486210

Analysis

NAICS 486210 is the 2022 national industry for pipeline transportation of natural gas, part of 48621 (Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas). Census lists 7 example activities under it in the official index.

County Business Patterns counts 1,908 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 24,190 people at an average annual payroll of $147,843 per employee (97th percentile of national industries). 42% 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 booster pumping station, natural gas transportation, gas, natural, pipeline operation, natural gas pipeline transportation and natural gas transmission (i.e., processing plants to local…, among 7 in all.

For example, operating oil and gas field gathering lines are classified in 21 (Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction) instead.

Census lists 2 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 21 and 221210. 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.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 3% and employment fell 8%. 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.