Standard Industrial Classification


The Standard Industrial Classification is a system for classifying industries by a four-digit code. Established in the United States in 1937, it is used by government agencies to classify industry areas. The SIC system is also used by agencies in other countries, e.g., by the United Kingdom's Companies House.
In the United States, the SIC code has been replaced by the North American Industry Classification System, which was released in 1997. Some U.S. government departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, continued to use SIC codes through at least 2019.
The SIC code for an establishment, that is, a workplace with a U.S. address, was determined by the industry appropriate for the overall largest product lines of the company or organization of which the establishment was a part. The later NAICS classification system has a different concept, assigning establishments into categories based on each one's output.

Purpose

In the early 1900s, each branch of a United States government agency would conduct business analysis using its own methods and metrics, unknown and meaningless to other branches. In the 1930s, the government needed standardized and meaningful ways in which to measure, analyze and share data across its various agencies. Thus, the Standard Industrial Classification system was born. SIC codes are four-digit numerical representations of major businesses and industries. SIC codes are assigned based on common characteristics shared in the products, services, production and delivery system of a business.

Structure

SIC codes have a hierarchical, top-down structure that begins with general characteristics and narrows down to the specifics. The first two digits of the code represent the major industry sector to which a business belongs. The third and fourth digits describe the sub-classification of the business group and specialization, respectively. For example, "36" refers to a business that deals in "Electronic and Other Equipment." Adding "7" as a third digit to get "367" indicates that the business operates in "Electronic, Component and Accessories." The fourth digit distinguishes the specific industry sector, so a code of "3672" indicates that the business is concerned with "Printed Circuit Boards."

Uses

The U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration utilize SIC codes in their reporting, although SIC codes are also used in academic and business sectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics updates the codes every three years and uses SIC to report on work force, wages and pricing issues. The Social Security Administration assigns SIC codes to businesses based on the descriptions provided by employers under the primary business activity entry on employer ID applications.

Limitations

Over the years, the U.S. Census has identified three major limitations to using the SIC system. The first limitation surrounds its definition and mistaken classification of employee groups. For example, administrative assistants in the automotive industry support all levels of the business, yet the SIC defines these employees as part of the "Basic Sector" of manufacturing jobs when they should be reported as "Non-Basic." Secondly, SIC codes were developed for traditional industries prior to 1970. Business has changed considerably since then from manufacturing-based to mostly service-based. As a result, and thirdly the SIC has been slow to recognize new and emerging industries, such as those in the computer, software, and information technology sectors.

History of the change to NAICS

The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, was tasked with revising the SIC system to reflect changing economic conditions. The OMB established the Economic Classification Policy Committee in 1992 to develop a new system representative of the current industrial climate. The result was the North American Industry Classification System, or NAICS, a collaborative effort between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. NAICS expanded the four-digit SIC code to a six-digit code, and it provided more flexibility in handling emerging industries. The new code was implemented in Canada and the United States in 1997 and in Mexico one year later.
NAICS classified establishments by their main output, instead of classifying them with the larger firm or organization of which the establishment was a part. This gives more precise information on establishment and worker activities than the SIC system, but changed the meaning of the classifications somewhat, making some time series of data hard to sustain accurately. Fort and Klimek found using longitudinal data on establishments that the switch from SIC to NAICS reclassified large numbers of workers differently by industry/sector than NAICS does, notably by reclassifying some from the Manufacturing sector into Services.

Codes

Range

The SIC codes can be grouped into progressively broader industry classifications: industry group, major group, and division. The first 3 digits of the SIC code indicate the industry group, and the first two digits indicate the major group. Each division encompasses a range of SIC codes:
Range of SIC CodesDivision
0100-0999Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
1000-1499Mining
1500-1799Construction
1800-1999not used
2000-3999Manufacturing
4000-4999Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas and Sanitary service
5000-5199Wholesale Trade
5200-5999Retail Trade
6000-6799Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
7000-8999Services
9100-9729Public Administration
9900-9999Nonclassifiable

To look at a particular example of the hierarchy, SIC code 2024 belongs to industry group 202, which is part of major group 20, which belongs to the division of manufacturing.

