For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, July 27, 2010 USDL-10-1044

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 2010 

Employer provided retirement plans were a common employee benefit in the United States, available to 74 

percent of all full-time workers in private industry in March 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 

today. By contrast, 39 percent of part-time private industry workers had access to a retirement plan. These 

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

occupation earnings, compensation cost trends, and incidence and provisions of employee benefit plans. 

Access to medical care benefits and paid sick leave benefits were provided to 86 and 74 percent of full-time 

private industry workers, respectively. Only 24 percent of part-time workers had access to medical care and 

26 percent to paid sick leave benefits. (See chart 1.) A worker with access to a medical or retirement plan is 

defined as having an employer-provided plan available for use, regardless of the workers’ decisions to 

enroll or participate in the plan. 

NOTE

More information will be published in early fall, including March 2010 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 Program Perspectives will be published featuring the latest benefits data. 

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/ncs/ebs. 

In percent 

Chart 2. High- and low-wage earners: Access to selected 

benefits, private industry, March 2010 

In percent 

Chart 1. Full- and part-time workers: Access to selected 

benefits, private industry, March 2010 
- 2 - 

The following are additional findings: 

 Sixty-five percent of private industry employees had access to retirement benefits, compared 

with 90 percent of state and local government employees. Eighty-five percent of state and local 

government employees participated in a retirement plan, a significantly greater percentage than 

for private industry workers, at 50 percent. (See table 1.) 

 Among full-time state and local government workers, virtually all (99 percent) had access to 

retirement and medical care benefits. Part-time workers’ access to these benefits was more 

limited in both private industry and in state and local government. (See tables 1 and 2.) 

 Medical care benefits were available to 71 percent of private industry workers, compared with 88 

percent among state and local government workers. About half of private industry workers 

participated in a plan, less than the 73 percent of state and local government workers. (See table 

2.) 

 Employers paid 82 percent of the cost of premiums for single coverage and 70 percent of the cost 

for family coverage, for workers participating in employer sponsored medical plans. The 

employer share for single coverage was greater in state and local government (89 percent) than 

in private industry (80 percent). For family coverage, the employer share of premiums was 

similar for private industry and state and local government, 70 and 73 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/ncs/home.htm. Also, BLS Regional Information 

offices, which are listed on the Internet site, http://www.bls.gov/bls/regncon.htm, are available to answer 

questions. 
- 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 2010 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, 

2010. Data on detailed provisions of health insurance and retirement benefits in private industry for 

2010 will be available in 2011. 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/ncs/ebs. 

Calculation details

Average wages for occupations within an establishment were used to produce estimates for worker 

groups averaging hourly pay within the six earnings categories: Lowest 10 percent, lowest 25 percent, 

second 25 percent, third 25 percent, highest 25 percent, and highest 10 percent. The categories are 

computed using earnings reported for individual workers in sampled establishment jobs and their 

scheduled hours of work. Establishments in the survey may report only individual worker earnings for 

each sampled job. For the calculation of these 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 and are used to determine the wage categories. 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, 2009 (Bulletin 2738). Values corresponding to the percentiles used in the tables are as 

follows: 

Characteristics 

Hourly wage percentiles 

10 25 50 

(median) 

75 90 

Civilian workers $8.40 $11.11 $16.55 $25.97 $38.60 

Private industry workers $8.10 $10.63 $15.70 $24.53 $37.02 

State and local government $11.64 $15.35 $22.04 $32.53 $44.48 

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 - 

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 2010 NCS benefits survey represented about 118 million civilian workers; of this number, 

about 99 million were private industry workers and 19 million were State and local government workers 

(see Appendix table 2). 

Survey response

The March 2010 benefits survey included a sample of 18,174 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: occupational characteristics (full- vs. part-time 

schedule, union vs. nonunion status, and time vs. incentive pay type), work schedule, and wage data. 

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

classification, worker characteristics, and work schedule data for any occupation. 

