Analysis
NAICS 541430 is the 2022 national industry for graphic design services, part of 54143 (Graphic Design Services). Census lists 22 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 15,828 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 49,266 people at an average annual payroll of $65,029 per employee (43rd percentile of national industries). 84% 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 art services, commercial, art services, graphic, art studios, commercial and artists, independent commercial, among 22 in all.
For example, creating and/or placing public display advertising material are classified in 541850 (Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising) instead.
Census lists 2 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 541850 and 711510. 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 planning, designing, and managing the production of visual communication in order to convey specific messages or concepts, clarify complex information, or project visual identities. These services can include the design of printed materials, packaging, advertising, signage systems, and corporate identification (logos). This industry also includes commercial artists engaged exclusively in generating drawings and illustrations requiring technical accuracy or interpretative skills.
Illustrative Examples:
Commercial art studios Corporate identification (i.e., logo) design services Independent commercial or graphic artists Medical art or illustration services Graphic design consulting services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Creating and/or placing public display advertising material | 541850 Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising |
| Independent artists primarily engaged in creating and selling visual artwork for noncommercial use and independent cartoonists | 711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers |
Index entries (22)
- Art services, commercial
- Art services, graphic
- Art studios, commercial
- Artists, independent commercial
- Artists, independent graphic
- Artists, independent medical
- Commercial art services
- Commercial artists, independent
- Commercial illustration services
- Commercial illustrators, independent
- Communication design services, visual
- Corporate identification (i.e., logo) design services
- Graphic art and related design services
- Graphic artists, independent
- Graphic design services
- Illustrators, independent commercial
- Medical art services
- Medical artists, independent
- Medical illustration services
- Medical illustrators, independent
- Silk screen design services
- Studios, commercial art