List

The following table is from the SEC's website, which allows searching for companies by SIC code in its database of filings. The acronym NEC stands for "not elsewhere classified".
SIC CodeIndustry
0100 Agricultural Production-Crops
0200Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties
0700Agricultural Services
0800Forestry
0900Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
1000Metal Mining
1040Gold and Silver Ores
1090Miscellaneous Metal Ores
1220Bituminous Coal & Lignite Mining
1221Bituminous Coal & Lignite Surface Mining
1311Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas
1381Drilling Oil & Gas Wells
1382Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services
1389Oil & Gas Field Services, NEC
1400Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals
1520General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs
1531Operative Builders
1540General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs
1600Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors
1623Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction
1629Heavy Construction, Not Elsewhere Classified
1700Construction - Special Trade Contractors
1731Electrical Work
2000Food and Kindred Products
2011Meat Packing Plants
2013Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products
2015Poultry Slaughtering and Processing
2020Dairy Products
2024Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
2030Canned, Frozen & Preserved Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties
2033Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies
2040Grain Mill Products
2050Bakery Products
2052Cookies & Crackers
2060Sugar & Confectionery Products
2070Fats & Oils
2080Beverages
2082Malt Beverages
2086Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters
2090Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products
2092Prepared Fresh or Frozen Fish & Seafood
2100Tobacco Products
2111Cigarettes
2200Textile Mill Products
2211Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Cotton
2221Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk
2250Knitting Mills
2253Knit Outerwear Mills
2273Carpets & Rugs
2300Apparel & Other Finished Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl
2320Men's & Boys' Furnishings, Work Clothing, & Allied Garments
2330Women's, Misses', and Juniors Outerwear
2340Women's, Misses', Children's & Infant's Undergarments
2390Miscellaneous Fabricated Textile Products
2400Lumber & Wood Products
2421Sawmills & Planing Mills, General
2430Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members
2451Mobile Homes
2452Prefabricated Wood Bldgs & Components
2510Household Furniture
2511Wood Household Furniture,
2520Office Furniture
2522Office Furniture
2531Public Bldg & Related Furniture
2540Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & office & Store Fixtures
2590Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures
2600Papers & Allied Products
2611Pulp Mills
2621Paper Mills
2631Paperboard Mills
2650Paperboard Containers & Boxes
2670Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods
2673Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags
2711Newspapers: Publishing or Publishing & Printing
2721Periodicals: Publishing or Publishing & Printing
2731Books: Publishing or Publishing & Printing
2732Book Printing
2741Miscellaneous Publishing
2750Commercial Printing
2761Manifold Business Forms
2771Greeting Cards
2780Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbinding & Related Work
2790Service Industries For The Printing Trade
2800Chemicals & Allied Products
2810Industrial Inorganic Chemicals
2820Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos
2821Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers
2833Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products
2834Pharmaceutical Preparations
2835In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances
2836Biological Products,
2840Soap, Detergents, Cleaning Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics
2842Specialty Cleaning, Polishing and Sanitation Preparations
2844Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations
2851Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods
2860Industrial Organic Chemicals
2870Agricultural Chemicals
2890Miscellaneous Chemical Products
2891Adhesives & Sealants
2911Petroleum Refining
2950Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials
2990Miscellaneous Products of Petroleum & Coal
3011Tires & Inner Tubes
3021Rubber & Plastics Footwear
3050Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose
3060Fabricated Rubber Products, NEC
3080Miscellaneous Plastics Products
3081Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet
3086Plastics Foam Products
3089Plastics Products, NEC
3100Leather & Leather Products
3140Footwear,
3211Flat Glass
3220Glass & Glassware, Pressed or Blown
3221Glass Containers
3231Glass Products, Made of Purchased Glass
3241Cement, Hydraulic
3250Structural Clay Products
3260Pottery & Related Products
3270Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products
3272Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick
3281Cut Stone & Stone Products
3290Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods
3310Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling & Finishing Mills
3312Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling Mills
3317Steel Pipe & Tubes
3320Iron & Steel Foundries
3330Primary Smelting & Refining of Nonferrous Metals
3334Primary Production of Aluminum
3341Secondary Smelting & Refining of Nonferrous Metals
3350Rolling Drawing & Extruding of Nonferrous Metals
3357Drawing & Insulating of Nonferrous Wire
3360Nonferrous Foundries
3390Miscellaneous Primary Metal Products
3411Metal Cans
3412Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails
3420Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware
3430Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures
3433Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces
3440Fabricated Structural Metal Products
3442Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim
3443Fabricated Plate Work
3444Sheet Metal Work
3448Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components
3451Screw Machine Products
3452Bolts, Nuts, Screws, Rivets & Washers
3460Metal Forgings & Stampings
3470Coating, Engraving & Allied Services
3480Ordnance & Accessories,
3490Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products
3510Engines & Turbines
3523Farm Machinery & Equipment
3524Lawn & Garden Tractors & Home Lawn & Gardens Equip
3530Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip
