About one in 10 workers earning more than $100,000 annually does not participate in the employer’s 401(k) plan, according to analysis conducted by Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Watson Wyatt also found that 52% of workers earning between $10,000 and $25,000 annually chose not to participate in their firms’ 401(k) plans. Among all workers whose employers offer 401(k) plans, about 70% participate in the plans, a percentage that has held relatively steady for several years, according to Ed Emerman, Watson Wyatt spokesman.
Also, workers earning at least $100,000 who do participate annually contribute almost 10% of their salary, Watson Wyatt’s analysis showed. Workers earning between $10,000 and $25,000 annually contribute 6.2% of their salary to 401(k) plans.
Watson Wyatt's analysis is based on data collected in December from 300,000 workers at 32 large employers that offer a 401(k) plan.
