Analysis
NAICS 541380 is the 2022 national industry for testing laboratories and services, part of 54138 (Testing Laboratories and Services). Census lists 33 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 7,463 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 158,265 people at an average annual payroll of $75,284 per employee (62nd percentile of national industries). 43% 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 acoustics testing laboratories or services, assaying services, automobile proving and testing grounds and biological (except medical, veterinary) testing…, among 33 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 62151, 541940 and 811198. 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, laboratory testing for the medical profession are classified in 62151 (Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories) instead.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 5% and employment rose 15%. 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.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in performing physical, chemical, and other analytical testing services, such as acoustics or vibration testing, assaying, biological testing (except medical and veterinary), calibration testing, electrical and electronic testing, geotechnical testing, mechanical testing, nondestructive testing, or thermal testing. The testing may occur in a laboratory or on-site.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
Index entries (33)
- Acoustics testing laboratories or services
- Assaying services
- Automobile proving and testing grounds
- Biological (except medical, veterinary) testing laboratories or services
- Calibration and certification testing laboratories or services
- Electrical testing laboratories or services
- Electronic testing laboratories or services
- Environmental testing laboratories or services
- Film badge testing (i.e., radiation testing) laboratories or services
- Fire insurance underwriters' laboratories
- Food testing laboratories or services
- Forensic (except medical) laboratories or services
- Geotechnical testing laboratories or services
- Hydrostatic testing laboratories or services
- Industrial testing laboratories or services
- Laboratory testing (except medical, veterinary) services
- Mechanical testing laboratories or services
- Metallurgical testing laboratories or services
- Nondestructive testing laboratories or services
- Pollution testing (except automotive emissions testing) services
- Product testing laboratories or services
- Radiation dosimetry (i.e., radiation testing) laboratories or services
- Radiation testing laboratories or services
- Radiographic testing laboratories or services
- Radiographing welded joints on pipes and fittings
- Radiography inspection services
- Radon testing laboratories or services
- Seed testing laboratories or services
- Soil testing laboratories or services
- Testing laboratories (except medical, veterinary)
- Thermal testing laboratories or services
- Vibration testing laboratories or services
- X-ray inspection services