424950

Analysis

NAICS 424950 is the 2022 national industry for paint, varnish, and supplies merchant wholesalers, part of 42495 (Paint, Varnish, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 18 example activities under it in the official index.

County Business Patterns counts 1,992 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 21,208 people at an average annual payroll of $74,472 per employee (61st percentile of national industries). 47% 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 automotive paints merchant wholesalers, calcimines merchant wholesalers, enamels merchant wholesalers and lacquers merchant wholesalers, among 18 in all.

For example, the merchant wholesale distribution of artists' paints are classified in 424990 (Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers) instead.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 6% 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.

Census lists 1 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 424990. 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.