Out of business or not in survey scope. The establishment is no longer in operation, for example, 

following a bankruptcy. Establishments not in the survey scope include farm and private households, the 

self-employed, the federal government, and locations of an establishment out of the sampled area. Also 

excluded are establishments with no workers within the survey scope (if all employees are also owners, 

for example). 

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. 
- 5 - 

Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 National Compensation Survey, March 2010

(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 ............................................................. 69 55 80 65 50 76 90 85 95

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 83 74 89 80 68 86 92 87 95

Management, business, and financial ............... 86 78 90 85 76 89 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 82 73 88 77 65 84 91 87 95

Teachers ........................................................ 86 81 95 – – – 91 87 96

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 92 89 96 – – – 97 94 97

Registered nurses ......................................... 82 69 85 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 49 32 66 42 23 55 83 79 95

Protective service .............................................. 75 63 84 50 26 51 91 87 96

Sales and office ..................................................... 71 56 78 70 53 76 90 86 96

Sales and related ............................................... 66 43 66 66 43 65 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 74 63 84 72 59 82 91 88 96

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 67 55 81 64 51 79 94 91 96

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 65 50 78 61 45 74 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 70 59 84 68 56 83 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 67 52 78 66 51 77 88 84 96

Production ......................................................... 66 52 80 65 52 79 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 68 53 77 67 50 75 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 78 65 84 74 59 80 99 94 96

Part time ................................................................ 39 23 58 39 21 54 40 36 89

Union ..................................................................... 92 87 94 88 82 93 97 93 96

Nonunion ............................................................... 65 49 77 62 46 74 83 79 95

Average wage within the following categories:4

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 43 24 56 40 20 50 74 69 94

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 31 12 39 30 10 34 60 56 94

Second 25 percent ............................................ 70 54 78 67 48 73 94 89 95

Third 25 percent ................................................ 80 68 86 75 62 82 95 91 96

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 88 81 92 84 75 89 98 94 96

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 90 83 92 87 78 90 97 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

2010—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 ................................... 73 60 83 72 60 83 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 68 55 80 63 47 75 90 85 95

Education and health services ........................... 78 67 85 70 55 78 91 87 95

Educational services ...................................... 87 82 94 74 63 86 91 87 96

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 90 87 96 – – – 92 89 97

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 87 79 91 88 78 89 86 79 92

Health care and social assistance ................. 72 56 78 70 53 76 92 84 91

Hospitals .................................................... 89 78 87 – – – 94 84 90

Public administration ......................................... 90 86 96 – – – 90 86 96

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 52 37 70 51 35 69 77 74 96

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 48 34 71 47 32 69 71 68 95

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 65 46 70 64 43 68 87 84 97

100 workers or more .............................................. 84 72 86 81 66 82 91 87 95

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 79 63 80 78 60 77 88 84 96

500 workers or more .......................................... 88 80 91 85 75 88 93 88 95

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 67 55 83 63 50 80 86 82 96

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 72 60 84 68 56 82 92 87 94

East North Central ................................................. 69 56 81 67 52 78 85 82 96

West North Central ................................................ 72 58 81 69 54 78 89 82 92

South Atlantic ........................................................ 70 54 76 66 47 71 91 85 94

East South Central ................................................ 68 54 79 62 45 73 90 86 96

West South Central ............................................... 66 52 78 61 44 72 90 88 98

Mountain ................................................................ 70 55 79 66 49 75 89 87 97

Pacific .................................................................... 66 54 82 60 47 77 92 89 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

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 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, 2009." 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/glossary20092010.htm.
- 7 - 

Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March 2010

(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 55 75 71 51 73 88 73 83

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 88 68 78 87 66 76 90 73 81

Management, business, and financial ............... 94 74 79 94 74 78 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 85 66 78 83 63 76 89 73 82

Teachers ........................................................ 84 67 80 – – – 89 73 82

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 92 73 80 – – – 95 78 82

Registered nurses ......................................... 81 62 76 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 50 34 67 44 27 61 81 68 85

