NAICS 238110 Quarterly Industry Report
Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 238110Sector: Construction (23)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (NAICS 238110) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[4], Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], American Concrete Institute[7], and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, concrete construction analysts, and specialty trade investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Definition & Overview
Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (NAICS 238110) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in pouring and finishing concrete foundations and structural elements per the U.S. Census Bureau[3]. Work performed includes new construction, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Activities range from foundation footings and basement walls to concrete floor slabs, retaining walls, and elevated structural concrete for commercial and industrial buildings. Grouting, shotcrete, mud-jacking, and concrete resurfacing are also included.
Over 22,000 firms employ nearly 246,000 workers in a market valued at roughly $35 billion per Census Bureau[4] economic survey data. Average hourly wages reach $34.30 with typical work weeks of 41.2 hours per Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] data. Residential foundation work accounts for a large share of firm count, while commercial and industrial concrete placement generates higher per-project revenue. Contractors operate across a wide size spectrum from two-person residential foundation crews to large commercial concrete firms deploying multiple pump trucks and placing hundreds of cubic yards daily.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $19 million in average annual receipts. ACI 318[7] (Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete) published by the American Concrete Institute establishes the primary design and construction standard referenced in all U.S. building codes. OSHA[8] construction safety standards under 29 CFR 1926 apply to all concrete construction activities, with formwork collapse, concrete pump line failures, and silica dust exposure representing key safety hazards. State and local building codes govern foundation design based on soil conditions, frost depth, seismic zone, and structural load requirements. ACI 301 (Specifications for Structural Concrete) provides contractor-level construction specifications for materials, mixing, placement, and curing procedures.
What's Included in This Industry
- Residential foundation footing and wall construction
- Commercial and industrial foundation systems
- Concrete slab-on-grade and elevated deck placement
- Retaining wall and basement wall construction
- Concrete finishing, stamping, and decorative work
- Shotcrete and gunite application
- Mud-jacking and slab leveling services
- Concrete pumping and placement services
- Post-tensioned and precast concrete installation
- Concrete resurfacing and rehabilitation
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Construction | 23 |
| Subsector | Specialty Trade Contractors | 238 |
| Industry Group | Building Foundation And Exterior Contractors | 2381 |
| NAICS Industry | Poured Concrete Structure Contractors | 23811 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction serves as the general contractor managing projects where concrete foundation contractors work as subcontractors, with structural concrete placement representing one of the earliest and most schedule-critical trade activities on commercial building construction projects |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9.0% | 2,036 |
| 2 | Texas | 7.7% | 1,753 |
| 3 | Florida | 7.7% | 1,738 |
| 4 | Washington | 3.9% | 885 |
| 5 | Ohio | 3.8% | 857 |
| 6 | Illinois | 3.5% | 804 |
| 7 | New York | 3.4% | 766 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 3.2% | 729 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 3.1% | 711 |
| 10 | Michigan | 3.1% | 705 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[1]
SBA Lending Summary
1,968
Total SBA Loans
$654.8M
Total Loan Volume
$333K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.45%
Average Interest Rate
13,296
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[2]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (NAICS 238110) has a size standard of $19 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[9] support equipment acquisition, bonding capacity, and working capital for qualifying concrete construction firms. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[11] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 24 | $60.9M | $2.5M |
| 2 | First Bank of the Lake | 24 | $44.9M | $1.9M |
| 3 | Northeast Bank | 184 | $40.7M | $221K |
| 4 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 72 | $39.5M | $549K |
| 5 | Idaho Central CU | 24 | $31.7M | $1.3M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for concrete contractors?
NAICS 238110 covers poured concrete foundation and structure contractors including foundation walls, slabs, retaining walls, grouting, and shotcrete work per the U.S. Census Bureau[3].
What is the SBA size standard for concrete contractors?
The SBA size standard[6] is $19 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How large is the concrete contracting industry?
Over 22,000 firms employ nearly 246,000 workers in a market valued at roughly $35 billion per Census Bureau[4] economic survey data, with contractors ranging from small residential foundation crews to large commercial concrete placement operations.
What building code governs structural concrete?
ACI 318[7] (Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete) published by the American Concrete Institute establishes design and construction standards referenced in all U.S. building codes, covering concrete strength, reinforcement, formwork, and curing requirements.
What are the main safety hazards in concrete construction?
OSHA[8] identifies formwork collapse, concrete pump line failures, and respirable crystalline silica dust exposure as key safety hazards under 29 CFR 1926, with silica exposure from cutting and grinding concrete operations subject to specific permissible exposure limits.
What determines foundation design requirements?
Soil bearing capacity, frost depth, seismic zone classification, and structural load requirements determine foundation type and dimensions per state and local building codes, with geotechnical engineering reports providing the soil data that structural engineers use to design foundation systems.
What is ACI 301?
ACI 301 (Specifications for Structural Concrete) published by the American Concrete Institute[7] provides contractor-level construction specifications covering materials, mixing, placement, finishing, and curing procedures that supplement the design requirements of ACI 318.
What types of concrete work are most common?
Residential foundations, commercial building slabs, retaining walls, and elevated concrete decks represent the most common project types per Census Bureau[4] construction survey data, with decorative concrete finishing and concrete repair work providing additional revenue streams for many firms.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [2]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [4]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]ACI 318 concrete.org
- [8]OSHA osha.gov
- [9]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
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