Analysis
NAICS 541360 is the 2022 national industry for geophysical surveying and mapping services, part of 54136 (Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services). Census lists 13 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 993 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 7,007 people at an average annual payroll of $109,086 per employee (88th percentile of national industries). 78% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include aerial geophysical surveying services, electrical geophysical surveying services, electromagnetic geophysical surveying services and geological surveying services, among 13 in all.
For example, taking core samples, drilling test wells, or other mine development activities (except geophysical surveying and mapping) on a contract basis for others are classified in 21311 (Support Activities for Mining) instead.
Census lists 1 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 21311. 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 gathering, interpreting, and mapping geophysical data. Establishments in this industry often specialize in locating and measuring the extent of subsurface resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals, but they may also conduct surveys for engineering purposes. Establishments in this industry use a variety of surveying techniques depending on the purpose of the survey, including magnetic surveys, gravity surveys, seismic surveys, or electrical and electromagnetic surveys.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Taking core samples, drilling test wells, or other mine development activities (except geophysical surveying and mapping) on a contract basis for others | 21311 Support Activities for Mining |
Index entries (13)
- Aerial geophysical surveying services
- Electrical geophysical surveying services
- Electromagnetic geophysical surveying services
- Geological surveying services
- Geophysical mapping services
- Geophysical surveying services
- Gravity geophysical surveying services
- Magnetic geophysical surveying services
- Mapping services, geophysical
- Radioactive geophysical surveying services
- Remote sensing geophysical surveying services
- Seismic geophysical surveying services
- Surveying services, geophysical