Analysis
NAICS 213114 is the 2022 national industry for support activities for metal mining, part of 21311 (Support Activities for Mining). Census lists 17 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 224 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 5,325 people at an average annual payroll of $110,349 per employee (88th percentile of national industries). 49% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include blasting services, metal mining, on a contract basis, boring test holes for metal mining on a contract basis, draining or pumping of metal mines on a contract basis and drilling services for metal mining on a contract basis, among 17 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 541360, 2122 and 238910. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, performing geophysical surveying and mapping services for metallic minerals on a contract or fee basis are classified in 541360 (Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services) instead.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 6% and employment rose 19%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing support activities (except geophysical surveying and mapping, site preparation, construction, and transportation activities), on a contract or fee basis, for the mining and quarrying of metallic minerals and for the extraction of metal ores. Exploration for these minerals is included in this industry. Exploration services include traditional prospecting methods, such as taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Performing geophysical surveying and mapping services for metallic minerals on a contract or fee basis | 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services |
| Operating metallic mineral mines or quarries on a contract or fee basis | 2122 Metal Ore Mining, based on the type of ore mined |
| Site preparation and related construction activities on a contract or fee basis | 238910 Site Preparation Contractors |
Index entries (17)
- Blasting services, metal mining, on a contract basis
- Boring test holes for metal mining on a contract basis
- Draining or pumping of metal mines on a contract basis
- Drilling services for metal mining on a contract basis
- Exploration services for metal (except geophysical surveying and mapping) on a contract basis
- Metal mining support services on a contract basis (e.g., shaft sinking, tunneling, blasting) (except geophysical surveying and mapping, site preparation, construction, and transportation activities)
- Mine development (except site preparation and related construction contractor activities) for metal mining on a contract basis
- Mine shaft sinking services for metal mining on a contract basis
- Mine tunneling services for metal mining on a contract basis
- Overburden removal for metal mining on a contract basis
- Prospect and test drilling services for metal mining on contract basis
- Pumping or draining metal mines on a contract basis
- Removal of overburden for metal mining on a contract basis
- Shaft sinking for metal mines on a contract basis
- Sinking shafts for metal mining on a contract basis
- Stripping overburden services for metal mining on a contract basis
- Test drilling for metal mining on a contract basis