488210

Analysis

NAICS 488210 is the 2022 national industry for support activities for rail transportation, part of 48821 (Support Activities for Rail Transportation). Census lists 10 example activities under it in the official index.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 13% and employment rose 18%. 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.

County Business Patterns counts 1,695 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 49,372 people at an average annual payroll of $67,688 per employee (49th percentile of national industries). 32% 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 freight car cleaning services, grain leveling and trimming in railroad cars, loading and unloading services at rail terminals and locomotive and rail car repair (except factory conversion…, among 10 in all.

Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 532411, 336510 and 561720. 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.

For example, providing railroad car rental are classified in 532411 (Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing) instead.