Analysis
NAICS 541830 is the 2022 national industry for media buying agencies, part of 54183 (Media Buying Agencies). Census lists 2 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 767 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 20,819 people at an average annual payroll of $110,836 per employee (88th percentile of national industries). 58% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 18% and employment fell 4%. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include media buying agencies and media buying services.
For example, selling time and space to advertisers for media owners as independent representatives are classified in 541840 (Media Representatives) instead.
Census lists 2 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 541840 and 541810. 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 purchasing advertising time or space from media outlets and reselling it to advertising agencies or individual companies directly.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
Index entries (2)
- Media buying agencies
- Media buying services