers with an average wage in the highest 10

percent category. (See table 5.)

• For full-time workers, access to paid vacation was 91 percent and access to paid holidays was 

90 percent. For part-time workers, the corresponding figures were 36 percent and 41 percent, 

respectively. (See table 6.)

• The shares of medical care premiums paid by employees for single coverage ranged from 26

percent for workers with an average wage in the lowest 10 percent category to 20 percent for

workers with an average wage in the highest 10 percent category. For family coverage, the

shares ranged from 41 percent to 28 percent for the same two wage categories. (See tables 3 and

4.) 

Highlights of employer-sponsored benefits for state and local government workers

• Among full-time workers, access to both retirement and medical care benefits was 99 percent.

Part-time workers' access to these benefits was 46 percent and 27 percent, respectively. (See

tables 1 and 2.)

• Fifty-eight percent of workers with average wages in the lowest 10 percent category and 82

percent in the highest 10 percent category participated in retirement benefits. For medical care

benefits, participation was 46 percent and 74 percent, respectively. (See tables 1 and 2.)

• Access to life insurance benefits was 70 percent in establishments employing 1 to 49 workers

and 86 percent in those employing 500 workers or more. (See table 5.)

• The shares of medical care premiums paid by employees for family coverage ranged from 40

percent for workers with an average wage in the lowest 10 percent category to 25 percent for

workers with an average wage in the highest 10 percent category. (See table 4.) 

Additional Estimates Available Fall 2017

More information will be published September 22, 2017 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. For more information on employer-sponsored benefits, see www.bls.gov/ebs. 

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TECHNICAL NOTE

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

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This news release contains March 2017 

estimates on the incidence (access to and participation in) of selected employer-sponsored benefits and 

the share of premiums paid by employers and employees for medical plans for civilian, private industry, 

and state and local government workers in the United States. Workers in the civilian economy are 

defined as those employed in private industry and state and local government. Excluded from the 

civilian economy are workers employed in federal and quasi-federal agencies, military personnel, 

agricultural workers, volunteers, unpaid workers, individuals receiving long-term disability 

compensation, and those working overseas. In addition, private industry excludes workers in private 

households, the self-employed, workers who set their own pay (e.g., proprietors, owners, major 

stockholders, and partners in unincorporated firms), and family members paid token wages.

The NCS provides comprehensive measures of compensation cost levels and trends and also provides 

benefits incidence estimates on the percentage of workers with access to and participating in employerprovided benefit plans. The survey covers a broad range of benefits including holidays and vacations, 

sick leave, life insurance, and detailed provisions for health care and retirement plans. Archived NCS 

releases are available at www.bls.gov/ncs/ncspubs.htm. 

Comparing private and public sector data: Incidence of employee benefits in state and local

government should not be directly compared to private industry. Differences between these sectors stem 

from factors such as variation in work activities and occupational structures. Manufacturing and sales, 

for example, make up a large part of private industry work activities but are rare in state and local

government. Administrative support and professional occupations (including teachers) account for twothirds of the state and local government workforce, compared with one-half of private industry. 

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 

vacations or holidays. In many cases, the time off during winter and spring breaks during the school year 

are not considered vacation days for the purposes of this survey. 

Medical plan premiums: The estimates for medical plan premiums are not based on actual decisions 

regarding medical coverage made by employees; instead they are based on the assumption that all

employees in the occupation can opt for single or family coverage. Monthly premiums are collected

when possible. Annual premiums are converted to monthly premiums by dividing by 12 months. 

Sample rotation: The state and local government sample was replaced in its entirety for the March 

2017 reference period. It was last replaced with the March 2007 reference period. The government 

sample is replaced less frequently than the private industry sample. One-third of the private industry 

sample is rotated each year except in years when the government sample is replaced. 

Sample size: See appendix table 1 at the end of this release.

Survey scope: See appendix table 2 at the end of this release.

Geographic areas: Areas are defined by four census regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. 

Census divisions within the regions are defined as follows: New England: Connecticut, Maine, 

- 3 -
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, 

and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, 

Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East 

North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, 

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, 

Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, 

and Washington.

