238320

Analysis

NAICS 238320 is the 2022 national industry for painting and wall covering contractors, part of 23832 (Painting and Wall Covering Contractors). Census lists 15 example activities under it in the official index.

County Business Patterns counts 38,280 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 208,201 people at an average annual payroll of $55,165 per employee (25th percentile of national industries). 75% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.

Census lists 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 237310, 238160, 238350 and 238390. 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.

Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include bridge painting, electrostatic painting, on-site, contractors, engineering structure (e.g., oil storage tank, water tower)… and house painting, among 15 in all.

For example, painting lines on highways, streets, and parking lots are classified in 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) instead.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 5% and employment rose 7%. 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.