Analysis
NAICS 3255 is the 2022 industry group for paint, coating, and adhesive manufacturing, part of 325 (Chemical Manufacturing). Census lists 47 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 1,664 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 77,815 people at an average annual payroll of $76,867 per employee (64th percentile of national industries). 26% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Across its national industries Census lists 47 index entries; typical ones are architectural coatings (i.e., paint) manufacturing and adhesives (except asphalt, dental, gypsum base)….
Its goods appear in 30 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 3214 (glaziers' putty, grafting putty, resin cements, caulking…), 3506 (prepared glues and other prepared adhesives, not elsewhere…) and 3814 (). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 32551 (Paint and Coating Manufacturing) with 1,125.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 3% and employment rose 21%. 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 industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) mixing pigments, solvents, and binders into paints and other coatings; (2) manufacturing allied paint products; and (3) manufacturing adhesives, glues, and caulking compounds.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (47)
- Architectural coatings (i.e., paint) manufacturing
- Adhesives (except asphalt, dental, gypsum base) manufacturing