3531Construction Machinery & Equip
3532Mining Machinery & Equip
3533Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment
3537Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailers & Stackers
3540Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment
3541Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types
3550Special Industry Machinery
3555Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment
3559Special Industry Machinery, NEC
3560General Industrial Machinery & Equipment
3561Pumps & Pumping Equipment
3562Ball & Roller Bearings
3564Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifying Equip
3567Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens
3569General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, NEC
3570Computer & office Equipment
3571Electronic Computers
3572Computer Storage Devices
3575Computer Terminals
3576Computer Communications Equipment
3577Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC
3578Calculating & Accounting Machines
3579Office Machines, NEC
3580Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery
3585Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip
3590Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment
3600Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment
3612Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers
3613Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus
3620Electrical Industrial Apparatus
3621Motors & Generators
3630Household Appliances
3634Electric Housewares & Fans
3640Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment
3651Household Audio & Video Equipment
3652Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks
3661Telephone & Telegraph Apparatus
3663Radio & TV Broadcasting & Communications Equipment
3669Communications Equipment, NEC
3670Electronic Components & Accessories
3672Printed Circuit Boards
3674Semiconductors & Related Devices
3677Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors
3678Electronic Connectors
3679Electronic Components, NEC
3690Miscellaneous Electrical Machinery, Equipment & Supplies
3695Magnetic & Optical Recording Media
3711Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies
3713Truck & Bus Bodies
3714Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories
3715Truck Trailers
3716Motor Homes
3720Aircraft & Parts
3721Aircraft
3724Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts
3728Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, NEC
3730Ship & Boat Building & Repairing
3743Railroad Equipment
3751Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts
3760Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts
3790Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment
3812Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys
3821Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture
3822Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments
3823Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, and Control
3824Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices
3825Instruments For Meas & Testing of Electricity & Elec Signals
3826Laboratory Analytical Instruments
3827Optical Instruments & Lenses
3829Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC
3841Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus
3842Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies
3843Dental Equipment & Supplies
3844X-Ray Apparatus & Tubes & Related Irradiation Apparatus
3845Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus
3851Ophthalmic Goods
3861Photographic Equipment & Supplies
3873Watches, Clocks, Clockwork Operated Devices/Parts
3910Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware
3911Jewelry, Precious Metal
3931Musical Instruments
3942Dolls & Stuffed Toys
3944Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles
3949Sporting & Athletic Goods, NEC
3950Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials
3960Costume Jewelry & Novelties
3990Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries
4011Railroads, Line-Haul Operating
4013Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments
4100Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans
4210Trucking & Courier Services
4213Trucking
4220Public Warehousing & Storage
4231Terminal Maintenance Facilities For Motor Freight Transport
4400Water Transportation
4412Deep Sea Foreign Transportation of Freight
4512Air Transportation, Scheduled
4513Air Courier Services
4522Air Transportation, Nonscheduled
4581Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services
4610Pipe Lines
4700Transportation Services
4731Arrangement of Transportation of Freight & Cargo
4812Radiotelephone Communications
4813Telephone Communications
4822Telegraph & Other Message Communications
4832Radio Broadcasting Stations
4833Television Broadcasting Stations
4841Cable & Other Pay Television Services
4899Communications Services, NEC
4900Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services
4911Electric Services
4922Natural Gas Transmission
4923Natural Gas Transmission & Distribution
4924Natural Gas Distribution
4931Electric & Other Services Combined
4932Gas & Other Services Combined
4941Water Supply
4950Sanitary Services
4953Refuse Systems
4955Hazardous Waste Management
4961Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply
4991Co-generation Services & Small Power Producers
5000Wholesale-Durable Goods
5010Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies
5013Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts
5020Wholesale-Furniture & Home Furnishings
5030Wholesale-Lumber & Other Construction Materials
5031Wholesale-Lumber, Plywood, millwork & Wood Panels
5040Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies
5045Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software
5047Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies
5050Wholesale-Metals & Minerals
5051Wholesale-Metals Service Centers & Offices
5063Wholesale-Electrical Apparatus & Equipment, Wiring Supplies
5064Wholesale-Electrical Appliances, TV & Radio Sets
5065Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC
5070Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies
5072Wholesale-Hardware
5080Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies
5082Wholesale-Construction & Mining Machinery & Equip
5084Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment
5090Wholesale-Misc Durable Goods
5094Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals
5099Wholesale-Durable Goods, NEC
5110Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products