Protective service .............................................. 73 59 81 48 31 64 89 77 87

Sales and office ..................................................... 73 52 71 72 50 70 88 75 84

Sales and related ............................................... 64 41 65 64 41 64 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 79 59 74 78 56 72 89 75 84

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 78 62 79 76 60 78 95 81 86

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 72 58 80 70 56 80 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 84 66 78 83 64 77 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 76 59 77 76 59 77 82 69 84

Production ......................................................... 81 65 80 81 65 80 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 72 53 74 71 52 73 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 88 67 76 86 64 74 99 82 84

Part time ................................................................ 24 14 59 24 14 57 28 19 68

Union ..................................................................... 93 78 84 91 77 84 95 79 83

Nonunion ............................................................... 70 50 72 68 48 71 81 67 82

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 41 25 60 38 22 58 69 56 81

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 25 13 54 23 12 52 53 41 79

Second 25 percent ............................................ 78 56 72 76 52 69 91 78 85

Third 25 percent ................................................ 88 70 79 86 66 77 95 79 83

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 92 74 80 90 72 79 97 79 82

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 94 75 80 92 72 79 97 80 82

See footnotes at end of table.
- 8 - 

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

2010—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 69 81 85 69 81 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 71 52 73 68 48 70 88 72 83

Education and health services ........................... 80 60 75 75 53 70 89 72 81

Educational services ...................................... 86 68 80 76 54 72 88 72 81

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 88 69 79 – – – 89 71 80

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 87 72 83 90 69 76 86 75 87

Health care and social assistance ................. 76 54 71 75 52 70 91 76 83

Hospitals .................................................... 88 69 78 – – – 94 77 82

Public administration ......................................... 88 75 84 – – – 88 75 84

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 60 43 71 59 42 71 75 64 85

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 56 39 71 55 39 70 68 58 86

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 71 52 73 70 50 72 86 73 84

100 workers or more .............................................. 86 66 77 84 63 74 89 74 82

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 82 60 74 82 59 72 85 72 85

500 workers or more .......................................... 89 71 79 88 68 78 91 74 82

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 71 52 73 69 49 71 85 71 84

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 74 57 78 71 53 75 87 78 91

East North Central ................................................. 73 54 75 71 53 74 81 63 78

West North Central ................................................ 72 54 76 70 52 74 84 67 80

South Atlantic ........................................................ 75 53 71 72 49 69 91 74 81

East South Central ................................................ 78 60 77 74 55 74 94 80 85

West South Central ............................................... 71 51 72 67 47 69 90 74 82

Mountain ................................................................ 73 52 71 71 49 69 86 68 79

Pacific .................................................................... 74 58 79 71 55 77 90 75 83

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 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, 2009." 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/glossary20092010.htm.
- 9 - 

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

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2010

(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 ....................................................... 82 18 80 20 89 11

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 84 16 81 19 89 11

Management, business, and financial ............... 82 18 81 19 – –

Professional and related .................................... 84 16 82 18 88 12

Teachers ........................................................ 88 12 – – 89 11

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 89 11 – – 89 11

Registered nurses ......................................... 81 19 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 82 18 78 22 89 11

Protective service .............................................. 86 14 74 26 89 11

Sales and office ..................................................... 80 20 79 21 89 11

Sales and related ............................................... 76 24 76 24 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 82 18 80 20 89 11

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 83 17 82 18 90 10

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 85 15 84 16 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 82 18 81 19 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 82 18 81 19 89 11

Production ......................................................... 81 19 81 19 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 82 18 81 19 – –

Full time ................................................................. 82 18 80 20 89 11

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

Union ..................................................................... 89 11 89 11 90 10

Nonunion ............................................................... 80 20 79 21 89 11

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 78 22 77 23 89 11

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 76 24 75 25 89 11

Second 25 percent ............................................ 80 20 79 21 89 11

Third 25 percent ................................................ 83 17 81 19 90 10

