NAICS 23 — Construction
Establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects. The Construction sector encompasses 31 six-digit NAICS codes used in federal procurement, representing $50,075,330,444 in total federal contract spending. Each code within this sector has its own SBA small business size standard, which determines whether a business qualifies as "small" for set-aside and sole-source contract opportunities in that specific industry.
Understanding Sector 23
NAICS sector 23 is one of 20 industry sectors defined by the North American Industry Classification System. The federal government uses these codes to classify contract requirements, determine small business eligibility, and track procurement spending across industries. When a federal agency issues a solicitation, they assign a NAICS code that best describes the principal purpose of the acquisition — this determines the applicable size standard for small business participation.
The codes below are sorted by total federal spending, with the highest-spend industries at the top. Click any code to view detailed spending data, top contractors, and guidance on competing for contracts in that industry.
Six-Digit Codes in Sector 23
| Code | Industry | Federal Spend |
|---|---|---|
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | $30.6B |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $10.3B |
| 237310 | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $1.2B |
| 236210 | Industrial Building Construction | $1.1B |
| 237130 | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $1.1B |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $1.0B |
| 237110 | Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction | $974.5M |
| 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $791.2M |
| 237120 | Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction | $605.1M |
| 238990 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $548.9M |
| 238160 | Roofing Contractors | $450.8M |
| 238290 | Other Building Equipment Contractors | $353.2M |
| 236116 | New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | $238.4M |
| 236118 | Residential Remodelers | $179.2M |
| 238910 | Site Preparation Contractors | $148.6M |
| 238320 | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | $96.9M |
| 238390 | Other Building Finishing Contractors | $78.4M |
| 236115 | New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | $50.7M |
| 238110 | Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors | $37.9M |
| 238330 | Flooring Contractors | $29.5M |
| 238140 | Masonry Contractors | $27.6M |
| 238190 | Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $27.4M |
| 238120 | Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors | $22.1M |
| 238150 | Glass and Glazing Contractors | $16.2M |
| 238350 | Finish Carpentry Contractors | $6.9M |
| 238310 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors | $6.3M |
| 238170 | Siding Contractors | $3.8M |
| 238340 | Tile and Terrazzo Contractors | $2.3M |
| 236117 | New Housing For-Sale Builders | $1.5M |
| 237210 | Land Subdivision | $827K |
| 238130 | Framing Contractors | $304K |
-
What is NAICS sector 23?
NAICS sector 23 covers Construction. Establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects. It contains 31 six-digit industry codes used in federal procurement.
-
How much does the federal government spend in sector 23?
Total federal contract spending across all codes in the Construction sector is approximately $50,075,330,444. Individual codes within the sector range from the most active at $30.6B to smaller niche markets.
-
How do NAICS sectors relate to size standards?
Each six-digit NAICS code has its own SBA size standard — sectors don't have a single standard. Size standards are expressed either as maximum average annual receipts (e.g., $41.5 million) or maximum number of employees (e.g., 500 employees). Click into any six-digit code to see its specific size standard.
Data sourced from USASpending.gov and Census Bureau . Federal contracting data is public domain.