5122Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries
5130Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions
5140Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products
5141Wholesale-Groceries, General Line
5150Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials
5160Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products
5171Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals
5172Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products
5180Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages
5190Wholesale-Miscellaneous Non-durable Goods
5200Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply
5211Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers
5271Retail-Mobile Home Dealers
5311Retail-Department Stores
5331Retail-Variety Stores
5399Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores
5400Retail-Food Stores
5411Retail-Grocery Stores
5412Retail-Convenience Stores
5500Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations
5531Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores
5551Boat Dealers
5600Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores
5621Retail-Women's Clothing Stores
5651Retail-Family Clothing Stores
5661Retail-Shoe Stores
5700Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores
5712Retail-Furniture Stores
5731Retail-Radio, TV & Consumer Electronics Stores
5734Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores
5735Retail-Record & Prerecorded Tape Stores
5810Retail-Eating & Drinking Places
5812Retail-Eating Places
5900Retail-Miscellaneous Retail
5912Retail-Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores
5940Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores
5944Retail-Jewelry Stores
5945Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops
5960Retail-Nonstore Retailers
5961Retail-Catalog & Mail-Order Houses
5990Retail-Retail Stores, NEC
6012Pay Day Lenders
6021National Commercial Banks
6022State Commercial Banks
6029Commercial Banks, NEC
6035Savings Institution, Federally Chartered
6036Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered
6099Functions Related To Depository Banking, NEC
6111Federal & Federally Sponsored Credit Agencies
6141Personal Credit Institutions
6153Short-Term Business Credit Institutions
6159Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution
6162Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents
6163Loan Brokers
6172Finance Lessors
6189Asset-Backed Securities
6199Finance Services
6200Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services
6211Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies
6221Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers
6282Investment Advice
6311Life Insurance
6321Accident & Health Insurance
6324Hospital & Medical Service Plans
6331Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
6351Surety Insurance
6361Title Insurance
6399Insurance Carriers, NEC
6411Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service
6500Real Estate
6510Real Estate Operators & Lessors
6512Operators of Nonresidential Buildings
6513Operators of Apartment Buildings
6519Lessors of Real Property, NEC
6531Real Estate Agents & Managers
6532Real Estate Dealers
6552Land Subdividers & Developers
6770Blank Checks
6792Oil Royalty Traders
6794Patent Owners & Lessors
6795Mineral Royalty Traders
6798Real Estate Investment Trusts
6799Investors, NEC
7000Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places
7011Hotels & Motels
7200Services-Personal Services
7310Services-Advertising
7311Services-Advertising Agencies
7320Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies
7330Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography
7331Services-Direct Mail Advertising Services
7334Services-Photocopying and Duplicating Services
7340Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings
7350Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing
7359Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, NEC
7361Services-Employment Agencies
7363Services-Help Supply Services
7370Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc.
7371Services-Computer Programming Services
7372Services-Prepackaged Software
7373Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design
7374Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation
7377Services-Computer Rental & Leasing
7380Services-Miscellaneous Business Services
7381Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services
7384Services-Photofinishing Laboratories
7385Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems
7389Services-Business Services, NEC
7500Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking
7510Services-Auto Rental & Leasing
7600Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services
7812Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production
7819Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production
7822Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution
7829Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution
7830Services-Motion Picture Theaters
7841Services-Video Tape Rental
7900Services-Amusement & Recreation Services
7948Services-Racing, Including Track Operation
7990Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation
7994Services-Video Game Arcades
7995Services-Gambling Transactions
7996Services-Amusement Parks
7997Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs
8000Services-Health Services
8011Services-Offices & Clinics of Doctors of Medicine
8050Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities
8051Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities
8060Services-Hospitals
8062Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, NEC
8071Services-Medical Laboratories
8082Services-Home Health Care Services
8090Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, NEC
8093Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, NEC
8111Services-Legal Services
8200Services-Educational Services
8300Services-Social Services
8351Services-Child Day Care Services
8600Services-Membership organizations
8700Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management
8711Services-Engineering Services
8731Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research
8734Services-Testing Laboratories
8741Services-Management Services
8742Services-Management Consulting Services
8744Services-Facilities Support Management Services
8748Business Consulting Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
8880American Depositary Receipts
8888Foreign Governments
8900Services-Services, NEC
9721International Affairs
9995Non-Operating Establishments