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 84 16 82 18 88 12

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 84 16 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 2010—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 .................................. 82 18 80 20 89 11

Education and health services ........................... 85 15 82 18 89 11

Educational services ...................................... 88 12 80 20 89 11

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 89 11 – – 89 11

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 86 14 79 21 89 11

Health care and social assistance ................. 82 18 82 18 86 14

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

Public administration ......................................... 89 11 – – 89 11

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

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 81 19 80 20 92 8

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 80 20 79 21 90 10

100 workers or more .............................................. 83 17 81 19 89 11

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 81 19 79 21 90 10

500 workers or more .......................................... 84 16 82 18 88 12

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 79 21 78 22 85 15

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 84 16 82 18 92 8

East North Central ................................................. 82 18 80 20 90 10

West North Central ................................................ 82 18 80 20 90 10

South Atlantic ........................................................ 80 20 78 22 88 12

East South Central ................................................ 81 19 77 23 91 9

West South Central ............................................... 83 17 81 19 87 13

Mountain ................................................................ 83 17 81 19 90 10

Pacific .................................................................... 83 17 82 18 87 13

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 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, 2009." 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/glossary20092010.htm.
- 11 - 

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

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2010

(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 ....................................................... 70 30 70 30 73 27

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 72 28 71 29 72 28

Management, business, and financial ............... 72 28 71 29 – –

Professional and related .................................... 71 29 72 28 71 29

Teachers ........................................................ 69 31 – – 70 30

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 67 33 – – 69 31

Registered nurses ......................................... 72 28 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 68 32 65 35 74 26

Protective service .............................................. 75 25 63 37 78 22

Sales and office ..................................................... 68 32 67 33 74 26

Sales and related ............................................... 65 35 64 36 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 69 31 68 32 74 26

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 70 30 69 31 76 24

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 70 30 68 32 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 71 29 70 30 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 73 27 73 27 74 26

Production ......................................................... 74 26 74 26 – –

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

Full time ................................................................. 70 30 70 30 73 27

Part time ................................................................ 70 30 69 31 74 26

Union ..................................................................... 82 18 83 17 81 19

Nonunion ............................................................... 67 33 67 33 65 35

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 63 37 63 37 66 34

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 62 38 62 38 60 40

Second 25 percent ............................................ 67 33 66 34 75 25

Third 25 percent ................................................ 72 28 70 30 73 27

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 75 25 74 26 76 24

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 76 24 75 25 81 19

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 2010—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 .................................. 69 31 68 32 73 27

Education and health services ........................... 69 31 68 32 70 30

Educational services ...................................... 69 31 66 34 69 31

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 68 32 – – 68 32

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

Health care and social assistance ................. 69 31 68 32 74 26

Hospitals .................................................... 75 25 – – 74 26

Public administration ......................................... 79 21 – – 79 21

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 65 35 65 35 71 29

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 64 36 64 36 71 29

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 66 34 66 34 71 29

100 workers or more .............................................. 73 27 73 27 73 27

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 71 29 70 30 73 27

500 workers or more .......................................... 75 25 77 23 73 27

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 74 26 72 28 82 18

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 77 23 73 27 90 10

East North Central ................................................. 76 24 74 26 85 15

West North Central ................................................ 71 29 71 29 70 30

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

East South Central ................................................ 63 37 65 35 59 41

West South Central ............................................... 63 37 66 34 54 46

Mountain ................................................................ 69 31 69 31 69 31

Pacific .................................................................... 71 29 69 31 79 21

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 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, 2009." 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/glossary20092010.htm.
- 13 - 

Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March 2010

(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 ............................................................. 62 60 96 59 56 96 80 78 97

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 79 77 98 78 76 98 81 78 97

Management, business, and financial ............... 85 84 98 85 84 99 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 76 74 98 74 73 98 80 77 97

Teachers ........................................................ 74 72 97 – – – 79 77 97