Standard errors: To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of benefits estimates, standard errors are 

made available shortly after publication of the news release. Standard errors provide users a measure of 

the precision of an estimate to ensure that it is within an acceptable range for their intended purpose. For 

further information see www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/nb_var.htm.

Obtaining information: For research articles on employee benefits, see the Monthly Labor Review

benefits section at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/subject/b.htm and Beyond the Numbers: Pay and Benefits at 

www.bls.gov/opub/btn/archive/home.htm. For further technical information, see Chapter 8, "National 

Compensation Measures," BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf. 

Definitions of major terms:

Access: Employees are considered to have access to a benefit plan if it is available for their use. For 

example, if an employee is permitted to participate in a medical plan offered by the employer, but the 

employee declines to do so, he or she is placed in a category with those having access to medical care

benefits. 

Participation: Employees in contributory plans are considered participants in an insurance or retirement 

plan if they have paid required contributions and fulfilled any applicable service requirements. 

Employees in noncontributory plans are counted as participating regardless of whether they have 

fulfilled the service requirements. Note that the term "incidence" can refer to either rates of access or 

rates of participation in a benefit plan. 

Take-up rate: The percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan. 

Retirement benefits include defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution retirement plans. 

Workers are counted as having access or participating in retirement benefits if they have access or 

participate in at least one type of plan, defined benefit or defined contribution; some workers may have 

access to or participate in both. Differences in retirement plan participation are influenced by type of 

plan offered. Participation in defined benefit plans is often mandatory, subject to any applicable 

eligibility requirements, while participation in defined contribution plans is often voluntary. 

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

qualified medical care provider.

Calculation details: Average hourly earnings from sampled occupations within an establishment were 

used to produce estimates for worker groups within six earnings categories: the lowest 10 percent, the 

lowest 25 percent, the second 25 percent, the third 25 percent, the highest 25 percent, and the highest 10 

percent. The categories are based on unpublished March 2017 wages and salaries series from the 

Employer Costs for Employee Compensation at www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_06092017.pdf.

- 4 -
The percentiles were computed using earnings and scheduled hours of work reported for individual 

workers in sampled establishment jobs. Establishments in the survey are asked to report only individual 

worker earnings for each sampled job. For the calculation of the hourly percentile values, the individual 

worker hourly earnings are weighted and arrayed from lowest to highest. The values corresponding to 

the percentiles are:

Characteristics

Hourly wage percentiles

10 25

50 

(median) 75 90

Civilian $10.00 $12.86 $19.23 $30.95 $47.02

 Private industry $9.79 $12.25 $18.16 $29.44 $46.10

 State and local government $13.19 $17.79 $26.50 $37.75 $51.18

The lowest 10-percent and 25-percent wage categories include those occupations with an average hourly 

wage less than the 10th percentile value and 25th percentile value, respectively. The second 25-percent 

category includes those occupations that earn at or above the 25th percentile value but less than the 50th

percentile value. The third 25-percent category includes those occupations that earn at or above the 50th

percentile value but less than the 75th percentile value. Finally, the highest 25- and 10-percent wage 

categories include those occupations with an average wage value greater than or equal to the 75th and 

90th percentile value, respectively.

Individual workers can be in an earnings category that is different from the occupation into which they 

are classified because average hourly earnings for the occupation are used to produce the benefit 

estimates.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. 

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Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 March 2017

(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 ............................................................. 70 54 77 66 50 75 91 80 88

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 85 73 86 82 70 86 94 81 86

Management, business, and financial ............... 88 77 88 87 76 88 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 84 71 85 79 67 84 93 80 86

Teachers ........................................................ 85 74 87 – – – 94 81 86

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 94 82 87 – – – 99 86 87

Registered nurses ......................................... 89 74 84 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 47 30 62 42 22 54 84 76 90

Protective service .............................................. 79 63 80 61 32 52 92 86 94

Sales and office ..................................................... 72 53 74 70 51 72 91 80 88

Sales and related ............................................... 67 41 62 67 41 61 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 75 60 80 72 57 79 92 81 88

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 66 52 79 63 48 77 97 89 91

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 62 49 80 58 45 78 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 54 78 67 51 76 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 71 54 76 71 53 75 90 80 89

