Analysis
NAICS 238990 is the 2022 national industry for all other specialty trade contractors, part of 23899 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors). Census lists 48 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 22% and employment rose 24%. 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.
Census lists 11 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 2381, 2382, 2383 and 237310. 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.
County Business Patterns counts 42,748 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 309,293 people at an average annual payroll of $70,871 per employee (54th percentile of national industries). 67% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include artificial turf installation, asphalt coating and sealing, residential and commercial…, asphalting, residential and commercial driveway and parking… and billboard erection, among 48 in all.
For example, foundation, structure, and building exterior work are classified in 2381 (Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in specialized trades (except foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors; building equipment contractors; building finishing contractors; and site preparation contractors). The specialty trade work performed includes new work, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs.
Illustrative Examples:
Billboard erection Outdoor swimming pool construction Paver, brick (e.g., driveway, patio, sidewalk), installation Crane rental with operator Paving, residential and commercial driveway and parking lot Sandblasting building exteriors Fence installation Scaffold erecting and dismantling Interlocking brick and block installation Steeplejack work Manufactured (mobile) home set up and tie-down work Driveway paving or sealing
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Foundation, structure, and building exterior work | 2381 Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors |
| Installing, repairing, or maintaining building mechanical systems | 2382 Building Equipment Contractors |
| Finishing buildings | 2383 Building Finishing Contractors |
| Paving public highways, streets, and roads | 237310 Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction |
| Construction equipment rental with an operator (except cranes), preparing land for building construction, or building demolition | 238910 Site Preparation Contractors |
| Construction equipment rental without an operator | 532412 Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing |
| Radon testing | 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services |
| Swimming pool cleaning and maintenance, power washing, and other building exterior cleaning (except sandblasting) | 561790 Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings |
| Environmental remediation work, such as asbestos and lead paint abatement | 562910 Remediation Services |
| Installing electronic containment fencing for pets | 238210 Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors |
| Constructing indoor swimming pools | 236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction |
Index entries (48)
- Artificial turf installation
- Asphalt coating and sealing, residential and commercial parking lot and driveway
- Asphalting, residential and commercial driveway and parking area
- Billboard erection
- Blacktop work, residential and commercial driveway and parking area
- Boat lift installation
- Brick driveway contractors
- Brick paver (e.g., driveways, patios, sidewalks) installation
- Cable splicing (except electrical or fiber optic)
- Chain link fence installation
- Concrete patio construction
- Concrete paving, residential and commercial driveway and parking area
- Concrete sawing and drilling (except demolition)
- Construction elevator (i.e., temporary use during construction) erection and dismantling
- Crane rental with operator
- Culvert, concrete, residential and commercial paved area
- Curb and gutter construction, residential and commercial driveway and parking area, concrete
- Driveway paving or sealing
- Fence installation (except electronic containment fencing for pets)
- Fencing contractors (except electronic containment fencing for pets)
- Flagpole installation
- House moving (i.e., raising from one site, moving, and placing on a new foundation)
- Interlocking brick and block installation
- Mail box units, outdoor, multiple box-type, erection
- Manufactured (mobile) home set up and tie-down work
- Parking lot paving and sealing
- Patio construction
- Paver, brick (e.g., driveway, patio, sidewalk), installation
- Paving, residential and commercial driveway and parking lot
- Playground equipment installation
- Pole (e.g., telephone) removal
- Posthole digging
- Radon gas alleviation contractors
- Safety net system, erecting and dismantling at construction site
- Sandblasting, building exterior
- Scaffold erecting and dismantling
- Shoring, construction
- Sidewalk construction, residential and commercial
- Sign (except on highways, streets, bridges and tunnels) erection
- Sign, building, erection