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 79 78 98 – – – 83 82 98

Registered nurses ......................................... 73 71 98 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 40 37 94 33 31 93 75 72 97

Protective service .............................................. 74 71 96 58 53 90 84 83 98

Sales and office ..................................................... 60 58 96 58 56 95 81 79 97

Sales and related ............................................... 49 45 92 48 45 92 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 67 65 97 65 63 97 81 79 97

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 62 59 96 58 56 95 90 89 99

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 53 50 94 49 46 93 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 70 68 97 68 66 97 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 65 63 97 65 62 96 76 75 99

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

Transportation and material moving .................. 60 58 96 59 57 96 – – –

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

Part time ................................................................ 16 14 90 15 13 89 23 22 94

Union ..................................................................... 84 83 98 82 81 98 87 85 98

Nonunion ............................................................... 58 56 96 56 54 96 74 72 97

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 30 27 91 26 24 90 62 59 96

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 16 14 88 13 12 87 46 44 96

Second 25 percent ............................................ 65 63 96 63 60 95 84 82 98

Third 25 percent ................................................ 75 73 97 72 70 97 85 84 98

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 83 82 98 81 80 99 89 86 97

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 86 85 98 84 84 99 89 86 97

See footnotes at end of table.
- 14 - 

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

2010—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 .................................. 60 58 96 56 54 96 80 77 97

Education and health services ........................... 70 67 97 64 61 96 80 77 97

Educational services ...................................... 77 75 98 67 66 99 79 77 97

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

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 84 80 96 86 85 99 82 77 94

Health care and social assistance ................. 65 62 96 63 61 96 82 80 97

Hospitals .................................................... 86 84 98 – – – 89 85 96

Public administration ......................................... 82 80 98 – – – 82 80 98

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 44 41 95 43 40 95 64 62 97

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 39 37 95 38 36 95 61 59 96

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 57 55 95 57 54 95 69 67 97

100 workers or more .............................................. 78 76 97 77 75 97 82 80 97

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 71 68 96 71 68 96 73 71 98

500 workers or more .......................................... 86 84 98 86 85 99 85 83 97

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 60 58 97 58 57 97 72 69 96

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 60 59 99 56 55 98 84 84 99

East North Central ................................................. 66 63 96 64 61 96 78 74 95

West North Central ................................................ 63 62 97 61 59 96 77 76 99

South Atlantic ........................................................ 64 62 97 60 58 97 84 81 97

East South Central ................................................ 67 65 96 63 61 96 83 78 94

West South Central ............................................... 61 57 94 58 54 92 76 74 98

Mountain ................................................................ 62 59 96 58 55 95 83 82 98

Pacific .................................................................... 57 55 97 53 51 97 76 75 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 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, 2009." 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/glossary20092010.htm.
- 15 - 

Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2010

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

All workers ............................................................. 67 74 41 62 77 37 89 60 60

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 87 74 58 86 87 54 90 44 65

Management, business, and financial ............... 91 94 57 91 96 56 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 86 67 58 84 83 54 90 36 66

Teachers ........................................................ 84 17 64 – – – 88 12 70

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 92 12 76 – – – 93 9 79

Registered nurses ......................................... 81 82 62 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 48 61 28 42 59 24 85 75 51

Protective service .............................................. 69 79 42 37 66 24 89 87 54

Sales and office ..................................................... 69 80 41 67 80 40 91 86 55

Sales and related ............................................... 56 70 32 55 70 32 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 77 86 47 74 86 45 92 86 56

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 56 80 28 51 78 26 94 94 46

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 42 69 20 36 66 17 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 90 37 66 90 35 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 55 82 33 54 83 31 87 63 59

Production ......................................................... 53 90 30 53 90 30 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 57 74 35 55 75 33 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 79 86 47 74 91 43 98 67 65

Part time ................................................................ 28 36 21 26 37 19 41 20 30

Union ..................................................................... 83 73 58 71 87 48 97 57 71

Nonunion ............................................................... 64 75 38 61 76 36 83 62 50

