Analysis
NAICS 541330 is the 2022 national industry for engineering services, part of 54133 (Engineering Services). Census lists 31 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 63,233 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 1,260,577 people at an average annual payroll of $109,949 per employee (88th percentile of national industries). 53% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 9 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 541512, 541511, 513210 and 541370. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include acoustical engineering consulting services, acoustical system engineering design services, audio visual system engineering design services and boat engineering design services, among 31 in all.
For example, planning and designing computer systems that integrate computer hardware, software, and communication technologies are classified in 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in applying physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development, and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, structures, processes, and systems. The assignments undertaken by these establishments may involve any of the following activities: provision of advice, preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services.
Illustrative Examples:
Civil engineering services Environmental engineering services Construction engineering services Mechanical engineering services Engineers' offices Robotics automation engineering services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Planning and designing computer systems that integrate computer hardware, software, and communication technologies | 541512 Computer Systems Design Services |
| Designing and writing custom software to meet the needs of a particular customer | 541511 Custom Computer Programming Services |
| Software design, development, and publishing, or software publishing only | 513210 Software Publishers |
| Performing surveying and mapping services of the surface of the earth, including the sea floor | 541370 Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services |
| Gathering, interpreting, and mapping geophysical data | 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services |
| Creating and developing designs and specifications that optimize the use, value, and appearance of products | 541420 Industrial Design Services |
| Providing advice and assistance to others on environmental issues, such as the control of environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances, and hazardous materials | 541620 Environmental Consulting Services |
| Engineering research and development | 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) |
| Both the design and construction of buildings, highways, and other structures or in managing construction projects | 23 Construction, according to the type of project |
Index entries (31)
- Acoustical engineering consulting services
- Acoustical system engineering design services
- Audio visual system engineering design services
- Boat engineering design services
- Chemical engineering services
- Civil engineering services
- Combustion engineering consulting services
- Construction engineering services
- Consulting engineers' offices
- Consulting engineers' private practices
- Electrical engineering services
- Engineering consulting services
- Engineering design services
- Engineering services
- Engineers' offices
- Engineers' private practices
- Environmental engineering services
- Erosion control engineering services
- Geological engineering services
- Geophysical engineering services
- Heating engineering consulting services
- Industrial engineering services
- Logging engineering services
- Marine engineering services
- Maritime technology engineering services
- Mechanical engineering services
- Mining engineering services
- Petroleum engineering services
- Robotics automation engineering services
- Robotics engineering design and integration services
- Traffic engineering consulting services