Analysis
NAICS 541990 is the 2022 national industry for all other professional, scientific, and technical services, part of 54199 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). Census lists 23 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 23% and employment rose 30%. 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.
County Business Patterns counts 24,892 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 139,378 people at an average annual payroll of $89,184 per employee (77th percentile of national industries). 83% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Census lists 12 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 5411, 5412, 5413 and 5414. 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 appraisal (except real estate) services, arbitration and conciliation services (except by attorney…, business brokers (except real estate brokers) and commodity inspection services, among 23 in all.
For example, providing legal services are classified in 5411 (Legal Services) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the provision of professional, scientific, or technical services (except legal services; accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and related services; architectural, engineering, and related services; specialized design services; computer systems design and related services; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; scientific research and development services; advertising, public relations, and related services; market research and public opinion polling; photographic services; translation and interpretation services; and veterinary services).
Illustrative Examples:
Appraisal (except real estate) services Marine surveyor (i.e., appraiser) services Arbitration and conciliation services (except by lawyer, attorney, or paralegal offices) Patent broker services (i.e., patent marketing services) Commodity inspector services Pipeline or power line inspection (i.e., visual) services Consumer credit counseling services Weather forecasting services Handwriting analysis services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing legal services | 5411 Legal Services |
| Providing accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services | 5412 Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services |
| Providing architectural, engineering, and related services | 5413 Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
| Providing specialized design services | 5414 Specialized Design Services |
| Providing computer systems design and related services | 5415 Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
| Providing management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 5416 Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services |
| Providing scientific research and development services | 5417 Scientific Research and Development Services |
| Providing advertising and related services | 5418 Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services |
| Providing marketing research and public opinion polling | 541910 Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling |
| Providing photographic services | 54192 Photographic Services |
| Providing translation and interpretation services | 541930 Translation and Interpretation Services |
| Providing veterinary services | 541940 Veterinary Services |
Index entries (23)
- Appraisal (except real estate) services
- Arbitration and conciliation services (except by attorney, paralegal)
- Business brokers (except real estate brokers)
- Commodity inspection services
- Construction estimation services
- Consumer credit counseling services
- Credit repair (i.e., counseling) services, consumer
- Electronic communication content verification services
- Estate assessment (i.e., appraisal) services
- Fire extinguisher testing and/or inspection, without sales, service, or installation
- Handwriting analysis services
- Handwriting expert services
- Marine forecasting services
- Marine surveyor (i.e., ship appraiser) services
- Mediation product services (except by lawyer, attorney, paralegal offices, family and social services)
- Meteorological services
- Patent broker services (i.e., patent marketing services)
- Patrolling (i.e., visual inspection) of electric transmission or gas lines
- Pipeline inspection (i.e., visual) services
- Power line inspection (i.e., visual) services
- Quantity surveyor services
- Waterless fire suppression system testing and/or inspection, without sales, service, or installation
- Weather forecasting services