Analysis
NAICS 424210 is the 2022 national industry for drugs and druggists' sundries merchant wholesalers, part of 42421 (Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 57 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 8,919 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 302,952 people at an average annual payroll of $159,612 per employee (98th percentile of national industries). 51% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 14% and employment fell 1%. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include antibiotics merchant wholesalers, antiseptics merchant wholesalers, bacteriological medicines merchant wholesalers and bandages (except surgical) merchant wholesalers, among 57 in all.
For example, the merchant wholesale distribution of surgical, dental, and hospital equipment are classified in 423450 (Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Census lists 1 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423450. 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.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of biological and medical products; botanical drugs and herbs; and pharmaceutical products intended for internal and/or external consumption in such forms as ampoules, tablets, capsules, vials, ointments, powders, solutions, and suspensions.
Illustrative Examples:
Antibiotics merchant wholesalers Endocrine substances merchant wholesalers Blood derivatives merchant wholesalers In-vitro and in-vivo diagnostics merchant wholesalers Drugs merchant wholesalers Botanicals merchant wholesalers Vaccines merchant wholesalers Cosmetics merchant wholesalers Vitamins merchant wholesalers Veterinarians' medicines merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| The merchant wholesale distribution of surgical, dental, and hospital equipment | 423450 Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (57)
- Antibiotics merchant wholesalers
- Antiseptics merchant wholesalers
- Bacteriological medicines merchant wholesalers
- Bandages (except surgical) merchant wholesalers
- Beauty preparations merchant wholesalers
- Beauty supplies merchant wholesalers
- Biologicals and allied products merchant wholesalers
- Blades, razor, merchant wholesalers
- Blood derivatives merchant wholesalers
- Blood plasma merchant wholesalers
- Botanical drugs and herbs merchant wholesalers
- Botanicals merchant wholesalers
- Colognes merchant wholesalers
- Cosmetics merchant wholesalers
- Dental care preparations merchant wholesalers
- Dentifrices merchant wholesalers
- Deodorants, personal, merchant wholesalers
- Dermatological medicines merchant wholesalers
- Diagnostic reagents merchant wholesalers
- Diagnostics, in-vitro and in-vivo, merchant wholesalers
- Dietary supplements merchant wholesalers
- Drug proprietaries merchant wholesalers
- Druggists' sundries merchant wholesalers
- Drugs merchant wholesalers
- Endocrine substances merchant wholesalers
- First-aid kits, household, merchant wholesalers
- First-aid supplies, household, merchant wholesalers
- Gauze merchant wholesalers
- General-line drugs merchant wholesalers
- Hair care products merchant wholesalers
- Hair preparations (except professional) merchant wholesalers
- Hand sanitizers merchant wholesalers
- Herbal supplements merchant wholesalers
- Hygiene products, oral, merchant wholesalers
- Medical sundries, rubber, merchant wholesalers
- Nonprescription drugs merchant wholesalers
- Perfumes merchant wholesalers
- Pharmaceuticals merchant wholesalers
- Plasmas, blood, merchant wholesalers
- Prescription drugs merchant wholesalers