Analysis
NAICS 811192 is the 2022 national industry for car washes, part of 81119 (Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance). Census lists 9 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 19,807 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 172,644 people at an average annual payroll of $29,378 per employee (3rd percentile of national industries). 52% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 19% and employment rose 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.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 3 codes at this level within Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance, with 57.8% of them.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include automotive detail shops, automotive detailing services (i.e., cleaning, polishing), automotive washing and polishing and car detailers, among 9 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in cleaning, washing, and/or waxing automotive vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks, and vans, and trailers.
Illustrative Examples:
Automotive detail shops Mobile car and truck washes Car washes Self-service car washes
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (9)
- Automotive detail shops
- Automotive detailing services (i.e., cleaning, polishing)
- Automotive washing and polishing
- Car detailers
- Car washes
- Detailing services (i.e., cleaning and polishing), automotive
- Mobile car and truck washes
- Self-service car washes
- Truck and bus washes