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US trade contractors, by the numbers.
Counts and wages from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every figure links to its source and says what period it describes.
Most trade businesses are small.
Across these trades, most establishments with a payroll have fewer than 10 people on it.
92.7%
76.8%
Establishments and employees, by trade
| Trade (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Under 10 employees | Under 20 employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors (238220) | 111,207 | 1,214,761 | 76.8% | 88.7% |
| Electrical contractors (238210) | 83,342 | 1,015,983 | 76.9% | 88.1% |
| Residential remodelers (236118) | 135,337 | 480,272 | 92.7% | 97.6% |
| Painting and wall covering contractors (238320) | 38,280 | 208,201 | 88.8% | 95.4% |
| Landscaping services (561730) | 117,969 | 802,899 | 85.0% | 93.1% |
| Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors (238110) | 23,350 | 272,692 | 77.2% | 88.3% |
| Siding contractors (238170) | 9,142 | 41,885 | 89.7% | 96.5% |
| Flooring contractors (238330) | 17,989 | 84,998 | 89.9% | 95.8% |
| Tile and terrazzo contractors (238340) | 10,685 | 58,611 | 85.5% | 94.5% |
| Finish carpentry contractors (238350) | 32,219 | 177,042 | 87.7% | 95.1% |
| Drywall and insulation contractors (238310) | 20,760 | 250,758 | 76.6% | 87.2% |
Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Data as of March 2023 (released June 2025). Establishments with paid employees. Employment is the pay period including March 12, 2023. The smallest size class (fewer than 5) includes establishments with no paid employees in mid-March that paid someone during the year.
Counted as companies, not locations.
The Census counts firms separately from establishments, and sizes each firm by everyone it employs.
| Trade (NAICS) | Firms | Under 10 employees | Under 20 employees | 500 or more employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors (238220) | 107,004 | 78.3% | 89.9% | 215 |
| Electrical contractors (238210) | 79,611 | 78.8% | 89.7% | 250 |
| Residential remodelers (236118) | 132,711 | 93.2% | 97.8% | 44 |
| Painting and wall covering contractors (238320) | 37,830 | 88.9% | 95.6% | 11 |
| Landscaping services (561730) | 114,842 | 86.5% | 94.3% | 87 |
| Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors (238110) | 22,440 | 77.4% | 88.8% | 56 |
| Siding contractors (238170) | 8,996 | 90.3% | 96.4% | 10 |
| Flooring contractors (238330) | 17,777 | 90.1% | 96.1% | 10 |
Source: US Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022. Data as of 2022 (released April 2025). Firms with paid employees, sized by the employment of the whole firm.
And the businesses with no payroll at all.
Sole owners with no employees are counted separately. The Census publishes these three trades at this level.
| Trade (NAICS) | Businesses with no employees |
|---|---|
| Plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors (23822) | 178,663 |
| Electrical contractors (23821) | 159,693 |
| Landscaping services (56173) | 516,572 |
Source: US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2023. Data as of 2023 (released May 2025). Businesses with no paid employees that file federal income tax, with receipts of $1 or more in construction and $1,000 or more in other sectors.
The people doing the work.
National employment and the median annual wage for each occupation.
| Occupation (SOC) | Employed | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians (47-2111) | 757,220 | $63,190 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 465,840 | $63,800 |
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers (49-9021) | 409,670 | $61,010 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 670,090 | $60,580 |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 225,190 | $49,400 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 952,640 | $39,150 |
| First-line supervisors of construction trades (47-1011) | 812,210 | $79,920 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Data as of May 2025 (released May 2026). Wage and salary workers. The self-employed are not counted.
Where the work is growing.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' ten-year projection for each occupation. The change is as published, before rounding.
| Occupation (SOC) | 2025 | 2035 | Change | Change, share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers (49-9021) | 440,900 | 489,100 | +48,200 | 10.9% |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 821,000 | 896,900 | +75,900 | 9.2% |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 510,600 | 545,200 | +34,500 | 6.8% |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 1,188,600 | 1,244,200 | +55,600 | 4.7% |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 889,700 | 924,700 | +35,000 | 3.9% |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 326,900 | 336,700 | +9,800 | 3.0% |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035. Data as of 2025 base year, projected to 2035 (released August 2026). Employment here includes the self-employed, so it is higher than the OEWS count.
How these numbers were gathered.
Each figure was read from the agency's own published file on September 26, 2026. Shares are computed from the published counts. Nothing is estimated or taken from a secondhand source.
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023. Data as of March 2023 (released June 2025). Establishments with paid employees. Employment is the pay period including March 12, 2023. The smallest size class (fewer than 5) includes establishments with no paid employees in mid-March that paid someone during the year.
- US Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022. Data as of 2022 (released April 2025). Firms with paid employees, sized by the employment of the whole firm.
- US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2023. Data as of 2023 (released May 2025). Businesses with no paid employees that file federal income tax, with receipts of $1 or more in construction and $1,000 or more in other sectors.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Data as of May 2025 (released May 2026). Wage and salary workers. The self-employed are not counted.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035. Data as of 2025 base year, projected to 2035 (released August 2026). Employment here includes the self-employed, so it is higher than the OEWS count.
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