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 35 54 21 32 53 19 75 56 45

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 22 40 14 19 39 12 62 40 37

Second 25 percent ............................................ 70 83 41 66 84 39 93 83 58

Third 25 percent ................................................ 80 88 46 75 89 43 94 71 65

Highest 25 perecent .......................................... 87 77 59 84 89 53 96 37 70

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 90 73 59 86 89 54 98 34 65

See footnotes at end of table.
- 16 - 

Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2010—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 55 88 30 54 88 30 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 69 72 43 64 75 39 89 59 60

Education and health services ........................... 83 65 58 78 79 53 90 43 65

Educational services ...................................... 87 40 62 75 53 46 90 36 66

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 90 27 70 – – – 90 27 72

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 86 68 49 82 72 56 88 66 45

Health care and social assistance ................. 79 84 55 78 83 54 91 90 58

Hospitals .................................................... 89 89 67 – – – 93 94 53

Public administration ......................................... 89 88 53 – – – 89 88 53

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 54 70 27 53 70 26 78 67 45

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 53 69 25 52 69 25 72 67 36

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 58 75 34 56 75 32 89 66 58

100 workers or more .............................................. 78 78 53 73 85 50 91 59 62

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 70 79 47 67 82 44 88 59 62

500 workers or more .......................................... 85 77 59 81 89 57 92 59 62

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 72 71 51 69 75 46 86 48 80

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 71 74 50 67 77 46 90 58 69

East North Central ................................................. 62 74 44 58 78 40 85 52 64

West North Central ................................................ 67 73 35 62 76 32 89 56 51

South Atlantic ........................................................ 65 77 40 60 79 36 93 68 57

East South Central ................................................ 63 75 36 55 77 35 91 67 39

West South Central ............................................... 67 74 37 63 78 32 86 52 61

Mountain ................................................................ 65 73 37 62 77 34 85 55 55

Pacific .................................................................... 70 75 37 65 76 33 93 68 58

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 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, 2009." 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/glossary20092010.htm.
- 17 - 

Appendix table 1. Survey establishment response, National

Compensation Survey, March 2010

Establishments Total Private industry State and local

governments

Total in sampling frame1 ................................ 5,224,243 5,008,241 216,002

 Total in sample ............................................ 18,174 16,151 2,023

 Responding ............................................... 10,791 9,018 1,773

 Refused or unable to provide data ............ 4,704 4,476 228

 Out of business or not in survey scope ..... 2,679 2,657 22

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. 
- 18 - 

Appendix table 2. Number of workers1 represented, National

Compensation Survey, March 2010

Occupational group2 Civilian workers Private industry

workers

State and local

government

workers

All workers ..................................................... 118,042,100 98,779,100 19,263,000

Management, professional, and related .... 34,559,900 23,948,400 10,611,500

Management, business, and financial ... 9,109,700 7,498,000 –

Professional and related ........................ 25,450,100 16,450,400 8,999,800

Teachers ........................................... 6,361,600 – 4,971,400

Primary, secondary, and special

education school teachers ........... 4,273,900 – 3,671,500

Registered nurses ............................. 2,588,700 – –

Service ...................................................... 25,604,400 21,495,200 4,109,200

Protective service .................................. 3,048,300 1,188,000 1,860,300

Sales and office ......................................... 30,859,100 28,061,600 2,797,500

Sales and related .................................. 11,326,200 11,175,200 –

Office and administrative support .......... 19,532,900 16,886,400 2,646,400

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance ............................................ 9,664,200 8,691,200 972,900

Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry ............................. 4,865,200 4,327,200 –

Installation, maintenance, and repair .... 4,798,900 4,364,000 –

Production, transportation, and material

moving ..................................................... 17,354,500 16,582,600 771,900

Production ............................................. 8,479,200 8,352,300 –

Transportation and material moving ...... 8,875,200 8,230,300 –

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

data were reported or that data did not meet

publication criteria.