Production ......................................................... 74 56 76 74 56 76 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 69 52 75 68 50 74 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 81 65 80 77 60 78 99 87 88

Part time ................................................................ 38 22 59 38 21 56 46 39 84

Union ..................................................................... 94 83 88 92 82 90 97 83 86

Nonunion ............................................................... 66 49 75 64 47 73 86 77 89

Average wage within the following categories:4

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 45 25 55 42 21 51 78 68 87

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 34 15 44 33 14 41 67 58 87

Second 25 percent ............................................ 70 52 74 66 46 70 94 83 88

Third 25 percent ................................................ 82 68 83 78 64 81 98 86 88

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 90 80 89 88 77 88 97 84 87

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 91 81 89 89 81 90 96 82 85

See footnotes at end of table.

- 6 -
Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 March 2017—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 60 80 75 60 80 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 69 53 77 65 48 74 91 80 88

Education and health services ........................... 80 65 81 72 57 79 93 79 85

Educational services ...................................... 88 76 86 72 64 89 93 79 86

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 90 78 87 – – – 93 80 86

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 91 77 85 88 78 89 92 76 83

Health care and social assistance ................. 74 57 78 72 56 77 93 78 83

Hospitals .................................................... 91 78 86 – – – 93 77 83

Public administration ......................................... 91 84 92 – – – 91 84 92

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 55 40 73 53 37 71 87 79 90

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 50 36 72 49 34 71 85 78 91

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 68 50 73 65 46 70 90 80 89

100 workers or more .............................................. 85 68 80 83 65 78 93 80 87

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 80 61 76 79 58 73 91 81 90

500 workers or more .......................................... 91 77 85 89 76 85 93 80 86

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 72 58 82 68 55 80 91 80 88

New England ..................................................... 73 57 78 71 55 78 86 68 80

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 71 59 83 67 54 81 93 84 90

South ..................................................................... 71 53 74 67 47 71 94 83 89

South Atlantic .................................................... 71 54 76 68 50 74 92 79 87

East South Central ............................................ 72 50 70 68 44 64 94 85 91

West South Central ........................................... 70 52 74 65 45 69 97 87 90

Midwest ................................................................. 73 56 77 70 53 75 90 76 85

East North Central ............................................. 72 55 76 70 52 75 88 74 84

West North Central ............................................ 75 58 77 72 54 75 92 80 87

West ...................................................................... 64 51 79 60 46 77 89 78 88

Mountain ............................................................ 66 52 78 63 47 75 86 78 91

Pacific ................................................................ 63 50 80 58 45 78 90 79 87

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. 3 Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 4 Surveyed 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 2017.

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/glossary20162017.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2017

(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 ............................................................. 70 52 74 67 49 72 89 71 80

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 88 67 76 86 65 75 92 72 79

Management, business, and financial ............... 95 73 77 95 73 76 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 85 64 76 82 61 74 91 71 78

Teachers ........................................................ 84 63 75 – – – 92 71 77

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 95 70 74 – – – 99 75 76

Registered nurses ......................................... 86 63 73 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 44 29 66 39 23 61 80 65 81

Protective service .............................................. 68 51 75 41 21 52 89 73 82

Sales and office ..................................................... 68 49 72 66 47 71 89 73 83

Sales and related ............................................... 54 37 69 54 37 69 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 76 55 73 74 53 71 90 74 83

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 74 59 79 72 57 79 95 78 82

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 67 56 83 65 54 83 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 81 62 77 79 60 76 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 75 56 74 75 55 74 85 69 82

Production ......................................................... 81 62 76 81 62 76 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 69 50 72 69 49 71 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 88 65 75 85 63 73 99 80 80

Part time ................................................................ 19 12 61 19 11 60 27 19 70

Union ..................................................................... 94 76 81 93 79 84 95 73 77

Nonunion ............................................................... 67 48 72 65 46 71 83 69 83

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 37 23 63 33 20 60 72 58 80

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 24 14 57 22 12 55 59 46 78

Second 25 percent ............................................ 75 53 72 71 49 69 93 76 81

Third 25 percent ................................................ 87 67 77 85 64 76 97 78 81

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 93 73 78 92 72 78 95 74 78

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 94 73 78 94 73 78 93 74 80

See footnotes at end of table.

