NAICS 238320 Quarterly Industry Report
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 238320Sector: Construction (23)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (NAICS 238320) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], EPA[8], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, painting trade analysts, and specialty construction investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the painting and wall covering contractors industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (NAICS 238320) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in interior or exterior painting or interior wall covering per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Work performed includes new construction, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Activities include residential and commercial interior painting, exterior house and building painting, industrial and bridge painting, wallpaper hanging and removal, paint stripping, and decorative finish application. Highway line painting is excluded (NAICS 237310), as is roof painting (NAICS 238160) and wood paneling installation (NAICS 238350).
Roughly 30,209 firms employ 203,938 workers with $9.6 billion in annual payroll per Census Bureau[5] economic survey data. Average hourly wages reach $31.20 with typical work weeks of 36.2 hours per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] data. Residential repainting represents the largest single market segment by volume, while commercial and industrial painting generates higher per-project revenue. Painting Contractors Association (PCA) founded in 1884 provides industry standards and business resources. Industrial painting specialists perform protective coating work on bridges, tanks, and structural steel requiring specialized surface preparation and coating application skills.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $19 million in average annual receipts. EPA[8] Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule under 40 CFR Part 745 requires EPA-certified firms and trained renovators when disturbing lead-based paint in pre-1978 buildings. OSHA[9] lead in construction standards under 29 CFR 1926.62 govern worker protection during lead paint disturbance activities. VOC (volatile organic compound) content limits set by EPA and state air quality agencies regulate paint formulations. PCA publishes painting industry standards (formerly PDCA Standards) that serve as nationally recognized consensus documents for workmanship and material application procedures.
What's Included in This Industry
- Interior residential and commercial painting
- Exterior building and house painting
- Industrial and structural steel painting
- Bridge and infrastructure coating application
- Wallpaper hanging, removal, and replacement
- Paint stripping and surface preparation
- Decorative painting and faux finish application
- Epoxy floor coating and specialty finishes
- Lead paint abatement and encapsulation
- Drywall primer and texture application
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Construction | 23 |
| Subsector | Specialty Trade Contractors | 238 |
| Industry Group | Building Finishing Contractors | 2383 |
| NAICS Industry | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | 23832 |
| National Industry | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | 238320 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 238310 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors | Drywall and Insulation Contractors provide the finished gypsum board surfaces that painting contractors prime and paint, with drywall finishing quality including joint compound smoothness and surface preparation directly affecting paint application quality and final appearance |
| 238350 | Finish Carpentry Contractors | Finish Carpentry Contractors install wood trim, cabinets, and millwork that painting contractors paint or stain, with carpentry and painting trades coordinating on projects where wood surfaces require priming, painting, or staining after installation and prior to final building occupancy |
| 238330 | Flooring Contractors | Flooring Contractors coordinate scheduling with painting contractors to prevent overspray on finished floors or paint drips that damage installed flooring, with the sequence of painting before or after flooring installation varying by project type and affecting protection requirements for both trades |
| 238390 | Other Building Finishing Contractors | Other Building Finishing Contractors perform specialty surface preparation and finishing work that complements or overlaps with painting activities, with decorative concrete staining, wall texture application, and specialty coating work bridging the boundary between painting and other finishing trades |
| 238190 | Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors apply waterproofing and protective coatings on exterior surfaces that are related to but distinct from decorative painting, with industrial coating specifications for steel structures requiring specialized surface preparation and multi-coat application systems |
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction manages projects where painting contractors perform interior and exterior finish work, with painting scope spanning multiple phases from primer application after drywall finishing through final touch-up painting before building occupancy |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12.8% | 4,880 |
| 2 | Florida | 11.6% | 4,421 |
| 3 | New York | 6.7% | 2,579 |
| 4 | Washington | 4.7% | 1,809 |
| 5 | Illinois | 3.9% | 1,505 |
| 6 | Texas | 3.8% | 1,468 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 3.0% | 1,168 |
| 8 | Oregon | 2.9% | 1,091 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 2.8% | 1,083 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 2.8% | 1,068 |
% Of Establishments
0%
13%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[2]
SBA Lending Summary
468
Total SBA Loans
$94.8M
Total Loan Volume
$203K
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.75%
Average Interest Rate
2,953
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (NAICS 238320) has a size standard of $19 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support equipment purchases, vehicle fleets, and working capital for qualifying painting contracting firms. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 26 | $19.3M | $741K |
| 2 | First Bank of the Lake | 16 | $9.2M | $572K |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 65 | $8.9M | $137K |
| 4 | Northeast Bank | 35 | $4.6M | $133K |
| 5 | United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 24 | $3.5M | $148K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for painting contractors?
NAICS 238320 covers painting and wall covering contractors performing interior and exterior painting, wallpaper hanging, paint stripping, and industrial coating work per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
What is the SBA size standard for painting contractors?
The SBA size standard[7] is $19 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How large is the painting contracting industry?
Roughly 30,209 firms employ 203,938 workers with $9.6 billion in annual payroll per Census Bureau[5] economic survey data, with residential repainting generating the highest volume of projects and commercial painting providing larger per-project contract values.
What is the EPA RRP Rule?
EPA[8] Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule under 40 CFR Part 745 requires EPA-certified firms and trained renovators when disturbing lead-based paint in pre-1978 residential buildings and child-occupied facilities, with certified renovator training and lead-safe work practices required for all covered renovation projects.
What OSHA standards apply to painting work?
OSHA[9] lead in construction standards under 29 CFR 1926.62 govern worker protection during lead paint disturbance, with additional standards covering scaffold safety, respiratory protection for spray painting, and fall protection during exterior painting at elevation.
Is painting a licensed trade?
Painting is generally less regulated than electrical or plumbing trades per state licensing frameworks, with some states requiring painting contractor licenses while others require only general contractor registration, business licensing, and proof of insurance for painting firms.
What are VOC regulations for paint?
EPA[8] and state air quality agencies set volatile organic compound content limits for paint formulations, with low-VOC and zero-VOC architectural coatings increasingly specified on commercial projects to meet green building standards and indoor air quality requirements.
What industry association represents painters?
PCA (Painting Contractors Association) founded in 1884 provides painting industry standards, business resources, and contractor education per association programs, with PCA standards serving as nationally recognized consensus documents for workmanship and coating application procedures.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]EPA epa.gov
- [9]OSHA osha.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
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