DividendSteps

SCHD Expense Ratio: What You Pay at $10,000, $100,000 and $500,000

SCHD's expense ratio is 0.06% a year—$6 per $10,000 of average invested assets. At $100,000, the annual expense cost is $60; at $500,000, it is $300.

The calculation is straightforward: 0.06 ÷ 100 = 0.0006. Multiply the average invested balance by 0.0006 to calculate the annual expense cost.

At a 0.06 percent SCHD total expense ratio, hypothetical annual average invested balances of 10000, 100000 and 500000 dollars correspond to 6, 60 and 300 dollars of annual fund expense, calculated as balance times 0.0006.
Source: Schwab SCHD fund page, total expense ratio 0.060%, checked October 6, 2026. The balances are examples; annual cost = average invested balance × 0.0006. This visual does not update the other funds in the comparison table.

Schwab lists SCHD's total expense ratio as 0.06%. Fund operating expenses are paid from fund assets and reduce the value retained by shareholders.

The rates below were checked on September 10, 2026. Each dollar column uses the stated amount as the annual average invested balance.

FundAnnual expense ratioAnnual cost on $10,000Annual cost on $100,000Annual cost on $500,000
SCHD0.06%$6$60$300
VTI0.03%$3$30$150
SPYI0.68%$68$680$3,400

Every cost in the table follows the same formula: average invested balance × expense ratio ÷ 100.

VTI's fee is half SCHD's fee. In dollars, the annual difference is $3 on $10,000, $30 on $100,000 and $150 on $500,000. The largest of those gaps is $500,000 × (0.06 − 0.03) ÷ 100 = $150.

The funds also hold different portfolios. SCHD tracks a dividend-focused index; VTI provides broad exposure to the US stock market. Their expense ratios price two different stock-selection approaches.

SPYI combines S&P 500 stock exposure with a call-option strategy. Its 0.68% expense ratio exceeds SCHD's 0.06% by 0.62 percentage points. That difference costs $62 annually on $10,000, $620 on $100,000 and $3,100 on $500,000: $500,000 × (0.68 − 0.06) ÷ 100 = $3,100.

For monthly contributions, distinguish the amount deposited from the average invested balance. Depositing $500 each month adds $6,000 over twelve months: $500 × 12 = $6,000. The expense-ratio calculation uses average net assets; the contribution total measures deposits.

Among these three funds, VTI has the lowest expense ratio, SCHD is next, and SPYI has the highest. At a $500,000 annual average balance, SCHD costs $150 more than VTI and $3,100 less than SPYI per year.