- 8 -
Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2017—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 ................................... 85 67 80 85 67 80 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 68 49 72 64 45 70 89 71 80

Education and health services ........................... 79 58 73 73 51 69 90 70 78

Educational services ...................................... 86 66 77 75 56 74 90 69 77

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 88 66 75 – – – 90 68 76

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 90 72 80 90 70 78 90 74 82

Health care and social assistance ................. 75 52 70 73 50 68 91 77 84

Hospitals .................................................... 91 68 75 – – – 91 77 84

Public administration ......................................... 90 75 83 – – – 90 75 83

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 57 41 71 55 39 70 85 68 80

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 53 37 71 51 36 70 82 67 82

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 70 50 72 67 47 71 89 69 78

100 workers or more .............................................. 84 63 75 82 61 74 90 72 80

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 79 58 74 78 57 73 86 69 80

500 workers or more .......................................... 90 69 77 89 67 76 92 73 80

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 71 52 74 68 50 73 87 68 78

New England ..................................................... 70 49 70 67 46 70 88 64 73

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 71 53 75 69 51 74 87 69 80

South ..................................................................... 71 52 74 68 48 71 93 77 83

South Atlantic .................................................... 70 51 73 67 47 71 91 75 83

East South Central ............................................ 74 56 75 70 51 72 92 83 90

West South Central ........................................... 71 53 74 67 48 72 96 78 81

Midwest ................................................................. 71 50 70 68 47 69 85 64 75

East North Central ............................................. 70 49 70 69 47 69 83 64 77

West North Central ............................................ 71 50 71 68 48 71 88 63 72

West ...................................................................... 69 54 78 66 51 77 88 70 80

Mountain ............................................................ 68 52 76 66 50 76 86 67 78

Pacific ................................................................ 69 54 79 66 51 78 89 72 81

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. 2 Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 3 Surveyed 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 2017.

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/glossary20162017.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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

coverage, March 2017

(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 ....................................................... 80 20 79 21 86 14

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 81 19 80 20 85 15

Management, business, and financial ............... 80 20 79 21 – –

Professional and related .................................... 82 18 80 20 85 15

Teachers ........................................................ 84 16 – – 84 16

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 84 16 – – 84 16

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

Service ................................................................... 80 20 77 23 87 13

Protective service .............................................. 87 13 81 19 88 12

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

Sales and related ............................................... 77 23 77 23 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 80 20 78 22 88 12

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 80 20 79 21 89 11

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 80 20 79 21 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 80 20 79 21 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 80 20 79 21 86 14

Production ......................................................... 79 21 79 21 – –

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

Full time ................................................................. 80 20 79 21 86 14

Part time ................................................................ 78 22 77 23 85 15

Union ..................................................................... 87 13 87 13 86 14

Nonunion ............................................................... 79 21 77 23 87 13

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 77 23 75 25 87 13

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 75 25 74 26 87 13

Second 25 percent ............................................ 80 20 78 22 87 13

Third 25 percent ................................................ 81 19 79 21 86 14

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 81 19 80 20 85 15

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 81 19 80 20 85 15

See footnotes at end of table.

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

coverage, March 2017—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 ................................... 80 20 80 20 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 80 20 78 22 86 14

Education and health services ........................... 82 18 79 21 85 15

Educational services ...................................... 84 16 80 20 85 15

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 84 16 – – 84 16

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 84 16 80 20 86 14

Health care and social assistance ................. 80 20 79 21 87 13

Hospitals .................................................... 83 17 – – 87 13

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

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 79 21 78 22 87 13

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 79 21 78 22 88 12

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 78 22 77 23 86 14

100 workers or more .............................................. 81 19 80 20 86 14

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 80 20 79 21 87 13

500 workers or more .......................................... 83 17 81 19 86 14

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 82 18 81 19 84 16

New England ..................................................... 78 22 78 22 77 23

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 83 17 82 18 87 13

South ..................................................................... 80 20 78 22 86 14

South Atlantic .................................................... 79 21 78 22 85 15

East South Central ............................................ 81 19 78 22 88 12

West South Central ........................................... 79 21 77 23 87 13

Midwest ................................................................. 79 21 78 22 87 13

East North Central ............................................. 79 21 78 22 85 15

West North Central ............................................ 80 20 78 22 90 10

West ...................................................................... 81 19 80 20 87 13

Mountain ............................................................ 79 21 78 22 87 13

Pacific ................................................................ 82 18 81 19 87 13

1 Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 Surveyed 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 2017.

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/glossary20162017.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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

coverage, March 2017

(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 ....................................................... 68 32 67 33 71 29

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 69 31 68 32 70 30

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

Professional and related .................................... 68 32 68 32 69 31

Teachers ........................................................ 65 35 – – 66 34

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 64 36 – – 65 35

Registered nurses ......................................... 70 30 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 65 35 62 38 73 27

Protective service .............................................. 77 23 73 27 78 22

Sales and office ..................................................... 66 34 65 35 72 28

Sales and related ............................................... 63 37 64 36 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 67 33 65 35 72 28

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 68 32 68 32 74 26

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 68 32 68 32 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 68 32 68 32 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 72 28 72 28 70 30

Production ......................................................... 73 27 73 27 – –

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

Full time ................................................................. 68 32 68 32 71 29

Part time ................................................................ 63 37 62 38 70 30

Union ..................................................................... 80 20 83 17 76 24

Nonunion ............................................................... 65 35 65 35 66 34

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 60 40 59 41 66 34

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 57 43 59 41 60 40

Second 25 percent ............................................ 67 33 66 34 74 26

Third 25 percent ................................................ 70 30 68 32 69 31

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 71 29 71 29 74 26

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 73 27 72 28 75 25

See footnotes at end of table.

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

coverage, March 2017—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 ................................... 72 28 72 28 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 67 33 66 34 71 29

Education and health services ........................... 65 35 64 36 67 33

Educational services ...................................... 66 34 66 34 66 34

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

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 70 30 69 31 71 29

Health care and social assistance ................. 65 35 63 37 74 26

Hospitals .................................................... 73 27 – – 75 25

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

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 64 36 63 37 73 27

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 65 35 64 36 72 28

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 64 36 62 38 73 27

100 workers or more .............................................. 70 30 70 30 70 30

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 67 33 66 34 71 29

500 workers or more .......................................... 74 26 76 24 70 30

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 74 26 72 28 82 18

New England ..................................................... 73 27 72 28 77 23

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 74 26 72 28 84 16

South ..................................................................... 64 36 64 36 63 37

South Atlantic .................................................... 66 34 66 34 65 35

East South Central ............................................ 66 34 66 34 63 37

West South Central ........................................... 61 39 61 39 59 41

Midwest ................................................................. 69 31 69 31 73 27

East North Central ............................................. 70 30 70 30 74 26

West North Central ............................................ 68 32 67 33 72 28

West ...................................................................... 69 31 67 33 75 25

Mountain ............................................................ 66 34 65 35 71 29

Pacific ................................................................ 70 30 68 32 77 23

1 Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 Surveyed 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 2017.

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/glossary20162017.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2017

(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 ............................................................. 59 58 98 55 54 98 81 79 98

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 78 76 99 76 75 99 83 81 98

Management, business, and financial ............... 85 84 99 84 83 99 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 75 73 98 71 70 99 82 80 98

Teachers ........................................................ 74 73 98 – – – 81 80 98

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 82 81 98 – – – 86 85 98

Registered nurses ......................................... 76 75 98 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 35 33 95 28 27 94 75 73 97

Protective service .............................................. 71 68 96 50 48 95 86 84 97

Sales and office ..................................................... 56 55 98 54 52 98 82 79 97

Sales and related ............................................... 42 40 96 42 40 96 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 64 63 98 62 61 98 82 80 97

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 57 55 97 54 52 97 90 88 99

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 49 47 97 45 44 97 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 64 62 98 62 60 98 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 63 61 97 62 60 97 80 78 98

Production ......................................................... 68 66 98 67 66 98 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 58 55 96 56 54 95 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 75 73 98 71 70 98 91 89 98

Part time ................................................................ 13 12 90 12 11 89 24 22 95

Union ..................................................................... 86 83 97 84 80 96 88 87 98

Nonunion ............................................................... 55 53 98 53 51 98 75 73 97

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 25 24 93 22 20 92 65 63 97

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 16 14 89 14 12 87 52 50 97

Second 25 percent ............................................ 61 60 97 57 55 97 87 85 98

Third 25 percent ................................................ 75 74 98 71 70 98 87 85 98

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 84 83 99 83 82 99 88 86 98

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 85 84 99 85 85 99 84 82 97

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2017—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 ................................... 70 68 98 70 68 98 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 57 56 98 53 51 98 81 79 98

Education and health services ........................... 69 68 98 62 62 99 82 80 97

Educational services ...................................... 77 76 98 66 66 99 81 79 98

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 76 75 98 – – – 79 77 98

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 87 85 98 87 87 99 86 84 97

Health care and social assistance ................. 64 63 99 61 61 99 88 84 96

Hospitals .................................................... 88 87 99 – – – 88 84 95

Public administration ......................................... 84 81 97 – – – 84 81 97

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 43 42 97 40 39 97 74 73 98

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 37 36 98 36 35 98 70 69 98

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 57 55 97 54 52 97 79 77 98

100 workers or more .............................................. 76 74 98 74 72 98 83 81 97

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 68 66 97 66 64 97 77 75 97

500 workers or more .......................................... 86 84 98 85 84 99 86 84 97

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 60 59 98 56 55 98 82 80 98

New England ..................................................... 60 58 97 57 56 98 82 75 92

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 59 59 99 56 55 99 82 82 99

South ..................................................................... 61 60 97 58 56 97 82 80 97

South Atlantic .................................................... 61 60 98 57 56 98 85 82 97

East South Central ............................................ 58 56 96 55 53 96 74 71 96

West South Central ........................................... 63 61 96 60 57 96 82 80 97

Midwest ................................................................. 61 60 98 58 57 98 81 79 98

East North Central ............................................. 61 59 97 58 57 98 80 78 97

West North Central ............................................ 62 61 98 59 57 98 81 80 99

West ...................................................................... 53 52 98 48 47 98 79 78 98

Mountain ............................................................ 56 55 98 52 51 98 82 82 100

Pacific ................................................................ 51 50 98 47 46 98 78 77 98

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. 2 Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 3 Surveyed 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 2017.

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/glossary20162017.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, March 2017

(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 ............................................................. 72 74 76 68 76 77 91 60 68

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 89 77 81 88 88 90 93 47 57

Management, business, and financial ............... 94 95 96 93 97 97 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 88 69 75 85 83 86 93 40 52

Teachers ........................................................ 85 20 36 – – – 92 15 32

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 96 19 32 – – – 99 13 28

Registered nurses ......................................... 90 89 89 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 51 55 54 46 52 50 84 74 78

Protective service .............................................. 77 76 79 58 58 64 91 89 90

Sales and office ..................................................... 75 80 82 73 80 82 92 86 88

Sales and related ............................................... 64 72 74 64 72 74 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 81 85 87 79 85 87 92 86 88

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 63 80 82 60 78 80 95 97 96

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 51 68 70 47 65 67 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 74 91 92 73 91 92 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 63 81 83 62 82 83 89 63 71

Production ......................................................... 62 87 90 62 87 90 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 65 75 76 63 76 77 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 84 87 88 81 91 90 99 67 74

Part time ................................................................ 36 35 40 35 36 41 45 23 34

Union ..................................................................... 87 74 80 79 89 89 97 57 69

Nonunion ............................................................... 69 74 75 67 75 76 86 63 67

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 46 52 54 43 50 51 78 58 64

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 31 42 42 30 42 41 65 44 51

Second 25 percent ............................................ 72 82 83 69 82 82 95 85 88

Third 25 percent ................................................ 85 88 89 81 89 90 97 63 70

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 91 80 83 89 91 92 96 41 52

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 92 80 83 92 92 93 94 37 49

See footnotes at end of table.

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Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, March 2017—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 ................................... 67 88 90 67 88 90 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 72 71 73 69 74 75 91 60 67

Education and health services ........................... 84 67 73 80 79 82 92 44 55

Educational services ...................................... 89 41 53 79 56 65 92 37 49

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 91 27 40 – – – 92 26 39

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 89 71 81 84 73 81 92 70 81

Health care and social assistance ................. 81 83 85 80 83 85 93 91 92

Hospitals .................................................... 93 93 93 – – – 93 90 92

Public administration ......................................... 91 90 91 – – – 91 90 91

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 61 68 69 59 69 70 89 56 64

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 59 67 68 58 67 68 87 65 71

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 67 69 71 63 72 73 92 46 57

100 workers or more .............................................. 82 80 82 79 85 86 92 62 69

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 77 79 82 75 82 84 90 60 68

500 workers or more .......................................... 88 81 83 86 90 90 93 63 70

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 74 73 75 71 76 77 90 57 64

New England ..................................................... 73 70 73 71 73 75 90 54 59

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 74 74 76 71 76 77 90 58 66

South ..................................................................... 70 76 78 66 79 80 92 62 69

South Atlantic .................................................... 70 76 80 66 78 80 91 66 77

East South Central ............................................ 70 79 80 66 83 81 90 61 71

West South Central ........................................... 70 74 75 66 78 79 94 56 56

Midwest ................................................................. 67 74 74 64 77 76 90 55 66

East North Central ............................................. 67 74 75 63 77 77 89 54 67

West North Central ............................................ 68 73 72 64 76 73 92 56 63

West ...................................................................... 77 71 74 75 72 74 92 67 71

Mountain ............................................................ 65 70 72 61 72 73 87 61 66

Pacific ................................................................ 83 71 75 82 72 75 94 69 74

1 Includes workers in private industry and state and local government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 Surveyed 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 2017.

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/glossary20162017.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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Appendix table 1. Survey establishment response, March 2017

Establishments Civilian Private industry State and local

governments

Total in sampling frame1 ................................ 6,211,244 5,978,422 232,822

 Total in sample ............................................ 11,400 9,802 1,598

 Responding2 .............................................. 8,175 6,728 1,447

 Refused3 .................................................... 2,149 2,009 140

 Out of business or not in survey scope ..... 1,076 1,065 11

1 The sampling frame was developed from state unemployment insurance reports and is based on the 2012

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). With some minor exceptions, an establishment is a

single economic unit that engages in one, or predominantly one, type of economic activity. For private industry,

the establishment is usually at a single physical location such as a mine, factory, office, or store; if a sampled

establishment is owned by a larger entity with many locations, only the employment and characteristics of the

establishment selected for the sample are considered for the survey. For state and local governments, an

establishment can include more than one physical location, such as a school district or a police department. 2 Establishments that provided data at the initial interview. 3 Establishments that did not provide data at the initial interview. Data for establishments not responding at

the time of update interviews are imputed. Detailed information on nonresponse adjustment and imputation can

be found in BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 8, “National Compensation Measures,” Bureau of Labor

Statistics, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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Appendix table 2. Number of workers represented,1 March 2017

Occupational group2 Civilian workers Private industry

workers

State and local

government

workers

All workers ..................................................... 135,130,100 115,818,600 19,311,400

Management, professional, and related .... 41,997,200 30,926,300 11,070,900

Management, business, and financial ... 12,124,700 10,499,300 –

Professional and related ........................ 29,872,400 20,427,000 9,445,400

Teachers ........................................... 6,873,700 – 5,126,600

Primary, secondary, and special

education school teachers ........... 4,696,300 – 3,934,100

Registered nurses ............................. 3,141,400 – –

Service ...................................................... 29,105,500 25,183,000 3,922,400

Protective service .................................. 3,247,200 1,391,000 1,856,200

Sales and office ......................................... 33,398,500 30,687,000 2,711,500

Sales and related .................................. 12,452,600 12,366,800 –

Office and administrative support .......... 20,945,800 18,320,200 2,625,700

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance ............................................ 10,590,600 9,742,500 848,100

Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry ............................. 5,124,400 4,641,700 –

Installation, maintenance, and repair .... 5,466,200 5,100,800 –

Production, transportation, and material

moving ..................................................... 20,038,400 19,279,900 758,500

Production ............................................. 9,640,600 9,519,300 –

Transportation and material moving ...... 10,397,800 9,760,500 –

1 The numbers 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 2010 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.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

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